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IF PHONSIE CULLINAN HAD ANY HONOUR OR INTEGRITY HE WOULD IMMEDIATLY RESIGN AS BISHOP OF WATERFORD AND LISMORE!

The Mount Mellerary scandal and the resignations of Abbot Purcell and Abbot General Fitzgerald has serious implications for the Bishop of Waterford – Phonsie Cullinane.

For two years now, Phonsie has known about these matters and has done nothing!

Worse than that, he has made a point of concelebrating Mass with Richard Purcell in the most public of ways.

He has also continued to hold diocesan occasions at Mellery and stood for photographs with Purcell.

AN OTHER MC AREAVEY:

As WICKLOW WILLIE said on yesterday’s blog:

“I agree with Anon at 10.49 re Bishop Cullinan.
In some ways he is in a similar situation to Bishop John McAreavey in Dromore who allowed the miscreant abuser Malachy Finnegan to concelebrate mass with him.
Although there is no suggestion that Purcell did anything criminal there was sufficient talk, innuendo, rumour among priests and laity and speculation on this blog that Bishop Phonsie would have known something was not right with the abbot’s personal behaviour. Even though there was no definite proof that he had failed to keep his vows the prudent course of action for Bishop Cullinan would have been to talk with Purcell and say that in light of all the talk it would be better that he ‘lay low’ for a bit until the truth or otherwise was established.
However by being on the sanctuary with RP and even photographed with Purcell exposes the bishop to the allegations that he showed a serious lack of prudent judgement at best or serious bloody mindedness at worst.
Either way his authority as bishop has been diminished and like the aforementioned Former bishop of Dromore I think he should consider his position”.

MR HOURIGAN’S LETTER PHONSIE 13 MONTHS AGO!

2nd November 2020

Dear Bishop Cullinan,

​

Below for your consideration is an e-mail sent to the Abbot General of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Within the e-mail, I make a number of allegations against the current Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey, Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO. ​

​

Within the present correspondence, I asseverate those allegations in light of conversations that have taken place over the weekend. Again for the avoidance of doubt, I wish to make it unequivocally clear, the sexual act — consensual anal penetration between Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO and the ex-priest of the Diocese of Killaloe, was consensual. The said sexual act took place in the guesthouse of Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, which is located in the Diocese of Killaloe. The nature of Dom Richard Purcell’s sexual activity can be legitimately characterised as an abuse of abbatial authority. And, that is a very serious matter.​

​

As will be asserted in a sworn affidavit, the current Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO, confirmed in a conversation that the conduct of Dom Richard was known to him, and it was hoped it was a one-off. Nonetheless, in recent days, further evidence has emerged that Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, has been active on the gay scene for a considerable period of time. Sadly, this is a grave violation of his monastic vows; the promises he made at his diaconal and priestly ordinations, and contrary to the behaviour expected of any Cistercian Abbot.​

​

In light of a number of conversations from people who could be classed as whistle-blowers, it has emerged that the behaviour of Richard Purcell was “known” in the diocese of Killaloe.​

​

Question One.​

​

When, Dom Richard Purcell, was elected Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey, a monastery that is canonically located within your jurisdiction — was his past behaviour brought to your attention either formally/informally? ​

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Question Two.​

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If the allegations concerning Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, was known to the Abbot General, do you consider it unacceptable for Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO to have “confirmed” his election as the Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey in accordance to the Constitutions of that Congregation?​

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Question Three.​

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On Saturday, November 4, 2017, you were the principal celebrant at a Mass to invoke God’s Blessing on the New Abbot and his abbatial ministry at Mount Melleray Abbey. When you presided at this mass — at that time — did you have personal knowledge of any allegation of past homosexual activity by Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO?​

​

Question Four.​

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The photographs November 4, 2017 at Mount Melleray Abbey evidence that the Mass was attended by the now Archbishop of Cashel, Kieran O’Reilly SMA, previously the Bishop of Killaloe; the current Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, and the bishop emeritus of the diocese, Bishop William Walsh. Did any of these three (3) bishops formally/informally make you aware of any allegation pertaining to Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO?​

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It is my understanding that Dom Purcell’s behaviour was known in the Chancery of the Diocese of Killaloe. It is my further understanding that this created a lot of angst in the Diocese, and pressure was put on certain persons to remain silent. But, the ex-priest spoke about what happened in the monastery guesthouse, i.e., Mount St. Joseph Abbey to a number of priests in the Diocese of Killaloe, so these assertions about Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO are not unfounded hearsay. And, it is a complex matter that is still unfolding.​

