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THE HIRED MINISTRY BUSINESS IN THE CHURCH

IN SPITE OF COVID AMY HAS £ 50,000 A YEAR TO SPARE – £150,000 OVER THREE YEARS

When I was in St Peter’s Cathedral – 1978 – 1983 we had no fancy paid ministers.

The priests, or at least some of them we the youth ministers etc.

My day started off at 9 am visiting the primary school in my area.

At 11 am I went to our girl’s secondary school with 1500 girls in it

I had a sandwich with the staff on the staff room and ministeredto them there

In the afternoon I went to our boys, St Peters, secondary school.

I then did some house visitation.

I saw people in the presbytery from 6.30 pm until 7.30 pm.

I then went to the parish youth club from 7.30 om until 9

Every night, as it eas the Troubles I walked around the perimeter if the parish to see was well before going to bed.

We had 8 Masses for 12,000 people every Sunday.

On Sunday afternoons I brought minibus loads from the youth club for a drive, either to a park or an amusement arcade.

Wrongfully, as I now see I seldom too a day off.

I was 26 and full of energy.

It did not bother me in the lease.

We had no youth ministers, no funeral teams, marriage teams or lay pastoral assistants.

I loved every minute of my work and I as close to the people as I could posdibly have been.

To this day, 38 years later, it gives me joy to bump into former parishioners, who recall our time together with great joy.

ARE TODAY’S PRIESTS LAZY?

Not all of them, especially the older ones But many are.

They say Mass and do a funeral or two and talk about being exhausted.

In Kilkeel I had 6 Masses on some days and never complained about being exhausted.

I also say to complainingpriests: “How could you cope with an 8 hour day on a building site”?

I And so many newly ordained these day are into Latin Mass, vestments, cassocks and spending hours each day with their other priest friends drinking pink gins and talking about the gay scene.

If you want to the priesthood can be a very lazy, cosy life.

And while these priests ate not doing any work they are paying lay employees and using volunteers to do their work for them.

GOD BE WITH THE DAYS WHEN PRIESTS WERE MEN AND PANSY WAS THE NAME OF A FLOWER,” 😁

114 replies on “THE HIRED MINISTRY BUSINESS IN THE CHURCH”

Well I hope that the people in the new position do not encourage our youth to gamble at amusement arcades.
Bishop Pat you are living in yesterday year when there were many Priest some Clergy have two or three parishes.
It is illegal to say more than 3 masses a day you need permission from the Diocesan Bishop.
Clergy should not be doing Funeral Services unless there is Holy Mass as the laity can do the receiving and the crematorium or the grave side.
RCIA likely would not be around in your day so all these courses Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage can be done with the laity.
Also in your day there would not be so much Government and Local Authority legislation as it is a mine field.
In Our Diocesan Team we have 36 lay staff and about 52 out in parishes.
It is changed days as priests are Ordained for the Sacraments not to be administrators, estate / property, accounts, drivers, hospitality, statisticians (energy), receptionists PR/Media and so on.

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So true Pat. I remember driving the transit minibus to Caldey island for 6 hours, 14 kids on board, crossing on stormy waters in a small fishing boat, then leading a five day retreat before heading back. The newly ordained do not know the meaning of hard work. When I
was a seminarian we did manual labour twice a week. Now they do sweet FA. Lazy gits….

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Seminarians these days are likely to be a lardy lot. Fed three big meals a day, doing just a little light (and often academically questionable) study, browsing the Gammarelli Sartoria catalogue, swooning over a new nice bit of lace that a friend has got for his alb fringe, gathering together for gin parties in the evening, and (now that restrictions are being lifted) wandering out for a little extra curricular activity in the gay bars, saunas, and cruising grounds (yes, believe it or not there are some chubby chasers out there who like that kind of lardy build so the sems usually get some action) returning in just enough time to get a few hours sleep before turning up for morning prayers. Well, they can catch up on the sleep with a little afternoon siesta, can’t they ? Many of you will think I am exaggerating. Well, I know by observation that this kind of life is the modus operandi of many of our holy seminarians.

