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FATHER EAMON CONWAY.

Yesterday, a newish name came up on the blog – Father Eamon Conway.

Professor Conway is a priest of the archdiocese of Tuam who is currently based in Ireland as the Head of Theology and Religious Studies at Mary Immaculate College.

As well as authoring and editing several books, Fr Conway has served on a number of Irish government advisory bodies. These include the Information Society Commission, for which he chaired the Working Group on Ethics & Values in a Digital Age. He also served on the Advisory Panel of the Irish National Economic and Social Development Learning Office.

In 2012 Pope Benedict appointed him as an expert advisor to the XIII World Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation. Since 2011, Prof Conway has been Chair of the Peter Hünermann Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Theology in Europe.

In 2014 he was appointed to the expert panel of the Holy See’s Agency for promoting quality assurance in pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties for a five-year period, and in 2015 he was appointed to the Theology Committee of the Irish Bishops’ Conference.

FULL TALK

PAT SAYS

I have never met Eamon Conway but not having met people never stops me talking about them on this blog.

I listened to the YouTube talk above and was impressed by his knowledge and his presentation skills.

I also learned from the talk.

I liked his stressing of the fact that lay people do not get their priesthood from the hierarchy but from God through their baptism.

In other words, they are not called by bishops and priests but by God.

Therefore, their calling to ministry should  not depend on the nod or wink of the bishop or PP because they are favourites of these men.

He also made me rethink a term I often use – “extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist,” without giving the term much thought.

Really, I had never thought of a lay person as an ordinary minister of the Euchharist.

He also raises interesting points about mandatory celibacy and the permanent diaconate.

I found his material thought provoking and I found him easy to list to and in no way off-putting.

EAMON CONWAY – THE MAN?

People have said that he is very ambitious and anxious for promotion to the episcopate?

Others have said that he has been passed over because “he backed the wrong horse, whatever that means.

People might tell us what that means.

He has plenty to say but has been careful not to fall foul of the hierarchy.

Apparently, in the past, enquiries were made among his friends about his suitability for a mitre?

It is said that Eamon himself supplied the names and contact details of friends that those in authority might quizz?

I think many lay people in the Church don’t realise the politicking that goes on between bishops and clergy.

I don’t know if Eamon has a well placed “sponsor” to help him with his advancement?

Well placed sponsors do help, apparently.

The Cavan Mafia always had Sean Brady to rely on.

Brady must be losing influence now?

Even Brady could not help Paul Prior in the end.

151 replies on “FATHER EAMON CONWAY.”

The consecration of Russia and Ukraine is a classic example of religion elbowing in on a situation between states and thinking it has the answer.
Because you will make out that what you did worked either way and there is no way of measuring what would have happened with and without the consecration.
If peace happens you will attribute it to Our Lady.
If the invasion escalates into a world, or even nuclear, war, your only options are either that Our Lady wants the world dead (and who could blame her), that Putin is a naughty boy and didn’t listen to her tapping on his shoulder, or most likely, that God and the BVM haven’t intervened.
Now it is at this point that you’ll all start on about free will…..
The idea that people praying on the other side of Europe would have any effect on an invasion and particularly Putin, is performative nonsense and virtue signaling of the highest order.

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It’s also self-serving cynicism of the highest order. An attempt at self-rehabilitation, in face of an ongoing global scandal of priests’ sexually assaulting children, by using an escalating international crisis to make itself look relevant and useful.

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10.49 and 9.17: Total cynicism and rubbish talk. Hundreds turned up to Churches in solidarity with Pope Francis and many Ukranians joined local church communities for the gesture of prayerful support and care. And – these same church communities are to the forefront of being welcoming, compassionate and kind to all Ukranians. Critics and cynics are very plentiful but sit back while others act with justice and compassion. Get a grip…

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9.42
I posted at 9.17.
Why did Pope Francis wait so long to perform his little ritual? The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on now for weeks, and yet, the pope waits until yesterday to offer his religious mumbo-jumbo?
Now I’m not being cynical at all, but could it possibly have had anything to do with the pope’s giving the global media time to set up shop and so report, on a world stage, the Vatican’s self-publicity stunt? I do hope that this does not sound cynical. God forgive me if it does!
You see, if the pope really believes that a consecration to Mary would do any good here, then wouldn’t he (shouldn’t he?) have done it weeks ago, even before the war started? The fact that he waited so long would make, well, even Mary herself cynical about his motives.
The consecration could have been performed privately, without the ceremonial fanfare so beloved by the Vatican. And without all the positive news headlines for the Vatican. But then, what do suffering Ukranians matter to the Vatican, except as a photo opportunity.
Cynical? Me? Not a bit.