​

In any event, it raises further questions about the conduct of Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO that need to be addressed by this diocese of Waterford & Lismore. I am aware that canonically you have no jurisdiction over Mount Melleray Abbey, however, you do have responsibility for the pastoral governance of your diocese in which the abbey is located.​

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Question Five.​

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Have you granted by a Decree, priestly faculties to Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, to minister in the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore?​

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Question Six.​

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Will you upon the presentation of a sworn affidavit attesting to the behaviour of Richard Purcell, preventively suspend the priestly faculties (if they have been previously granted) and/or prohibit by a Decree (and publish same), the said Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, from ministering/functioning as a priest anywhere in the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore?​

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Question Seven.​

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It will be established in an affidavit that the allegations against Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO have been known by the Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO, since at least the 13th of September, 2020, and he has ignored same with alacrity. ​

​

Will you now write to the competent Dicastery, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to invite said Dicastery to begin an Apostolic Visitation of Mount Melleray Abbey, because the Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO, appears to have abrogated his responsibility?​

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Question Eight.​

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In light of the fact that so many people appear to know about Purcell’s behaviour, the fact, that he is ministering in your diocese with impunity — is it unreasonable to suggest there has been a cover-up of his behaviour in the Diocese of Killaloe? ​

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Question Nine.​

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Has anybody previously brought the allegations pertaining to Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, to your attention? If so, who? And, why have you done nothing about the situation?​

​

In conclusion, it gives me no pleasure to write this e-mail, however, now that you have been formally notified of the accusations; there is no excuse for inaction by the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore and/or the Abbot General. But, if there is anything that is untrue in the allegations, Dom Richard Purcell, OCSO, can rely on the present to commence proceedings against me under the provisions of the Defamation Act, 2009.​

​

I would be grateful for an acknowledgement of the present correspondence, and a considered reply to by 5 p.m., tomorrow the 3rd of November, 2020.​

​

Sincerely,​

​

Robert Hourigan

PHONSIE’S ATTEMPT TO AVOID ANSWERING HOURIGAN BY SENDING AN EMAIL FROM THE PERSONLESS “DIOCESAN OFFICE”!

HOURIGAN MESSAGE AFTER PHONSIE FAILED TO PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE LETTER:

FINALLY, PHONSIE REPLIES PERSONALLY TO HOURIGAN:

Phonsie did nothing that we know of!

MY EMAIL TO PHONSIE AT THE TIME”

Phonsie, your moral credibility is totally gone! Do the right thing and GO! NOW!

PHONSIE’S METEROPOLITAN

Kieran O’Reilly

Francis has made plans that bishops can be investigated by their metropolitan archbishop.

I wonder where O’Reilly stands on the Purcell / Cullinane issue and other such issues.

175 replies on “IF PHONSIE CULLINAN HAD ANY HONOUR OR INTEGRITY HE WOULD IMMEDIATLY RESIGN AS BISHOP OF WATERFORD AND LISMORE!”

Cistercian monasteries treat the local bishop with great reverence and will bow to the bishops decision. While Phonsie did not have legal jurisdiction he was in a position to act with the monastery’s cooperation.

He chose to do NOTHING

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“… he was in a position to act with the monastery’s cooperation.”
I blame the AG for that. After the resignation of the abbot, the AG had to reflect on his position and now he has resigned.
Like many humble readers of the blog, I have relatives who will have been spinning in their graves at the goings-on in Melleray.
Autumn is the shedding of leaves. The Cistercians have shed an abbot and an AG. They are now firmly in a grim winter and spring is long way away.
It is an embarrassing situation for the bishop of the diocese. Not all of us want to add to his embarrassment. How can he ever trust the Cistercians again? How can any of us trust that Cistercians again?

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The boys are now playing; the blame game! Ever hear of the word ‘responsibility’
i.e. the ability to respond? Did Fonzie have other responsibilities ?

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Shammy boy, you only keep popping up about this matter and failing to make the point you say you want to, because you’re a Cistercian yourself 😅

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@ 11:13am
Not before time, D’arcy has has spent his life attention seeking, he would go to the opening of an envelope. It’s high time he returns to his priestly duties, but I doubt it. 😏

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According to the article his priority is getting an ISDN line set up in his room in the Graan so that he can broadcast from there. He says he won’t be the superior there, but all his Graan/grannie groupies will make him the de facto superior. At least Gary Donegan will be pleased.