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It’s not about what Sems get or don’t get up to. It’s about the excessive amounts of money paid to lay staff. The clue is in the title of today’s blog incase you didn’t notice. I think it’s more an observation about Sems on your part, however, you sound like a rejected Sem with personal experience and an axe to grind.

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Oh, @ 9:26, don’t be so narrow in your interpretation of the blog. We can talk about whatever we want to talk about ! Chubby, lazy, lace queen sems transmogrify in to chubby, lazy, lace, and sauna queen priests. Fact. And no, never was in seminary myself, never had a desire to go. I realised pretty quickly what a compromise it would be to my life to have to live a duplicitous life of lies and subterfuge. So, I am out and honest and don’t have to do what these chubby lazy priests and sems have to do, and scurry around in the dark corners. However, I do see them out and about. It’s a good game to play in the gay bar – spot the cleric ! And there are a lot of them out there. Easy to spot. Clergydar !

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There is a real problem with excessive use of paid lay staff. Don’t get me wrong there is a place for lay faithful in paid roles where necessary but certainly in England and Wales some dioceses are taking the proverbial and some people look up to certain lay people in central functions as if they are God himself!! The problem is in some dioceses its these people calling the shots and not the ordained clergy. There is a need for lay faithful in paid roles but the right roles. There should be more local parish level initiatives with volunteers not paid staff! ……… I often wonder when people say “the diocese says this or the dioceses says that” who exactly do they mean. far to much money is spent on advisors and leads for this that and the other. look at what was going on in Portsmouth a few years ago before +Egan sorted it out.
What a waste of money in this Irish diocese – just think this could have been spent by a newly ordained traddy Priest on some Roman Vestments, lace altar cloths and beretta …..
Not to mention a latin for dummies phrase book!

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Obviously Pat, you were brilliant!! When I was ordained I spent my first appointment working with a highly efficient PP. We did all the work you’ve outlined in a parish of about 5,000 homes. We had a serious work ethic which was a good experience, very rewarding and fulfilling. As 45 years have almost passes for me, naturally I don’t have the same energy. Also now I’m the only full time priest in my present appiintment with a retired PP…and a parish chaplain. Of course there were/are priests who just do the minimum but the very twisted conclusions you draw are most judgmental, embellished and unfair. You want us to believe that you alone are the exemplar of ministry. It’s unfortunate that you cast such judgments. Somehow you prefer the narrative that portrays all of us as unsuitable. When I need inspiration for ministry, I look to the many wonderfully good, kind, dedicated and prayerful men I worked with in 45 years. I often wish I could have their stamina, commitment, fidelity, prayerfulness and caring ministry. These are the inspirers I admire; they were always exemplary and encouraging. Sadly, priests, in your assessment are failures if they don’t live up to your ideals!! Thank God for all those priests – some departed, some still alive – who were encouragers and inspirers for me. God bless all of us today, especially those on their own. The positive of being on your own is that it gives wonderful opportunity for involving gifted and talented parishioners in creative ministries of caring. This endeavour is so fulfilling for our parish. Pat, we must respond to the challenges of today which many of us are doing. Can you not find anything being done commendable in any way?

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10.50pm: Whatever you do, don’t ever measure your ministry by Pat’s template but only that which Christ gives and expects. No Catholic Priest shiuld not ever – and wouldn’t want – to be compared to Pat. Christ is our template. There are men who live an even greater commitment, pastorally and prayerfully than Pat but they do so quietly and with humility. So, live your own life in Christ and do not allow the cynics, the haters (Magna), the discouragers and the vindictive to disillusion you. God bless all priests.

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Absolutely. Fr should not be discouraged by Bishop Pat. He should, however, be discouraged by the relentless criminality, corruption, love of Mammon and hatred of religion, of the church he represents. It’s much easier to shoot the messenger than face the reality, though.

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@8.46, you sound another one who didn’t quite cut the mustard as a people’s priest, and know it.
Jealousy is an unbecoming trait, especially in a priest.
You’d probably remonstrate with Jesus too for not coming way down to your less than mediocre, bone-idle level, Father.

