ASKING BISHOP OF TULSA ABOUT MARK KIRBY’S PAST.

Dear Bishop Konderla,

Greetings from Northern Ireland. I am Bishop Pat Buckley; I exercise an independent Catholic ministry from Larne. I am, however, known on the island of Ireland via the media and my blog, which exposes clerical wrong-doing and clerical recidivism. It is a vocation that I did not choose, but it is one that I have wholeheartedly embraced.

For some time, I have been highlighting on my blog allegations of sexual misconduct at Silverstream Priory, an Institute of Diocesan Right located in the Diocese of Meath in the Republic of Ireland. The aforementioned Institute is subject to the immediate jurisdiction of the local Ordinary, Bishop Thomas Deenihan.

You will, of course legitimately ask yourself why am I writing to you in Tulsa from Northern Ireland about an obscure Benedictine Priory that is obsessed with the Traditional Latin Mass and whose founding Prior claims to receive “directions” from the Tabernacle? The answer is simple — the founding Prior referred to above — Dom Mark Kirby relocated from the Diocese of Tulsa to the Diocese of Meath to establish his fledgling foundation at Silverstream Priory.

Therefore, I write with the questions that I trust you will answer promptly, directly, and without equivocation. Recently, I brought some concerns about Silverstream Priory to the safeguarding co-ordinator of the Diocese of Meath, and I copied my questions to the members of the Irish Parliament elected within the area that more or less constitutes the canonical territory of the Diocese of Meath. You are advised that one of these representatives, Ms. Helen McEntee TD, is the Irish Minister for Justice.

For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to make it clear that I appreciate that the matters addressed herein did not occur during your period of pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tulsa. However, that does not mean you can wash your hands of the scandal due to a lack of knowledge and/or seek to blame the decision-making of your predecessor are his inability to control one of his priests.

Nonetheless, what I am bringing to your attention may have implications for the Diocese of Tulsa, as I am hearing of a rumour of sexual misconduct that may have perpetrated by Dom Mark Kirby when his fledgling monastic institute was located within the Diocese of Tulsa. Again, I emphasise at the moment this is a rumour, however, the antecedents of the rumour comes from a Benedictine monk and priest, who is who is in a position of leadership within an American community; hence, it has significant credibility. But, I emphasise it is a rumour, and I hope to be contacted by the individual concerned in due course.

Upon receipt of the present, I would respectfully suggest that you immediately apprise yourself about the monastic foundation that was set-up by Dom Kirby in the Diocese of Tulsa and speak to a number of individuals who have first-hand knowledge of Kirby’s actions in your diocese as a matter of considerable urgency. Because, I can tell you categorically that the founding Prior of Silverstream Priory, Dom Mark Kirby, OSB, relocated from the Diocese of Tulsa to the Diocese of Meath to establish his fledgling foundation; that is an established and irrefutable fact.

It is my understanding that Dom Mark Kirby, before he came to the Diocese of Meath was incardinated in the Diocese of Tulsa? Is this true? Are you willing to confirm the canonical status of Dom Kirby when he was resident within the Diocese of Tulsa?

Did he [Kirby] leave the Diocese of Tulsa with the expressed written permission of Bishop Edward Slattery to set-up his monastic foundation in Ireland, 0r was Dom Kirby on a frolic of his own coming to Ireland?

If he did not come to Ireland with the permission of Bishop Slattery, would you accept the proposition that Dom Kirby was disobedient to his Ordinary?

Upon his arrival in Ireland, was Dom Mark Kirby in possession of a letter of good standing from his then Ordinary, Bishop Edward Slattery?

And, was that letter of good standing subsequently presented to the then Ordinary the Diocese of Meath, Bishop Michael Smith?

During his incardination in the Diocese of Tulsa: did Dom Mark Kirby, OSB, have unrestricted priestly faculties to minister in the aforesaid diocese?

During his time of ministry in the Diocese of Tulsa: was Dom Mark Kirby the subject of any complaint(s)? If so, are you prepared for the greater good of the Church to enumerate them? If not; why not?

Was Bishop Edward Slattery aware of allegations of sexual misconduct (of homosexual nature) with respect to Dom Kirby’s past association with the Dominicans and his time as a student at the Catholic University of America when the aforementioned Dom Kirby exercised priestly ministry within the Diocese of Tulsa?

Did Bishop Michael Smith of the Diocese of Meath and/or any individual exercising his [Smith’s] delegated authority contact the Diocese of Tulsa for letters of good standing and additional information pertaining to Dom Mark Kirby and his community when they were in the process of being canonically erected within the Diocese of Meath?

On what date was Dom Mark Kirby incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa? And, who gave Dom Kirby the letters required to incardinate in the Diocese of Tulsa?

Did Dom Kirby receive a canonical release from the Diocese of Tulsa to incardinate into the Diocese of Meath? If so, was this release signed by Bishop Slattery?

Are there any documents within the archives of the Diocese of Tulsa pertaining to Dom Mark Kirby that would be of interest to the Diocese of Meath and its safeguarding team? If so, are you willing to share those documents; if requested in writing? If not; why not?

Bishop Konderla, I appreciate you will not enjoy hearing from me. However, I have discovered a certain matters about Kirby that I am not at liberty to publish at the moment; but, the catalyst for the present is the fact that Catholic Boy Scouts were present at Silverstream Priory in the past. And, in light of what I have learned it would behove all of us to ensure that the mistakes of the past with respect to safeguarding are not repeated in the present.

You may wish to ask Bishop Slattery and his then assistant, Monsignor Brankin about these matters addressed within the present.

It is my custom and practice to publish all my correspondence on my blog, because I believe transparency is good for the Church. Nonetheless, if you request confidentiality in your reply, that would be respected, however, if you do not reply, I will ask the Irish safeguarding authorities to put these questions to you, directly.

I am also copying this e-mail to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Meath, Bishop Thomas Deenihan. As I have written in the past I am well-known to Bishop Deenihan, but not well-liked; however, that should not detract from the seriousness of the present.

With prayerful best wishes,

+ Pat Buckley