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Stop being cynical, 10:21! The entire world was astounded to turn to the news today and find the BVM hasn’t somehow ended it overnight. 😜

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10.21
Simple answer to your conspiracy theory: March 25 is the Feast of the Annunciation and of the Incarnation, one of the greatest feasts of the calendar.

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11:04 So we have to wait for a great feast to intervene to stop unnecessary slaughter?
You people are really scary.

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11.04
Simple answer to my ‘conspiracy theory’? Callous answer, more like.
So, because 25 March is ‘one of the greatest feasts in the calendar’, this justified the pope’s delaying, by weeks or months, the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to Mary (and, incidentally, the help, too, of Mary… if you believe in all that) and, therefore, risking the avoidable deaths of hundreds of Ukrainians, including children ? If there’s a logic here, it escapes me. Mary, too, probably.
No. Either way, the pope’s goose is now cooked. If he TRULY believed that such a consecration would be efficacious, then he would have acted immediately. Much sooner than he did, and more urgently, too. The fact that he did not tends to suggest that the Pope believed no such thing about the publicity-seeking stunt at the Vatican yesterday.
When it comes to the motives of RC clergy, especially the pope and bishops, cynicism is essential.
BTW, wasn’t Russia consecrated to Mary before? And much good it did.

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Exactly, 11:56. Much like the fire brigade putting out a fire ASAP rather than waiting for the signs to be favorable.

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11.56
It was just a matter of inexorability, given your first principles, that you would blame Pope Francis for the slaughter in Ukraine. A moment’s self-reflection will be enough to show you just how bankrupt your thinking, or your sentiments, more likely is. But given your longterm outpourings here, it wouldn’t be advisable for you to hold your breath.

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11.55
Not quite. It isn’t a matter of having to but rather, of finding an appropriate time.

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4.16
I did not, at 11.56, blame Pope Francis for the slaughter in Ukraine, but for delaying a consecration he appears to believe will help the situation there.
If Francis TRULY believed such an act efficacious, then there was a moral imperative on him to act much sooner than he did, in order to save human lives. So Francis either acted with grave immorality for not consecrating Russia and Ukraine earlier, or he did not really believe such an act helpful to those nations in any way. If the latter is true, then Francis must have postponed performing the deed until it was opportunistic for the Vatican.

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@10:49: One of the best comments I’ve seen. “Astounded?”: nay gobsmacked, although maybe she was too busy “appearing” somewhere remote to some sheepherders or children. Takes a lot of effort “keeping up appearances!”
MMM

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10.49
“They say that if a butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazonian rain forest, it can change the weather half a world away. Chaos theory. What it means is that everything that happens in this moment is an accumulation of everything that’s come before it. Every breath. Every thought. There is no innocent action. Some actions end up having the force of a tempest. Their impact cannot be missed. Others are the blink of an eye. Passing by unnoticed. Perhaps only God knows which is which.”

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But 9:49, if chaos theory is behind any results of the consecration, what if Our Lady turns Putin gay and makes him marry the pope, and they together continue war crimes in Ukraine?
Be careful what you wish for.

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10.21: Of course you’re cynical. Totally. Yoyr cynicism prevents you from seeing it. Since this war began, Pope Francis has referenced it many times and prayed every day for Ukraine and Russia. He chose to consecrate these nations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION, 25th MARCH as a worldwide Catholic gesture of prayerful support. Indeed, his gesture is appreciated by most well intentiined and caring Christians. Thousands, if not, millions of Catholics joined with Pope Francis yesterday. Wonder what public square (or Church) did you stand in to express solidarity with Ukranians or to express your opposition to Russia, if you have such opposition?