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Pat, I respect your tenacity in highlighting the hypocrisy, double standards and moral failings and corruptions within the Church. The TRUTH sets all of us free eventually. You know that out of your own experience. I am discovering it. We each must do that in conscience before God each day. It is a lifelong task. Yet, I am uncomfortable when, in the awareness of our own moral, human and spiritual failings, we seem comfortable in abrogating to ourselves the task of being the harshest of judges and critics. Undoubtedly, your prolonged focus on these matters has brought the drama into new narratives. I am certain more is to unfold. I hope and pray that the Cistercians – the few that are alive and mostly elderly – will amalgamate as one contemplative monastery. It would be a fitting witness to an Order who has given great spiritual comfort to many in Ireland. Can we spare a prayer for these men? I also believe enough analysis has been achieved re: the 2 Cistercians resignations. Perhaps other people will now be chased down! I’m just wondering if ex abbot Purcell knocked on any critics’ door seeking accommodation, what would the response be? Despite our legitimate disapproval of unacceptable behaviour in any cleric, what do we do after their public falling? What should be the Christian response?

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11:33,
A very balanced comment. Fair play. You rightly praise +Pat but also ask for Christian understanding of those who have resigned.
The AG asked +Pat last year what should he do?! The diocese acknowledged the receipt of Hourigan’s email last year and assured him that “the proper procedures will take place.”
On a surface level it can appear that nothing is happening but that did not mean that there were never on going developments behind the scenes, which eventually culminated in the resignations of last week.
Pax.

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I always think it very strange to describe
holding an office you have no intention of serving honorably,
Scandalizing the faithful,
not adhering to vows solemnly made before God, and
Being stubborn and digging your heels in when this is revealed publicly,
– as a ‘failing’.
It’s exactly like describing paedophilia as ‘Fr’s little problem with the laity’.
Pull the other one, Hilarious, it’s got bells on.

Making out that the ex-abbot should be left alone is to want to cover up the things which have allowed this shambles to happen and then resisted sorting it.

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10.03: No such thing as “having a lucky escape…”!! You misunderstand my sentence about TRUTH setting us all free..and I referenced that Pat has found that to be true in his life’s experiences. So am I finding that TRUTH will set you free – not as you imagine (you nasty cynic) – but in the sense of being honest about my life emotionally, spiritually, as a priest, as a human being, being honest about my sexual desires, about priestly ministry, my working relationships…I know you rejoice and clap your hands at the failings of others. Sad really! I thank God that I have a good spiritual director, a good therapist, good family, friends and parishioners who care. And, finally, I possess a great capacity for empathizing with everyone, irrespective of their life’s failings and failings. Surely, it’s the least a Christian can do…

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Dom Richard Purcell ,Facebook page has been deactivated. Also of note, all of current seminarian s in St Patricks College Maynooth were his friends on Facebook including Rev Deacon Stephen Wilson.

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The Catholic Archbishop of Paris is being investigated by the Vatican over claims that he had an intimate relationship with a woman, according to media reports.
Michel Aupetit, 70, a controversial figure whose tough management style has prompted senior subordinates to resign, has admitted “ambiguous conduct” with a woman acquaintance and said he reported it to the church but he denies any sexual relationship. The French Catholic church has declined to confirm or deny the existence of an inquiry, which was reported in an investigation by Le Point news magazine.

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PARIS (AP) — The archbishop of Paris has offered to step down after admitting to having had an “ambiguous” relationship with a woman in 2012, the archdiocese said.
Archbishop Michel Aupetit, who has led the Paris church since 2018, sent a letter to Pope Francis offering to resign following a report in Le Point magazine.
There was no indication if or when Francis might act on it; he has refused to accept similar offers from other prelates caught up in scandal.
In an article published this week, Le Point said Aupetit had a consensual, intimate relationship with a woman. The report relied on several anonymous sources who said they had seen a 2012 e-mail Aupetit sent by mistake to his secretary.
Aupetit denied being the author of the email and told Le Point that he didn’t have intimate and sexual relations with the woman.

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“I did not have sexual relations with that woman….” Where did we hear that ? Ah, yes, Clinton ! And look what happened there.

