A MAJOR ROW HAS ERUPTED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN AND THE ARCHBISHOP HAS REMOVED TWO PRIESTS FROM RATHGAR PARISH.
Paul Taylor, a long time pet of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, was removed from Rathgar after only two years and sent to the less elegant parish of Beechwood Avenue. We don’t know if his closeness to Diarmuid Martin was a factor.
Michael Commane, a Dominican priest who has been “parish chaplain” in Rathgar for 10 years has been abruptly send back to his religious order.
The archbishop Dermot Farrell, asked Commane’s superior Fr John Harris to take him back as the diocese no longer required his services – in spite of the priest shortage in Dublin!
Farrell acted under Canon 682 of Canon Law which states that a religious priest with a diocesan appointment can be removed either by the bishop or his religious superior.
The whole scrap started when Paul Taylor sacked two lay parish workers and dismissed the parish Council.
Why Taylor took these executive decisions is currently unclear.
There was a row about disputed minutes of the parish council meeting.
Farrell had previously set up a diocesan mediation procedure which did not work.
The process shows that Dermot Farrell is capable of tough and quick action when required.
**** The Blog is interested in hearing from Dublin priests and parishioners on this matter.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 