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8.46
Christ is your template, priest?😅
Do you not have even the slightest inkling how hilariously absurd that statement about romanist priests sounds today?
You are worryingly diassociated from reality.

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@10.50, sounds like you didn’t quite cut the mustard as a hands on priest, and know it.

Hence the remonstrations with Pat.

Can and Abel again. Guess which one you are, Father.

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No you don’t shout it from the rooftops, just shout it on the internet. Mother of God, I heard candidates for ordination were going down in academic standards but then there’s you.

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12.33 and 12.28 – why repeat your hate invective? Thank God I can, in all conscience say that I served and serve the Lord and his people in faithful ministry but I wouldn’t shout it from the rooftops. God sees all the good done; that’s what matters most. I don’t need to give a long list of “what I’ve done…”. Thank God too for the hundreds of priests who are faithful in ministry. Thank God…and may they be blessed.

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@9.21am You have been on the ball early with several other posts this morning. Gosh you do hate Priests don’t you? It’s easy to spot you with your angry bitter words. I wonder what they did to you for you to have that massive chip on your shoulder? You should seek therapy or counselling as all that pent up anger is not good for you.

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Bishops accountability will give you an idea of what the unholy priests do to people.

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9.34, if the poster is expressing on this blog his righteous anger with priests, then it is hardly pent up.

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Here we go again. Pat complains about clericalism but then argues the priest should do everything. Then he complains about lay people being paid a living wage.
Make your mind up Pat. Also remember that parish ministry is very different nowadays.

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The only expanding branch of the church in Ireland and Frank wants to shut it down. It’s all about control.

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If Jesus came now would he say
Embrace modernism
All are saved
All religions lead to God
There is no Hell
Love is all you need
or
I am the Way to the Father
Many are called but few are saved
My Kingdom is not of this world
Be prepared
Repent & sin no more
God is love follow me

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Burke s phrase ‘persevere in their love of the Church and of her pastors’ tells you exactly what this cult is really about.

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Clergy these days guard their days off like hungry dogs – contact them on a day off and all hell breaks lose regardless of the pastoral emergency.
What parent takes a day off from caring for their family?
And they say, don’t they, that Holy Orders is a more perfect state than marriage which is for the imperfect state.
A hard working priest these days is an oxymoron – the exception rather than the rule.
The phrase ‘lard arse’ springs to mind – most could never, would never, hold down a regular job, most have never done a hard days work in their lives, most are work shy, enjoy privilege to graft and know absolutely nothing about the world of work and earning their crust and most if not all would be ashamed to dig for a living.
You can tell I’m a fan!!
No wonder the worker-priest movement died a death.
Imagine being lectured by a man who has never earned or worked for the toilet paper which wipes his fat lard arse!!

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Yes you can tell that by the way they assume anyone who comments on here while working the night shift is an alcoholic. It’s purely them seeing the rest of the world through their own distorted goggles.
It’s the same as them seeing anyone criticising their racket as bitter or – don’t make me laugh- s rejected seminarian.
They have literally no insight into the poverty caused by their church’s hoarding of resources or the suffering and suicides caused by the priests raping children.
They can none of them come up with any convincing rationalisation between the damage caused by their church and its stated mission.
It has in the past owned a porn publishers, had gay saunas running in its buildings and currently owns an abortifacient producing company.
And they say this disconnect is because other people are bitter?

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Calm down dear at 10.07am It’s only a blog!! You have got yourself all worked up darling this morning with several comments all in the same vein. Take a chill pill dear.

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Oh dear it you again 9.50am. I am glad you get so upset by it all because it’s all clearly getting to you. Poor hard done by you. Just having an early gin in the garden before a nice cooked lunch and joined by a few fellow clergy. Salute!! Wish you could join us.

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Lucky Gandhi and MLK both took Fr’s example of ignoring crime, corruption and abuse while drinking gin in the garden.

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12:13 You do realize you’ve just confirmed everything Pat Buckley says about priests today? Not very intelligent. Some of us are busy working.

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Lard Arse at 9.50: you are the epitome of your acronym. Somehow, your intelligence derives from your s**thole. Only a perverted, ugly, vulgar low life could produce your comment. You are simply an ignoramus. Probably another rejected seminarians, like Magna. How the virus of hatred takes root!!