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Phonsie won’t resign.
He’s like a bull in a China shop.🤓😜.
You would need to go over his head and pull the rug under him.
Money talks a lot in rcc circles. If you want rcc to change their ways or behaviours, you stop their source of revenue or income coming in.
For instance, schools or hospitals run by priests or parishes or religious orders, there is a massive revenues from these places 👆 to rcc’s Bank accounts. It can be done by the state to turn these schools or hospitals over to the state re transfer of power or ownership. Then rcc Bank accounts would be reduced in terms of numbers.
Once you stop their source of revenue, then they will change or comply with your request whatever it is asked of them.
Remember Cavan cardinal aka ‘excommunication blackmailer’ didn’t resign what was asked or demanded of him re Smyth/Boland interview /scandal.
Phonsie would do the same thing as Cavan cardinal, he is like a stubborn donkey, who refused to be budged or moved, even when slapped or kicked.
But I think there is more to Phonsie that we don’t know at this stage. Cos RP might have something on his ex boss.

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@ 6:28am
DG, I can’t decide if you are; Theo Kojak, Dick Tracy or Sherlock Holmes?
Or, maybe a combo of all three!

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Taking a dispassionate view it is perverse the Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan (a man with a doctorate in moral theology) can ignore with alacrity a major (ecclesiastical) sexual scandal within his own diocese (just like Bishop Deenihan in Meath, who ignored sexual scandal at Silverstream Priory).
Bishop Cullinan with the full knowledge that Richard Purcell had been credibly and repeatedly accused of misconduct and that these allegations were also known to the Abbot General of the Cistercians allowed Richard Purcell into his own Cathedral in Waterford. He then concelebrated with Purcell in the Mass in which Fr John McEneaney was ordained — with Purcell laying hands on McEneaney during the Rite of Ordination. It was the best example of demonstrable hypocrisy we have seen in the Irish Church in a considerable amount of time.
In this single act Cullinan displayed a monstrous lack of judgement. He demonstrated why he is wholly unsuitable to be a bishop, and if he had any decency, he would resign.

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Noticed Deenihan and cullinane have something in common.

1. Both bishops ignored sex scandals.

2. Abbot resigned and Dom benedict Anderson quit or forced to leave silverstream.

3. Purcell and kirby accused of sexual misconduct. RP resigned but not Kirby.

4. Both bishops ignored everything related to Mt Melleray and Silverstream in respective dioceses.

5. Which is worse Phonsie or Deenihan in your own opinion 😉🤔

6. Lack of proper governance in both dioceses.

7. Deehinan allowed Abourjaily to continue as did Phonsie or AG allowed RP to continue before RP resigned.

8. As you can see these are similarly in parallel to both dioceses. Rcc haven’t changed their leopard spots. 😜

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When are you all going to notice that *all* bishops ignore the bad behaviour, sexual and otherwise, of the clergy, and only act when forced to.
The *only* reason you all have safeguarding in the dioceses is insurers have forced them to have it.

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1:29
Safeguarding MUST be independent of the RCC.
Every Diocese on the Island of Ireland MUST be investigated.

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Again we have this deranged, almost daily call for every Irish diocese to be investigated. By whom and for what?

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+ Pat, is the Purcell Affair likely to rock the foundations of the Irish Catholic Church?
What’s your view ? This matter seems to be gaining more and more traction.

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It’s being rocked daily, and not by Pat, by the lying cheating clergy that abuse their vows and forget their initial engagement. Pat, just does a wonderful job at exposing the corruption (C), underhandedness (U), nerve (N) and tenacity (T) that have been the core of the RCC for centuries

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At last a comment bearing some resemblance to reality at 9:22.
The reason the Irish church is dead on its feet is the Irish church!

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Pat
You are to be congratulated on your tireless efforts to bring these issues into the public domain. This must be the most significant coup to date.
It is utterly dispicable how this corrupt organisation operates and if it wasn’t for you and your learned associates, these shameful individuals and this sham of a religious organisation would continue unchecked.
I wish you many years of health and fortitude in waging war with these moral criminals.

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Keep + Cullinane in your sights + Pat. There seems to be a great deal that is not right about him. So, do your usual thing, be patient, and keep pointing out the things that are wrong about him and the things that he doing wrong. Persistence and patience are the ways forward in seeking accountability and the truth. I suspect that + Cullinane is being looked at very closely by the Nuncio and Rome as well.

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EP 9:23,
We are all sinners and addicted to sin. You are right to ask for forgiveness and seek repentance.
Premeditated sinning is worrying. The individual who as resigned must reflect privately and be allowed to do so without the distraction of a public crucifixion.
Pax.

