Clergy and laity in Down and Connor have told the Blog that Fr Rory Sheehan has been telling people that he is leaving the priesthood and moving to England with his current boyfriend.
Apparently at a recent wedding he said: “This is my last wedding”.
At another time he has been quoted as saying “My time is up”.
NOEL TREANOR in Down and Connor is facing a massive priest shortage.
Two other PPs in their 60s are leaving this year on health grounds.
NEWS FROM A GROUP OF SCOTTISH PRIESTS
“Bishop Pat,
All we have said to you about any cleric in Scotland is FACT and public knowledge.
This is true in regards to Mgr Hugh Bradley, Mgr Paul Murray, Canon Anthony Gallagher, Deacon Christopher Morris etal”.
For those in any doubt we will this week reaffirm this knowledge of their behaviors with another statement.
We have emailed the Nuncio but no reply as you’d expect.
We will this week make further contact with both a radio and newspaper journalist whom we have spoken to before though they have both said that running stories on ‘gay’ priests is not very popular.
PAT SAYS
With all the changes in the law and the modern tolerance of sexual orientation stories of gay people are non stories for many newspapers.
Also these priests and seminarians have broken no law or committed any crime as the law sees such activity as being consenting adults.
Rather, these are matters affecting Catholic morality and discipline.
A sexually active priests is regarded as the Church as breaching his promise of celibacy or his vow if chastity.
The issue is not criminal
Within the Church it is a moral and disciplinary matter.
As the RCC sees homosexuality as a “disorder” sexually active gay priests are “disordered”.
Are “disordered” people suitable for priesthood
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 