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9.34am

Your own passive anger resentment shone through your post – you point the finger but only at yourself – many priests are abusive – is it any wonder people feel bitter and resentful – show some pastoral sensitivity instead of bitchy, cruel condemnation.

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More likely she’s still got one on her for not getting the cha cha heels she wanted for Christmas. Black ones.

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12.32pm The comment was meant for fools such as you who clearly fell for it. Who is the unintelligent one know haha.

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Pat the Clergy and the workers try their Best in the Vineyard.
If you are looking for a Medal the RCC will not give you one so you will need to try the Anglicans to recommend to Boris for Lizzie to give you a gong or something maybe even a MBE.
You may want to strive harder for a place in the Lords while we serve the Vineyard

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Frankie the gaslighter/roche/curia inside the Vatican scored their own goal re new TLM decree.
It has shown that frankie the gaslighter isn’t a Pope of mercy cos TLM decree cast him in a very different light – ruthless without any mercy.
I realised it later after reading few news Catholic blogs that his new TLM decree is all about control, nothing more or less.
Big backfire on PF is coming.
Some people are leaving rcc to Eastern rites or SSpx or Greek orthodox or Russian cos of TLM decree. Plus seminarians who might drop out or leave it all together this year and coming years. This in turn would see less vocations and less money as well.
PF and the Vatican curia, you can’t have both ways 🙈😉.

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My favourite bible passage is the bit where Jesus says ‘Hire someone else to take the gospel to the ends of the Earth while you sit in the garden drinking gin’.

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No 12.31pm It should be the passage “Don’t be envious of the workers who have earned their wages. Let them be content as they have their starters with a chilled glass of white. That’s before they move on to their Mains with a good glass of robust red”.

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Blessed are the Cardinals, for they hide assets away from abuse survivors to protect the church’s interests.

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GAME OVER For God 😳 10,000 Priests Short & No-One Is Going 🤦‍♂️
The Church Is Finished
Jul 19, 2021

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I think it’s fair to say that the work ethic among priests has gone down hill from previous generations. One must wonder if it flows from an inability to observe what matters and what matters less. The involvement of hoards of lay people will cause more problems than it solves. The structures of the church are ill prepared, lacking any authoritive definition of these roles and lacking clearly defined structures for recouse when an inevitable demarcation dispute arises with an arrogant cleric. Has the church considered hiring HR managers and how will a Bishop or Parish Priest fare in front of the Labour Court spouting about the rights of the clergy?

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Then we would get the arrogant, entitled clergy on here moaning that they’re being persecuted by HR. The church serves a great function to the benefit of humanity – if it wasn’t for the church these shits would be out not pulling their weight in the workplace. Can you imagine being in the same employer as Cardinal Mahoney?

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Did him no harm he’s now a canon and gets his kicks pretending he’s a chivalrous knight lol…

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I enjoy the way posts that are critical of the clergy’s work ethic get trolled with abuse and vitriol full of spite and bile – the cruel queens say things like ‘take a chill pill’ and ‘have a nice lunch and a gin and tonic’ – and their inner queer bubbles over with their ‘dear’ and ‘dearie’ ’ and ‘darling’ bollox – they also assume posters are former seminarians etc and delight in their suffering or pain – what’s funny is their predictable posts say more about them – bitter old queens poor babies – the harsh truth about most Roman Catholic Clergy is their quality is so poor they are virtually unemployable – so any talk of work ethic etc is completely wasted on them and what else would they do? The same as they do as priests sod all!!

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@2.50pm The use of the word bollox again, really!! You have used that word at least 4 times already today dearie in other predictable comments. Sorry it’s all getting to you luv.

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The bitter comments from clergy today wouldn’t be driven by annoyance that lay workers get a larger salary than them in the slightest.