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You read Rerum Novarum and weep
You read the Ryan Report and weep.
You watch Of God’s and Men and weep.
Then you read this blog and weep.
Such high moral principles.
Such low moral practices.

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The most interesting question to have been asked over the past few days is who is/are the patron/patrons who promoted T. Deenihan to Meath. Did TD leave Maynooth in 1991 without a degree?

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He didn’t meet the not exactly taxing entry standards of the secular university in Maynooth, so he doesn’t have a BA. He did the in-house, sems only, two-year Diploma in Philosophy & Arts (aka “the sem course”).

It is easier to get into the Pontifical University so he subsequently matriculated onto the BD course and has a BD, plus he has postgraduate degrees from real universities, including his doctorate.

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12.39
Are you sure he did the BD? may have done the Diploma in theology. If so, he would have left without a degree.
Despite the condescending tone of your comment, the university of Hull accepted his philosophy and theology studies as meeting the entry requirements of their masters in education programme.

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The cathbots aren’t going to like this but there is too much talk about the church in Ireland. This is not confined to Ireland, the problem is the WHOLE RC church and this situation is repeated everywhere, it is rotten to the core, this is international and if you support it you are as much of the problem as Bishop Cullinanus.
Now wait for the pretend spiritual excuses and reference to other churches. I’m convinced people’s refusal to see it is what will end it, thank God.

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Because Mount Melleray Abbey is a monastery of Pontifical Right, as the Ordinary of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Bishop Cullinan has absolutely no jurisdiction. But he does have a moral duty to be a good steward of his own diocese. And here he failed lamentably. It is appropriate to criticise Bishop Cullinan for not preventatively suspending the priestly faculties of the now Fr Purcell in his diocese and publishing his Decree. Also, it is unlikely that Bishop Cullinan wrote the Apostolic Nuncio and/or the competent Dicastery of the Roman Curia demanding an Apostolic Visitation. So what we have in the diocese is a callous indifference to wrongdoing.

It is unlikely that the Bishop Cullinan will resign. And there will be no public outcry about Mount Melleray Abbey because the sexual misconduct was consensual between adults. But there would be an absolute outcry if the misconduct had involved a minor.

I am, however, pleased that the duplicity of Bishop Cullinan is being highlighted on the blog today.

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Bishop Phonsie is 62 so has another 13 years before he must submit his resignation. I would have thought leaving him where he is to serve out those 13 years is sufficient punishment. He won’t advance further now and must learn to live with the mundane existence of being a bishop of a diocese in decline.

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Excuse me but what about the faithful of the diocese? Do they not matter?
Thanks in advance for answering.

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Agnes my dear, the faithful of the diocese matter very much because of their ability to pay, pray and shut up. Apart from that, no they don’t. Surely you know that 😂

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Thanks for answering 1:24 but with that attitude I won’t put another red cent in the church coffers.

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I doubt that you’ve been to Mass in years, “Agnes”, so we’ll manage without your red cent.

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Monasteries have a funny effect on people and cast a spell that makes you see them as otherworldly, ethereal places. Even in the monastery you get this effect, which often means another monastery casting its spell on you.
In reality behind the scenes in monasteries they are marked by behaviour which would result in at least instant dismissal in the workplace.
Everyone is getting caught up in Mount Melleray spell and talked as if the Irish Cistercians are the innocent victims in this, whereas they are the cause of the problem.
They have seen Purcell through visiting, postulancy, noviciate, temporary and final profession, ordination to diaconate and priesthood, and two abbatial elections and they have let him sail through. I don’t know if they have scrutinies in the noviciate but those would have been further opportunity to end his career.
And don’t start making out that they’re unworldly and naive – a comment yesterday said anyone who meets him knows what he’s about. It also cannot be the case that they had to elect an unsuitable abbot because nobody else was available – they can ask for help from the congregation or if things are bad enough, the chapter can petition for suppression.
The Irish Cistercians have a self inflicted problem here.

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This individual presents an interesting take on the scandal that is Mount Melleray Abbey and Bishop Cullinan. He is not in possession of all the facts, however, it is a reasonable précis.

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This individual, Mr Robert Nugent (he of the succession of banned and deleted Twitter accounts) is very close to Silverstream and Kirby, and uncomfortably so; thus, one could say that his failure to mention the connections of the Purcell matter with the Kirby matter is rather more serious than not being in possession of all the facts.