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10.07
Yes. And how do you manage your detox.
10.23
Theory, sure. From the Greek to look at, to see, to observe i.e. empirical examination – one of the ways we humans learn. Well spotted.

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10.48

I did something much more useful and efficacious than standing in a cold church or square and offering up a mind-numbing succession of pious-sounding, meaningless mantras whose only significance is making believers feel self-important, and pleased with themselves.

I made a substantial donation for Ukrainian refugees and registered to house as many of them as I can take.

Erm, what did your ‘lady’ do?

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12.07
I doubt that very much. Whenyou take a note from your wallet, the people pictured there blink because they see the sun so little.

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Ukraine and our reading on the 25th day of Lent:
25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
…
25: 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
…
25:44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Pax.

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Thank you @ 10:49. You put it nicely.
The genesis of religion lies in human intellects’ failure to cope with emotional insecurity when faced with threatening realities, life’s miseries, and ultimately death.
Quasi organic pariah like institutions, primarily religious, have always created explanatory gods, for fire, flood, thunder, famine and the like. Super pariah, priests, druids, witches and the like, feed on religious beliefs. Waving a ju-ju stick, incantations to the spirit world, sacrificial offerings, swinging the thurible, raising the host at mass: they’re all of the same theme: follow us and our power will save you.
Praying = wishful aspiration for followers: power and sustenance for the priestly caste.
MMM

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Thanks, MMM. I’m 19:49.
If it was actually going to help the situation the next natural question would be why the church doesn’t just consecrate the whole world and we would have perfect harmony.
It would be much better if they would be honest and admit that praying is about them feeling they’re doing something.

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10.15am: MMM…Come down from the mountains Mick the Mournful, come down..you’re lost in the mists of the Cooleys…Did you write just ineessay in your thesis of How to Hate and Mick Religious Belief? You seem to repeat the same “chapter and verse” almost on a daily basis, once GOD is mentioned. Rather strange, isn’t it Mickser…but you give us a laugh..🤣🤣🤣🙂😎😎

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Precisely, 10.52! That is what those efforts were aimed at: not helping Ukrainians, but at helping themselves feel relevant and useful.
These people will jump on any bandwagon; exploit any human crisis. Especially the Vatican.

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12.07: Mr. Silly Cynic: I won’t waste much more space on you. Prayer for those who are in danger of any kind is a great comfort of thoughtfulness and solidarity. And – of course our prayer was and is turned into practical action of material and financial support. But I won’t boast about the nature of such.. Our parishioners have been amazing with both praying for and supporting Ukranians. Amazingly so. Incidentally, many, many Ukranians attended prayer vigils yesterday. They are great Christians whose faith is deep and profound. If you are giving accommodation to Ukranians, which I doubt as you would be caring for them instead of finding time to be a laptop cynic, they will teach you much about faith, Jesus and prayer. Now off with you and taken the little ones for a party to show you “care”, like Jesus. …Cynic!

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Anon at 10.49am

Its precisely that reason that o don’t believe fatima apparitions. Also I had visited that place twice to experience the emptiness.

That place had been approved a Bishop of leira as ‘worthy of belief’.

Vatican are basing it on a private revelations which couldn’t be verified. Its just a conversation between 3 kids and our lady whose conversation didn’t match each other.

Other tidbits might be of interest to you.

1. A priest named Fr Formiago questioned the children at various stages. The most controversial one was that our lady was wearing a skirt. He couldn’t prove it. He was sidelined by a bigwig priest or ecclesiastical bigwig later on.

2. One of the children’s father was an atheist which he remained. He wasnt convinced by it.

3. A priest named fr Dhanis questioned lucia story as she was changing her story as time went on. He coined it as ‘fatima 1’ and ‘fatima 2’. He was promoted successively over the years until he ended up in gregorian University I think. The reason I think was the Vatican or the bigwigs in curia didn’t believe the version of Fatima. Hence a succession of promotion for Fr Dhanis.