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2.56: I don’t agree with you whatsoever. Some clerics are annoyed with being a priest!! Others annoyed at the manner of imposed decisions and dictats. If we bring professional collaborators on board who are efficient and make a difference, I have no issue with their salary but there isn’t an endless flow of cash for exorbitant salaries or a well financed bureaucracy. Prudence and sensibility must prevail. As for 2.50, many commenters are non clerics. Some of the comments today are utterly stupid, inane, deliberately antagonistic. Whoever these morons are, priest or non cleric, get real, grow up and act rationally and marurely.

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2.00pm: De Integro, in the late 70’s when I was ordained until about the late 90’s, early 2000’s, parishes had all kinds of groups and activities to which individual were assigned: Youth Clubs; Youth St. V. de Paul: Prayer groups: Advent and Lenten programmes: School Boards: School chaplaincy: Annual Mission: weekly visitation of homes: Christian Leaders Groups: Christian Family Movement: Marriage Encounter: Charismatic Prayer Groups, Altar Server Groups, etc…..My first parish had all these groups which were overseen by a Parish Council and all was well coordinated. It was an exceptionally vibrant parish and provided endless opportunities for interacting with parishioners. It was very busy alongside many baptisms, weddings, sacramental school preparation programmes, funerals…A very fulfilling place to be. This continued into my next 2 parishes in slightly less intense ways. From the end of the 90s into early years of 2000, our society was changing very fast, culturally, economically, spiritually, socially and the sexual abuse scandals began to explode. All of these factors impacted hugely on our relationships with people. This trend continues to be felt today. Any youth clubs or social networking groups, once initiated by parishes, have now been taken over by Youth Organisations or Statutory bodies. With the rise in internet and social media outlets, many are finding spiritual nourishment by various on-line programmes or resources, as they are still doing especially during the pandemic. Also, people are much less strangled by church influences and discover their own moral compass and values. Much of what we did in the late 70’s/80’s/90’s (my years) and part of 2000 is now non existent. (School Boards are mostly managed by lay people: No summer projects any more: No social youth groups.. ). The one dominating experience which has impacted most is the clerical sexual abuse scandals. With the rapid decline in the number of clergy, most now of a higher age group, we have been reduced to sacramental performers. While we still have reasonably good connections with those who are part of our parishes, the culture for being a priest today has changed totally, presenting huge challenges which seem at times almost insurmountable. Much of the talk about new evangelizing programmes never materialise. I don’t despair but I am a pragmatist and know my limits in my late 60’s!! The landscape has transformed inexorably and we feel adrift mostly.

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I’ve never met a well-adjusted, normal ex-seminarian. For some reason, their having been a sem is often one of the first things they tell you.
Is it that their psychiatric disorders were apparent to formators (hence the expulsion) or is it that they were they OK before entering the seminary but then the expulsion drove them mad (literally)?

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You’re absolutely right. Going through seminary is an indicator of real problems – look at every priest.

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Pat ,the dirty, nasty priest denier is a huge pain in the butt at this stage.
Her constant attacking of the decent contributors is so vitriolic and disgusting that you simply must act against it.
She has serious pent up issues and needs psychiatric help. To think she’s spewing her hatred and filthy language from her cost little set-up in the South West,completely unrestricted and unhindered ,is beyond a joke. She refuses to answer the valid contributors like Magna who bring light and reality to the dire situation that currently exists.
Shes obviously a conduit for some of her pointy hat bosses who are terrified at the revelation s on your blog and who know deep down the end is nigh.
Keep doing what you’re doing and the birchy queen will fade away, faced with the reality which is coming.
As long as we have good contributors who won’t tolerate nonsense ,then a brighter future awaits.
People like Amy and this nasty ,repressed queen won’t win.
She is doing a grave disservice to the many decent priests who feature on this blog. She’s the very anthisises of a good ,decent priest. Call her out Pat.
She needs serious treatment.

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I quite agree with you, and unfortunately Pat’s liberal comment policy means that these people are able to stop any discussion here.
I have asked you Pat, in the past, to firm up a policy for comments here and stick to it. Sadly the tit for tat which you allow here means it can serve little positive purpose beyond your own posts.

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And we all get that – we understand you get abuse and God knows what, but I wonder whether seeing that skews your perception of what you allow through.
I also get that it’s thankless because nobody is going to be entirely happy, but that’s the reason to decide rigidly what you will allow on your blog and stick to it.
Anyone can set up their own blog, if they’ve got something to say it doesn’t have to be on here.