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This guy, like all RCs has a little difficulty with reality, for example ‘an ex priest’ is not an adequate description of Bishop Pat Buckley 😂

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😂 This video is an exercise in deflecting attention away from Silverstream Priory, Kitty Kirby, and the shambolic visitation by Deenihan, Coffey, Purcell, and Dullea.

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yes let’s all listen to rational commentary from an anti-vaxx fundamentalist nut! the man looks totally mentally deranged.

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I knew English priests who were prayerful and used the English masses (all three versions). I think the biggest danger in the RCC in E&W is from international head office enclave (with its entrenched agents), and a close second is the various interlopers from Ireland, USA, Australia, or Spain and their proxies.

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Paul Givan, the First Minister of NI and DUP MLA, has been excommunicated by the Free P’s for attending the ecumenical service in Armagh presided over by Amy. The partication of Amy was another Amy own goal. Far from helping the task of reconciliation that service has harmed it.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/11/29/news/dup-silent-on-claims-paul-givan-has-quit-the-free-presbyterian-church-over-ecumenical-row-2521364/?fbclid=IwAR1ou93NkWy5J26fUSjsBQiXaRQjApXuKYJoH9fIpWcl0wwjqreov3Ub6g4

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The Purcell scandal has only begun. Richard has information on others within the RCC, he will not be a fall guy, it is not in his nature to disappear into the darkness. Other Abbots and Bishops will be very nervous. This is a serious problem for the RCC.

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1.27
He is where the Hily Father called him to be. Ireland is mission territory (densly populated with people like you.)

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Fr Noel Weir diocese of Meath recently ordained moved to MSJ for a period as a novice and has now moved back to diocese of Meath.

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Two recently ordained Derry priests also went off to joins orders and have returned with their tails between their legs.

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@ 1:41 pm Which orders did they join and why did they return. Thank you.

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@3.57m
From the 18 September 2021 Derry Diocese clerical changes:
* Rev Peter O’Kane to return from the Irish Dominican Province to be CC Drumragh (Omagh) and CC Langfield.
* Rev James Devine to return from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception to be CC Holy Family, Ballymagroarty.

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Monaghan’s silence is deafening, surely he’d wish his friend well on his retirement? I await his statement….

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Pat I can’t be bothered to look back over your comments about Richard Purcell over the past few months. You might remind me the man that you allege that he was in a sexual relationship with, was he over the age of consent and were both men consenting to what they did.
If both were consenting is there really a story in this, apart from gutter journalism at its very best.
If sex acts took place and it was not consenting then it is a case of rape and should be reported to the relevant authorities. Historical sex cases could be a little more difficult to prove but I am sure the authorities would still be interested.
If the sex acts were consensual does it need anybody else to get involve, be it a Bishop or the superior of a community. If it is wrong for two people of the same sex to be involved in sexual relationship then there should only be one man that will judge them, and that is not you, any of those that read what you have to say, a Bishop or Superior.
Let those who judge others and their actions stand in front of a full length mirror and have a good long look at themselves and ask themselves “Am I fit to judge anybody”. If you are honest with yourself Pat your answer would be that you are most certainly not and neither are many of those who read what you have to say, myself included.

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No. Many many students would have became priests had they navigated through seminary without being stoped for ‘holding-hands’ with another student. So why should priests or abbots be any difference. They need to be kicked up the hole and out the door or else all those students asked to leave seminary need to be invited back. You take a public vow of chastity you need to be called out for hypocrisy especially when you don’t stand up for gay rights from the pulpit. That simple.

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The unwritten rule is no hanky-panky before ordination because if you’re caught you’re booted out, but after ordination anything goes.

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@4:48 all the more reason for the ones asked to leave seminary to highlight the ordained hypocrites who ride or suck in lay-bys or visit gay saunas. Equality and all that.

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Frank Duhig, when he was Junior Dean in Maynooth used to ask sems to their face if they were gay, if he thought that they were gay. If they answered yes, they were dismissed, so the temptation was to lie.

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Bishop Len
We would all be very much more happy with your own formation if you didn’t think that God was a man.

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2:02
I have done what you suggested and as a result of my look in the mirror can truthfully tell you I’m well fit and ready to judge.
Actually your point, like the many protests we hear about being merciful, is pseudo spiritual claptrap.
Christians should judge and certainly should not be wishy washy about an abbot whose superior has admitted he’s been putting it about.
Incidentally your argument has also been used about paedophilia which just shows it’s nonsense.