4. Her prediction re WWII came late in 1941 as she wrote the book after the fact.

5. The issue of ‘two lucia’ s which a trad Catholic website exposed it. They went it further as to vet her signature which didn’t match it. Link is available if you are interested🤷‍♂️😉

6. That consecration was done a few times in 1942,1952 and 1984. Why do it again 🤷‍♂️🙄

Nuff said re👆

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The factual reality DG, is that any aspect of religion, its beliefs and foundations, when subjected to objective analytical examination, turns out to be spurious, and simply maintains credibility from indoctrination, the herd instinct, and human insecurities.
My “Cooley Neighbour” above is but one example of the poverty of “religious thinking.”
MMM

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MMM 11:57, some people have a high PQ (Prayer Quotient). Some people do not. It is understandable that some people cannot see the power of prayer.
You might not be able to see the Dublin Hills (not a mountain!) from the Mourne Mountains, but it doesn’t mean the Dublin Hills aren’t there.
Pax.

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4.27: If anyone wants to boast, let them boast about the Lord…(St.Paul..). Any good work done for others is for the greater glory of God. You should try it…..

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It is also an oddly phrased text with words that literally translate from Italian to ‘land of the earth.’ It was requested by the tiny contingent of Latin Rite Churchmen in Ukraine. What was carried out has happened at least three times starting with Pius XII, and so a bit redundant. Francis might have well have tried what was asked of Sr Lucia in a vision of c. 1928. This private revelation promises peace if it is carried out. Supposedly Sr Lucia said it was, but it was in a typescipt or early word processed letter which she would never have used. The Greek Rite Catholics and Orthodox priests (under at least three jurisdictions) provide spiritual comfort, whether through Divine Liturgy or their haunting hymns.
Two Ukrainian hymns to the Bless Virgin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruPqbsRac00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6NUfikuxSY

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Lucia was put in a prison her whole life and constantly pressured (on occasion, not maliciously).
Communion is as communion does, in more countries than just two, since 1960 (Seamus’ readings 9.10)

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MM at 11.57am
Interesting when you said re objective analytical examination.
Fr formiago did that as the fatima story sort of fell apart. But he was sidelined as he never spoke about it except for his book which I’m not sure. His name was bandied about in one book that I can’t rem. Think it’s Marchi book.
I rather have an objective examination of the facts to seperate the wheat from the chaff.
‘worthy of belief’ sounded vague.
OTT or excessive marianology in fatima put me off. I prefer lourdes to fatima cos I did experience it.
I would be forced to eat my words if I got my hearing back in fatima, just jesting 😉😜🤣

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“If I got my hearing back.” “BACK?”… your loss from presbycusis; or sudden from injury/illness? Hearing aid user, but finding them ineffective? Am interested.
In any case, what an odd capricious God these “believers” rely on for salvation. He allows wars by free willed Putins, then, if sufficient placatory prayers are offered, he might, or might not intervene. Or he might heed his mum’s pleas, …….or he might just mark the human workbook: “Must try Harder.”

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Leitrim len at 1.23pm
U hearing aid user?
I dumped my hearing aid long ago cos a bully was shouting at me in work. Once I took them out, they stopped it as said no need for it.
Many deaf don’t like hearing aid cos it was forced on them in deaf schools.
If you want to try a new one, newest fad named cochlear implant eagerily promoted by medical doctors, it will cost you an arm and a leg 💰💰💰. What they don’t tell you is that there is NO guaranteed success that it will WORK. Odds of a successful cochlear implant would range from 20% to 80% but never 100%. It depends on surgical skill, person ear anatomical structure and of course, luck as well. It’s like a Russian roulette.
U are better off sticking with a hearing aid.
I meant re fatima miracle if got 100% hearing back as I was saying in jest 😉

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DG. If you have previously had H.Aids you should be reassessed. Modern digital aids are tuned/computerised after assessment of the nature of specific loss, to enhance user’s specific auditory frequency loss and are incredibly better than old style analogues which simply magnified all sound, often uncomfortably so.
If in “UK/N.IRE ” referral to audiology services for NEW patients is initially via GP. I’m not familiar with other health services provision. Above all, don’t go to private providers. Their aids are no better and cost ££££.
I’ve used aids 25 years +, and have trained to repair them. In past eight years I fixed/serviced hundreds and talked to many users, so I do comment from knowledge.
And may I make a plea: don’t describe or consider yourself as just a “Deaf Guy”. You are a person, an individual with a hearing impairment. I also wear spectacles but would it be reasonable to describe myself as “Spectacles Wearer , or “Blind Guy?”