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4.38
You must be ill speaking about ‘valid contributors like Magna…..’
Your judgement is seriously flawed, your powers of reason deficient. With that single sentence you show that your contrinutions do not deserve to be taken seriously.

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If Irish clergy on 20-30k how much is bishop and Archbishop on?
This should be in the public domain.

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1.36: Magna, hilarious, absurd, whatever you say..words that aptly describe you.. and more: queer, silly, immature, irrational, dysfunctional…as long as there are wonderfully good priests who take Christ as their template, you’ll forever be a jealous, nasty, vindictive and repulsive man. You only make your own life a misery. All your barrels of angst crack you apart. Doesn’t bother me but I hope you don’t die without seeking God’s healing. Go to your local parish priest. We are kind, after all!!!

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5.40

You sound hysterical, borderline deranged, about me. Which makes your apparent indifference (‘Doesn’t bother me…’) a silly expression of mock stoicism about my being here, and my eventual being in the hereafter.

Why don’t you get it? You cannot be that obtuse, because my 13-year-old nephew gets it. Really, he does.

No priest (none, zilch) has Christ as his template, or can have, since he is pledged, from ordination, to an institution ‘corrupt, and riddled with corruption’.

If he isn’t actually kiddie-fiddling himself, he’s covering for fellow priest-kiddie-fiddlers, or is prepared to do so. For the good of the Church, you understand. And for the preservation of the mammon that comes his way by dint of it.

Cry all you want, priest, but these are truths about you parasites that will not be put to bed while a priesthood Jesus did not intend remains intact.

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Magna at 5.53: It is incomprehensible how someone of your supposed learning manages to pour out these incessant hate narratives. It is so evident that a major personal psychological trauma occurred in your life of which you have spoken about on this blog. A little empathy is deserved but you can never inflict the hate, jealous rage and ugly rhetoric on the men who made it to ordination or indeed on any priest. Many of these men were and are good people in Christ. Your vitriol is a misguided madness of fury harming only your already fragile psyche. Since you seem so conflicted within, you should seek out a kind counsellor who, undoubtedly, will try to redeem you. Each time you vent a fury of ugly invective, I can almost feel the steam rise in your nostrils. Magna, calm down, take deep breaths and mind yourself responsibly. And, do use your intelligence for some better noble projects…

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Magna where does the quote about ‘corrupt and riddled with corruption’ come from please? I tried googling it and didn’t get anywhere.

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10.00
He said also that it is ‘irredemibly corrupt, from top to bottom’.
I agree. And the systemic concealment of the rape of children by romanist priests, from the Pope down, proves the point.

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Who earns what in a typical diocese these days?
Check out the spend on personnel in Westminster, Birmingham, Liverpool.
CEOs – basically runs the diocese – Archbishop figurehead and wheeled out for big events – salary of CEO plus perks £100k and more – lay people won’t put up with funding £100K plus salaries for long – that’s not what they gave their money to the church for – the CEO is takes the wrap if things go belly up – Archbishop basically redundant – who’s the Daddy – the CEO is the Daddy now!
Head of HR: paid £80K a year – hiring and firing, easy money – best ones are atheists and in awe of clerical caste – money for old rope – again lay people funding huge salary won’t last for long – milk it while you can – who makes Head of HR redundant when the well runs dry.
Youth workers; weird people doing a weird job – being paid £30K plus for a non job.
Communication: Westminster pay their head of communication £50K plus – useless failed PR and failed journalists – easily dominated not v clever – syle and waffle over substance – sometimes become the story – after working in communication for Catholic Church in communication become unemployable.
Celibate Clergy: cheap labour – £5000 a year – but say 200 parish priests that’s £100K a year.
Married Anglican Clergy: God knows – deal with Anglican Church – £25K a year.
Lots of resentment about money especially from clergy because they are taxed.
Covid 19 pandemic means Sunday Obligation bollox gone out the window -apparently no longer a mortal sin – who knew.
Impact of dwindling reserves/ Sunday Collection not a patch on pre-Covid.
Give it less than 5 years wholesale redundancies – Parish closures and lots more Vati Con scandals!!
Complete Dogs Dinner. Arse from Elbow.