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There are. He has changed the colour of his office from a greyish white to a very risqué whiteish grey. All done without consulting the Diocesan Advisors on colour and decoration.

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3.03
So do An Post and Royal Mail. They’ll have lost business.
As irritating as he can be, he’s not as bad as the hypocrite and near sedevacantist Bela Lugosi Dracula.

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I can confidently inform readers, now the matter is in the public domain, that Jim S personally gave the email from the archbishop of Paris to his lover, to the Papal Nuncio and this is what has been keeping him from here.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves, making fun of him when he is engaged on work of such importance.

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“I wonder where .. stands on the .. / .. issue and other such issues.”
🙈
The bishop of Galway had the courtesy to respond to an email a few weeks back.
If I was a bishop and I received an email about a Cistercians matter, I’d be less inclined to reply back the next time there is a more legitimate email regards what would be a diocesan matter.
Pax.

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Oul Gossip Alert @ 4:34pm
You should not have mentioned Jim S you’ve made him get out of the bog. Only to praise himself and insult his betters. Like dear Bella whose character is without a blemish unlike the illiterate Jim S. a nasty piece of DROSS altogether

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Pat Mustard aka Oul Gossip Alert aka Jim S Etc, Etc Etc
I’m very happy to tell you The Third Secret of Fatima it concerns you and your likes. You will burn for eternity in Hell. I hope that answers your question.

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What’s biting, Bella? To the best of my knowledge, Bella, I’m not mentioned in the third secret.Your mixing me up with Fr. Malachi Martin or Fr. Nicolas Gruner or Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. Ask Jim to tippy tap Rome! (lol)

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Pat, there appears to be a person commenting all day trying to deflect away from various bishops role in all of this.
I hope you have alerted your contacts in the Sunday World to this story.

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Is Seamus Hennessy who did the slow course (Diploma) in Maynooth now in the college or is he advising the monks in Roscrea? Wasn’t he in a certain bishops year in Maynooth?

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Yes Seamus Hennessy is Dean of Students, Head of Admissions, Head of Boarding and is also of the Board of Management in Cistercian College. He is very close to both Richard Purcell and Malachy Thompson. He has considerable commercial interests outside of the school in a transport company, posts offices and media companies. He advises the Cistercians on public relations and marketing. He is a key player in the Irish Cistercian landscape. Yes, he was in Maynooth seminary with a member of the Catholic hierarchy.

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He did the dip in Maynooth not the degree. He advises the school on PR. He is not the head of boarding, Felix Ross is head of boarding.

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5:37pm it’s my understanding that Hennessy as Dean of Students is in charge, Ross answers to Seamus Hennessy. Granted he no longer has title of Head of boarding he still has an apartment in the boarding house and represents the boarding house on the board. He advises more than the school on PR. He continues to advise Fr Malachy and until recently Mount Melleray. He is very close to Malachy Thompson and Dick Purcell.

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@5:37 you’re talking nonsense. The late Gary Halpin RIP was head of boarding. The current head of boarding is Felix Ross. Before Gary, there was Niall McVeigh who was head of boarding and Vice President.

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Says it all if he’s advising them no wonder the Roscrea monks are getting ready for Mount Melleray

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It’s a bit odd that Hennessy’s name keeps cropping up here on this blog. Didn’t realise he was a key mover within the OCSO.

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He’s not. He’s a dean in the school. The Cistercians are wise and make their own decisions.

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‘The Cistercians are wise and make their own decisions.’
Not being funny but we’ve seen how wise their decision making is 😂

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“Seamus Hennessy is a Housemaster and Director of Admissions and is one of our longest serving and most experienced members of staff. Before he came to Cistercian College Seamus was a journalist in Limerick. He left journalism to take a break from that life and concentrate on studying for a Master’s in a quiet, academic atmosphere of a 100-year-old monastic college.
Seamus meets all new prospective Parents and Students personally and is available to deal with any queries.” I hope the prospective parents are been given the full and honest picture of what a Cistercian monastic school is like and what has been going on.

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Who would send their son to a Cistercian boarding school in Roscrea when all we know what went down involving the abbot there and a priest from the local diocese. Obviously they will try and keep quiet but anyone who knows the campus is aware that the school and abbey and the one building. It’s wreckless and shocking what happened.