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11.57: MMM or a Mhichilin, don’t worry.. I keep a good eye on you as your neighbour. Have yet to see you ever giving a helping hand to anyone. Too long a critic…but no action to improve the suffering of humanity. Does your atheism forbid you to be proactive?

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4:16 cooley. You may well look across the lough at the Mournes, but the assumptions you make, and spout here, given that you have no idea of who he is, where he lives, or what he does, simply demonstrates the paucity, poverty and presumptious nature of your thinking processes.

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Pat, I have always thought highly of Eamon Conway: he’s intelligent, well informed, can argue cleverly and cogently and has an open mind about moral and dogmatic teachings, without being too liberal. He brings a freshness of clarity and thoughtfulness to his speaking and writing, all of which I find very challenging. I have to admit – I am shocked you are so positive and that you openly acknowledge his erudite abilities…We can, after all, learn from one another!!

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He is a great communicator going by the telecast from Boston. Thanks to +Pat for sharing. Plenty of food for thought.
As I said earlier in the week, a bishop is no holier than anyone in the diocese. He is no better than anyone else in the diocese. He merely stands in the place of Christ in the diocese.
At a parochial level, clergymen are no holier nor are they any better than anyone in the parish. The clergyman merely stands in the place of Christ in the parish.
Ordaining viri probati should be strongly considered for men in their 60s.

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Aaahh, Paul Prior, Captain Underpants. So good to be reminded. Failed seminar staff member, failed SJ novice and failed…..well,I guess the list could go on. Underpants expert and aficionado, tight trouser man. Well, I won’t hold that against him. I’m just hoping that wherever he is he is doing a decent job and has settled down and given up all the nonsense that got him on to these pages. I wish him well if he has. He needs to lead a quite life outside the public gaze, concentrate on his prayers snd being kind and pastoral to the people to whom he ministers. It will take time, but eventually that will put all the other stuff into the shadows. Stick at it, Paul !

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Eamonn (2 n’s) Conway is a good man and would make a great Bishop. He also has a long affiliation with Lough Derg where he serves the pilgrim people faithfully.

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How does he serve them faithfully? What do you mean?

I know that suckers (I mean pilgrims) to Lough Derg pay not a little for the, ahem, privilege of being starved for three days, and for sleep deprivation. Others would call this sadism, but I don’t suppose Conway would.

Yes, he serves the pilgrims faithfully indeed.

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I think this Conway man is quite decent Pat.
Church must move on celibacy because the clergy already have.
Armagh priest very homosexually active.
Intelligence does not guarantee integrity.
I am sure you are aware and will investigate.

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Eucharist is an idea whose time has gone (overheated by Pius X as Symmachus pointed out three days ago), therefore it doesn’t need ordinary ministers. We should minister by our intercessions, such as strings of plain Our Fathers and Glory Be’s (without counting them).
In my young day when most of the congregation sat out, most weeks, politicians could be afforded tactful cover (either way).

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@12:14am
If you don’t believe in The Real Presence you’re not a Catholic, by saying it’s an ‘idea’ whose time has gone you’re an apostate. I’m not impressed by Conway either he can’t even dress properly.

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9.29
Is what you mean that there are times when he chooses to wear a shirt and tie? Good for him to mix and match. I suppose you imagine the apostles wore mitres and belly bands when fishing.