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6.11
Sunday Obligation is still a mortal sin however the Bishops Conferences have suspended the obligation during Covid.
Some Dioceses announced last week the Sunday obligation can now be a weekday mass but you should attend.
So it is expected it will be back to a Mortal Sin in September we all await the Bishops Conferences instructions.
Singing is back but through your face mask.

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Anon@ 6.48pm. Don’t tell the Bishops’ Conference I said this, but they don’t have the power or authority to change the Sunday obligation rules, even though they think they do. This shows how thick they are. There is a legal maxim which states that nobody can be bound to the impossible. Now, if canon law is to be taken seriously in any way, it, too, must accept that maxim. This means that Bishops’ Conferences, at best, simply state that point, they don’t actually change anything themselves. When churches were closed it was impossible to attend Mass, therefore no sin for missing Mass. Now churches are open, and many don’t attend, either to protect themselves or support the common good by keeping away and possibly prevent the spread of the virus as they don’t know if they might be asymptomatic carriers, again this renders their absence as due to an impossibility, moral or otherwise.

It would be healthier and more realistic to do away with the Sunday/ Holyday obligation and let people follow their sense and judgment; treat them as people with minds of their own. But there is a price to pay…

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This is so typical of the lazy clerics that are now part of the Catholic Church. It is easy for me to preach, I pray for their souls. Admittedly I don’t help the poor or needy. But, I do pray in my ivory tower. I can very easily judge others, I do get a bit angry at the decline of the Catholic Church. I do deserve the odd whiskey. The great unwashed fail to appreciate how perfect I am! Oh lord. I do get very angry!

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So more on Fr Philip, the nerd PP in Staines, who was appointed and then unappointed as Spiritual Director at Alice Hall.

At Sunday Mass he has a Eucharistic Bear, which he places under the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer. He then chooses a child to take home the bear for a week.

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7.58pm – For goodness sake – if you are going to talk about someone, at least get the public facts straight.

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So lovely to see the +Aul Doll featured again, Bp Pat, I hope she has been… well, let’s just say, fully jabbed.

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Your last line in today’s blog reminded me of an incident recorded, I think, in one of the Walsingham books.
During THE war the Nashdom Benedictines were evacuated to the dorms of a girls’ school. Each room had a plaque with the name of a particular flower, such as the Rose or the Tulip room. Every morning it was noted that the Pansy plaque mysteriously disappeared from the room to which it had been previously affixed and exchanged for another.

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Many thanks!
This article and the comments reminded me of an incident that took place in Greece a few years back. The Bishop had the temerity to read the gospel in modern Greek just after the Koine version. Well a shoving match took place through which the congregation let the prelate know of their dissatisfaction.
I suspect Rome would have her hands full if it united with the Greeks.

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It’s true, Bp Pat, you come from a different era. You must make allowances for today’s queens. (But not the old queens.)

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The Sunday obligation has nothing to do with God and everything to do with money – reduced Mass attendance reduced collection – simples – threaten people with eternal damnation get those bums back on those seats – problem is, no one is buying it and the times they are a changing.
Privately they clergy and bishops are pooping their pants because Mass attendance has plummeted and they ain’t coming back.

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7.40pm

I’m flattered that your monitoring my bollox.

4 times today you say .. leave that with me I’ll try and up my game, luv!!!!

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On the topic of yesterday, many priests are working very hard. They can be covering many church communities and many schools.
If any happen to be lazy they must be taking the following a bit too literally; Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Volunteers have been very beneficial for safeguarding. Graduates have been hired in some positions for starter jobs on their career path.
Lay involvement comes with a price. It’s part of the current reformation within the Church. Some good. Some not so good.
Priests are supposed to be the spiritual father of their community. If there is a case of noone available on days off, that’s obviously not right and cover needs to be arranged.
Like any of the Birmingham Six, I am an innocent man who has been wronged.
Is mise le meas,
Séamus
PAX

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