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6.48
Do you think Irish primary and second-level schools are staffed by unmarried virgins and men and women in monogamous marriages?

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Mon Nov 29, 2021 – 10:29 am EST
PARIS, France (LifeSiteNews) — Michel Aupetit, the archbishop of Paris since 2017, tendered his resignation to Pope Francis on Friday, shortly after having been accused by the French weekly Le Point of having had an intimate relationship with an adult woman in 2012.
News of the offer to resign was leaked by Le Figaro; Archbishop Aupetit did not deny his offer but said he had wanted to keep the move a secret in order to allow the Pope to decide whether to accept it or not “in total freedom.” He did repeat that he rejected the accusations.Aupetit is deeply disliked by the left for having abruptly shut down the very progressive pastoral center of Saint-Merry parish in the heart of Paris earlier this year, which he replaced with another progressive group, the Community of Sant’Egidio. But his attitude towards traditional Catholics, his harshness towards a priest accused of not respecting COVID restrictions during France’s second confinement, and his disgusted finger-pointing at those who continued to receive Holy Communion on the tongue despite the “sanitary crisis” show Aupetit as an aggressively ideological anti-traditionalist.
What is the truth behind the accusation? It came at the end of a lengthy story by Marie Bordet and Violaine de Montclos, in which the two journalists listed the many grievances of Aupetit’s clergy against their hierarchical superior – few seem to have found a father in this man whose “authoritarian” and “condescending” style – “a giver of lessons,” as the French put it – has visibly created much bitterness on all sides.
It appears that this bitterness, or at any rate concern, about seeing a man who showed so little support for so many of his priests continue as the head of one of France’s most important dioceses must have played a role in the leaking of his alleged history of disregard for the rule of celibacy.
It took over nine years for the information about Archbishop Aupetit’s possible affair with a woman to whom he was giving spiritual direction to hit the media. The accusation was founded on an email to her that Aupetit is said to have accidentally transferred to his ex-secretary in 2012, according to Le Point. The email purportedly suggested the intimate relationship between Aupetit, who was the time vicar-general of the diocese of Paris, and the letter’s original addressee.
The ex-secretary carefully kept the email. At what point was it revealed to members of the Parisian clergy? Le Point asserts, and according to sources consulted by LifeSiteNews the episode did in fact take place, that Aupetit’s team of close collaborators were made aware of the piece of evidence in the spring of 2020.
If there was indeed a liaison between the vicar-general and a consenting adult, a woman who came to him for spiritual direction, this would not constitute a penal offense, but it would have gravely contravened the priest’s vow of celibacy. As Le Point points out, faced with a priest in such a situation, Aupetit would have had to suspend him – while being securely in place as a bishop with a similar transgression to his discredit.
Which is why Aupetit was confronted with the email by a small group of collaborators – the fewer than ten people who had actually read it – asking for explanations and seeking to manage the looming storm. Aupetit became entangled in unsatisfactory explanations, first saying he would step down, and then going back on his word.
By May 2020, in a climate of broken trust, the email was brought to the attention of the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Mgr. Celestino Migliore. Migliore did not confirm nor deny to Le Point that an internal investigation was then initiated. The weekly states, however, that the case was entrusted to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, a former Archbishop of Paris, by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Congregation for the Bishops in Rome.
“It seems that since then the investigation has been mired somewhere between Paris and Rome,” wrote the journalists. This would not be a good mark for Cardinal Ouellet, who is charged with keeping an eye on the proper functioning and reputation of the men in charge of the Church’s dioceses — successors of the Apostles, to boot.

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When Fr ***** **** was caught in bed last year with a married woman it was quickly hushed and silenced and he was sent on a sabbatical for a while before returning. The RCC must have gave her a good leaving ticket, she exploited the priest for monetary purposes. Nasty

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It’s unfortunate Cistercian College is embroiled in this scandal. They are up against it survival wise even without this affair.

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Another chap who will want to keep his head down. Considering Roscrea abbey is in his diocese and a priest of his diocese had an encounter with Dick Purcell in the school kitchen is it any wonder he didn’t make a statement ?

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Excellent to see. Even if it’s an ETB school it’s wonderful to see such willingness to embrace difference. A bit healthier than a dirty abbot having it off with a local priest behind the monastery cowsheds.

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I should imagine Cullinan and Purcell were putting on a united front to annoy you, Bp Pat, but it has backfired spectacularly. It often happens doggie style too.

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