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@9:29 I’m not sure Alvin is denying the Real Presence, but I cannot answer for another. Our ancestors prayed the Rosary or other prayers through Mass if they lack a missal or the inclination to use it. They might have a little prayerbook which gave some prayers. St Pius X was so pastoral, moved by the story of little Nellie Organ to reduce the age for First Holy Communion, and in Sacra Tridentina sought to encourage frequent reception, but for all his fiercely held strictures about worthy reception, it’s meant everyone makes a beeline for the EMHCs, now often given clerical garb of some sort, or just priests in traditional contexts. I think our ancestors had something we do not have by their focus on prayer through Mass. It somehow better represents the common priesthood or internal priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices. Some who were members of confraternities would be given Communion by a priest, and older missals have a rite for that. Anyhow internal prayer is surely the secret of someone staying Catholic. If someone focusses on a priest or bishop, they’ll stand to lose their faith. +Pat gave some examples of priests who must have been demons themselves.

Fr Conway is a clear speaker and does mention that the wedding or funeral attending by those who have ceased practicing can be missionary moments. Fr makes many good points, but perhaps some might be questioned. The suit is verging on ideological. The then Fr Ratzinger and others were making a statement at V2 wearing a suit. A priest’s suit or cassock can itself be form of witness, but Fr Conway is speaking to a private college seminar to which he travelled, and perhaps that’s what he had to hand. Still it takes some level of optimism to think something ‘beautiful and new’ will emerge.

Perhaps a more practical thing will be to get most or all bishops in Ireland to resign, merge or suppress dioceses and reappoint those found effective to a smaller number of dioceses. A small diocese can be pastoral keeping a personal link between bishop and lay person, most have an ancient pedigree, but it means a veritable army of bishops who are mostly not effective. Auxiliary bishops exist to keep that link in big dioceses. It is happening very slowly (maybe one merger under this Pontificate), but needs to happen faster, while Ireland still has decent number of practicing Catholics.

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Enquiries amongst friends regarding a mitre are not something to put too much weight on. I have known several such men – each of whom ultimately declined the mitre. I know two who turned down Cork & Ross after Bishop Murphy died. That Diocese waited about 2 years before the auxiliary was promoted. Both men were far superior candidates than John Buckley – aka The Clown.

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12.20
The diocese waited about 2 years?
Actually, one year and two months. Nothing unusual about that. JB wasn’t a coadjutor.

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@ 10:07am
No I don’t but I’m sure they dressed appropriately for fishing. You don’t see Patsy dressing in a shirt and tie. he wear’s clerical dress to show that he is a priest. Perhaps if more of them did that they wouldn’t end up in the trouble we constantly hear about on here.

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Conway is seriously, worryingly, out of touch with the new dispensation concerning RC priests and the laity. His descent into an abstract world of circumstance where he could, even given contemporary and ongoing issues of child rape and molestation by priests, still speak of the priest as ‘a man set apart’ (practically speaking: entitled, special, exceptional, holy, etc) demonstrates just how out of touch he actually is with the contmporary perception of priesthood among most lay Catholics. At best, this views priesthood and priests as a serious danger to children, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Priesthood has severely damaged the Church, perhaps irreparably. Questioning its very existence and relevance should, therefore, be one consideration (an obvious and primary one) in any, honest dicussion of it.
While priests like Conway continue to self-identify as men set apart, they are invoking the very ecclesial hierarchy which was the context of, and the facilitation for, the sexual-abuse criminality in the Church. This hierarchy, by definition, creates a power imbalance which, of course, greatly favours the clergy, and disadvantages the laity, particularly children. The temptations to abuse the power dynamic here, especially for priests as psychopathically dysfunctional as Fr Brendan Smith and his like, should be obvious, and a cause for very grave concern.
I’d have much preferred a critique of priesthood’s existence today rather than an ecclesiological reevaluation of its nature, function, and usefulness in the Church. The absence of the former in Conway’s lecture presumes a solid, irrefutable, biblical foundation for priesthood, which is entirely and undeniably moot.
Any discussion of priesthood which does not now include questioning its very existence is theologically and intellectually deficient, and hopelessly abstract; it is also dishonest. But then, Conway is a priest. Would he likely vote himself out of a job?
Now a lay contributor to that discussion would hopefully have had no such scruples.😕

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Excellent analysis.
I would just question whether the wilfully supportive of crime who prop up the edifice, would in fact have had no such scruples as you hope.
If your priest is raping children it’s time to query what your church is about, and if you don’t you might possibly be part of the problem.

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1.34
The assumptions behind this prolix and repetitive expression of sentiment on the part of this commenter ad nauseam on this forum may be summarised thus: even if what I say is false, if I say it frequently enough it will be true.

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10.20

Didn’t Goebbels say something similar?

So you take your inspiration…from a senior Nazi?

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10.31
Think again! Use your powers of reasoning.
If A influences B and C there is no implication that B influences C.

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1. Pope Francis is not decentralising.
2. In my young day the better priests saw themselves as collaborating in our spiritual life not the other way round like this man talks.

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On a laptop or PC open Paint. Click File and open the image you want. Then do all kinds of adjustments.

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Pat at 9:54
I find sometimes if I post the url of an image hosted elsewhere (I e. Ending in .jpg etc) it shows as an image and sometimes just shows the link.
Should’ve learned coding.

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@ 9:54 For example, right-click above picture, click open image in new tab, right-click and copy address along the top (e.g. https//….), and then paste in the comment box.

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Watch out for a clinker of an ordination in Armagh. And a few clinkers making special effort to attend. I’d say there’ll be a very ‘unique’ after party.

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10.40
Dear Patsy, ‘very unique’ is a vexing phrase. ‘Unique’ ought not to be modified by an adverb of degree.

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@ 11.16 am Anonymous:
Grammar would be the least of my concerns. Perhaps a deliberate diversion courtesy of yourself?
I would guess you will be in attendance at the ordination too by your soundings.
Repent and leave the double life.

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11.46
Dear Patsy, the medium is the message. Ruin the medium and you destroy the message.

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Anonymous @ 12.50pm
Nonsense. I am the medium, the vessel through which the message is conveyed, and Bishop Pat is the secondary medium, of course. The message is never the medium. Quite the uneducated slip from a ‘leader’ like yourself.
Which gin will it be at the afterparty?

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3:07 If you’re a medium can you ask our mother where she left her betting slips before she passed over, please? I looked in her missal (Desclée, 1953) but all I found was her pools.

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That’s a beautiful picture of the couple who are clearly in love. Lots of couples display their love in church, like at weddings and baptisms so nothing different here. Good for them x

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@ 4:54pm

Get a grip Peter ,it was not appropriate for two men to be kissing in a Church. Apart from that one of them was wearing a hat which was disrespectful to say the least. The Vicariate was quiet right to complain.

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Would Prof Conway not be better put into a parish in the diocese for which he was ordained (Tuam) instead of teaching trainee RE teachers in faraway Limerick? He is a diocesan priest, after all. Surely a qualified lay person could replace him in Limerick?

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His Maynooth classmate, Paddy Connolly of Clogher diocese is also teaching in Limerick (canon law in his case). He too should be in a parish. He did a short stint as a curate in Enniskillen shortly after ordination and was excellent at it, but has been an academic since then.

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1.18
I doubt if there’s demand in Limerick for canon law. Dr. Dr. Connolly works in administration where the possibilities for pastoral ministry are endless.

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12.17: What, Patsie, do you know in 2022 about parishes? NOTHING. Eamon Conway is exactly where he shoukd be: lecturing in Mary I’m evil are College. He is a good lecturer, authir and priest. Stop being thick. You are looking for information, as per usual, to “down” this good man. Get behind me Satan!!;

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Liam Lawton another example of a diocesan priest swanning around singing when he should be in a parish.

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1.46 Pm a parish is a local community, a gathering, or a flock of fellow Christians. Usually lead by a pastor, priest or Bishop.
And pastoral work is never restricted by the boundary of a church door.
Parish work is about making Jesus known in the world x

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There are too many priests outside their own dioceses including retired ones who are a drain on their original dioceses financial resources. I believe such priests should be recalled back to their original dioceses and put in a parish or if retired be made to do supply work. It has become a joke.

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13:32pm. I see your point and that sounds like a great idea; however, I have something of a gut feeling some reside outside of their respective dioceses for perfectly understandable, and legitimate, reasons…
And as much as their respective bishops would just love to take them back with open arms — the law is perfectly clear on anybody working with children or vulnerable persons. They must be able to satisfy, sometimes via enhanced DBS check, they pose no risk to children or vulnerable persons.
People are often surprised to hear these rules actually apply to Police officers and even judges, too. They are just ordinary men and women like everybody else. Yes, they may have very important roles within society, which is most probably why people expect such high expectations of them; but they are still very human with the same strengths and weaknesses as us all.
Even persons working with animal shelters or local farms have to be somewhat “vetted” by their local Council to assist in deciding whether-or-not they pose risk to animals or other defenceless protected wildlife.
Vets have to check that cattle, like cows and sheep, are being looked after properly.
Farmers and other animal owners are required to treat their livestock with care and respect. Branding cattle with hot-irons can seem such a cruel thing to do, and it is!
Incidentally, traditionally it was the Police and Courts who were relied upon to govern and supervise these areas; but serious breaches and failures, and cover-ups, have left no other option other than for necessary and strong Intervention.
I guess that’s also one reason the government had to set up departments like the IICSA to ensure the Police, Courts and local authorities are acting with fairness and complete impartiality…
The world of “Church” and “Politics”, or just “Church-politics” (the latter even more yucky!), can be a pretty untidy arena at the best of times.
I guess sometimes that’s why people can get so passionate about the human rights of others and their selves x

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12.16
Better be sure of your facts before you come up with prescriptive solutions. Trainee teachers come under the Education Dept. in Mary I. E. Conway teaches in the Theology Dept. There’s a long standing tradition that teaching theology is compatible with priesthood.

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Yes but he does teach Theology & Religious Studies Modules (Christology and Applied Moral Theology) on both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education programmes. MIC’s set up is similar to Maynooth by which the departments share lecturers on either programme. It’s mainly due to a cost saving measure.

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1.30
Since 1795 most of the teachers of theology to the clerical students of Ireland and beyond were diocesan priests. You’re out of step.

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12:16,
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
EC is exactly where he is supposed to be.

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Must be a recent appointment for him then . . . an office which guarantees great things, judging by any predecessors he has. Where has the most recent one been posted?

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Our Emyln gets everywhere and is leading a jolly sorry pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October. It’s ‘The Irish Catholic’ Newspaper’s tour. Handy if you can get it and obviously not much happening in his parish.

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7.26
Pilgrimage has an honoured place in the faith of the Irish from before Christianity.
So has begrudgery which, as your comment deftly illustrates, is alive and well.

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Is the Holy Land now an interchangeable phrase with certain pontifical universities in Europe?

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Was Cardinal Conway a good or bad man or like us all a deep dark mixture of both?
I remember reading about his connection or involvement with the priest or clergy wrapped up in the Claudy bombiings and a deal he cut with Willlie Whitelaw (every prime minister needs a Willie).
He must have been across Fr Patrick Fall – imagine a priest serving in the Archdiocese of Birmingham whilst also being a commander of an IRA active service unit – that sure puts the Birmingham pub bombings in a different light – with a Catholic priest saying Mass for his people on Sunday and planning a bombing campaign against them on Monday.

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The most surprising thing about Eamonn Conway’s home (Arch)diocese of Team is that when you check online to find out more about him, you discover the lazy Tuam tinkers still have M. Dreary listed as Archbishop.
No update to take account of the change of Archbishop, no attempt to maintain accurate records (where have we heard that before), the usual “it’ll do attitude” so beloved of many Irish dioceses and bishops.

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How long now has Dromore been sede vacante? Time to either give them a Bishop, amalgamate with Armagh or do what happened in Galway and Clonfert

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Redundancy usually means the job is no longer necessary. Well that would be true: it never was . But Redundancy usually entails compensation. Don’t like that thought.
Sack ’em all.

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Bishop Pat,
Have you seen the Armagh video for the vocations weekend? Words are chosen well when they talk about priests having their weaknesses too. In Armagh, it is reported that allowance for ‘weakness’ is made very often indeed. Does he mean homosexuality activity I wonder?

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An interesting point Eoin. Bishop Pat, a certain priest in Armagh has been behaving very badly indeed. A family member has been deeply affected by it. You are aware of the individual already I think? I’m absolutely certain you would be open to hearing my relative’s story, and providing support?

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