https://armaghi.com/news/craigavon-news/co-armagh-priest-acquitted-of-voyeurism-charge/199790
A Keady priest accused of voyeurism by spying on a woman in a changing room was found not guilty of the charge.
Having heard evidence from the complainant, District Judge Bernie Kelly said she had “not been satisfied to the criminal standard” so she was dismissing the single count against Father Aidan McCann.
She gave evidence that she had been in a changing cubicle in Rushmere Shopping Centre when she saw her curtain twitch a number of times, leading her to take a video of the incident on her mobile phone.
During cross examination from defence counsel Andrew Moriarty, the court heard there were a number of inconsistencies between her initial police statement and the evidence, and it was those inconsistencies that led to Father McCann being acquitted.
Acquitted vs. Not Guilty
“An acquittal does not mean that the defendant is innocent of the crime—only that the prosecutor failed to prove that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
PAT SAYS
I am sure that AIDAN MC CANN is greatly relieved that this matter has come to an end and that he emerges without a conviction.
We have no details of the woman who accused him.
If she was lying or exaggerating, she has justly been rejected.
If she was a genuine victim, whose evidence did not reach the benchmark for criminal law, she will be devastated.
If she has made a complaint to the Church, there will now be a canonical investigation.
Maybe there will be one anyway.
But let us remember, we are dealing with Amy and Armagh
Of all dioceses, Armagh is a diocese where clerical “willie” crimes and misbehaviours are almost absolutely tolerated.
They can even get you promoted and be given special opportunities 😞
TODAYS STATEMENT FROM AMY
On 12th April 2022 Fr Aidan McCann sought leave of absence and voluntarily stepped aside from all public ministry pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
“Since those legal proceedings concluded yesterday with the acquittal of Fr McCann, the Archdiocese of Armagh will now conduct the Church processes which are required in such instances. Fr McCann remains voluntarily stepped aside from all public ministry while this is ongoing.
“We offer our prayers and support for all concerned.”
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 
168 replies on “ARMAGH PRIEST AQUITTED OF VOYEURISM CHARGE.”
He is toast. This will cause titillation and gossip wherever he goes. She filmed him, and if she releases this on YouTube, he is over. He should just quit and save the church embarrassment
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If the alleged film is proof of wrongdoing, how come the court found him not guilty. I suggest that it cannot be such compelling evidence as you assume.
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You can feel the disappointment of a lot of the arseholes who haunt this blog. That this poor priest was not convicted wither he was guilty or not.
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It’s not a question of being found not guilty, rather the judge deemed the evidence to be lacking. That does not determine his lack of guilt, rather a lack of evidence to prove his guilt. He got off, he should count his lucky stars and leave the priesthood.
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12:22 We can sense the grace and kindness with which the years of hanging around the sacristy have graced you. 😂
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Judges have been known to break the law.
Judges are ordinary men and women don’t forget like you and me.
”The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.”
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11:31 Fr Aidan McCann does not care. He is a member of a big rich Vatican backed organisation and as everyone can see, the small guy or gal rarely succeeds in receiving justice from church or state. It’s all a moneyed Mafia. Keep out of their churches, don’t give them any money, they don’t need it and they only laugh at anyone outside their corrupt cliques anyway.
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Fr Aidan is innocent – a lovely man and priest accused in the wrong, vilified in the press and is actually homosexual. His internet history proved the same.
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1:34 isn’t a Roman Catholic priest in breach of his position if there is proof somewhere that he’s an active homosexual guy. Sounds like McCann is out regardless of what this Sheila in the supermarket toilet had to say.
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1.34
If what you say is correct, and it’s not clear how you are in a position to comment usefully on the i ternet history of another, there must be something rather strange going on here.
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11:31 Burnt toast he is. Well cremated.
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No male should be in a position that they can be recorded in a female changing room.
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Exactly? What was McCann doing there in the first place? Obvious to me.
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3:50pm
Fr McCann appears be very yet Another freaky priest
Are any of them not up to no good at this stage.
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Well I’m wondering how he got into the changing room without being noticed. I find this story a bit unbelievable. Besides, what ever happened to innocent until proven otherwise. Which he has not been proved guilty. This blog is so nasty.
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Look up the phrase ‘sneaked in’.
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@6.19
Innocent until proven guilty is not the correct standard. At a Catholic ordination if you listen to the words – the standard is “above suspicion”.
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He has got the right personality to become Bishop of Plymouth.
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The priests and their bishops are always posting themselves on utube, this woman can post Fr Aidan McCann twitching her curtain now.
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I hope she does.
Let the world judge whether McCann is guilty or not.
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She should send + Pat the film.
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Great idea!
Pat?
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Pat doesn’t want to commit himself.
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A number of inconsistencies in the woman’s initial statement to the police and the evidence led to Fr McCann’s acquittal? Does this mean acquittal on a legal technicality?
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The idea of a priest peeping on a woman rather than a man was odd.
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7:41 some priests are greedy.
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He’s half rice half chips, you mean.
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I believe the woman’s account.
As a Catholic, I am sick and tired of priests. I cannot look at a priest any longer without wondering whether he is a pervert, a kiddie-fiddler, a liar, an embezzler… or perhaps just all of these, and much more.
Do any of them believe in God? They all probably do, or would say they do. But do any of them seek his will? Or even want to? The answer, sadly, seems to be ‘no’.
‘See how these Christians love one another?’ This, apparently, is a question asked by a pagan Roman about Christians who lived and worked in the imperial city in the first century. Even if that Roman could see no evidence for their claims about Jesus’ divinity, he was at least struck by the example of these Christians: by their exceptional conduct and by their difference from the city’s pagan population. He was impressed. But Christians (Catholic priests and bishops) today? Yes, they, too, are different from the general population, set apart, like those early Christians, by their behaviour. But no one (absolutely no one who is not a fool) is even slightly impressed by them.
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Well said! 👍 – but ‘child sexual abuser, child rapist, child molester,’ please – not ‘kiddie fiddler.’ Children & young people are not violins or goats.
‘Kiddie fiddler’ reads like less of a crime – language can demean & appear to dilute the stultifying affects & impact of the sexual abuse of our children and young people.
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Absolutely agree. It’s a soft term. Call them exactly what they are as you describe, child rapists, molesters and child sexual abusers.
Too many on this blog use the description of kiddie fiddler which does not accurately describe the depraved individuals in the RCC institution who commit these heinous crimes.
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I take your point, which is why I hyphenate the term ‘kiddie-fiddler’ to express different meaning and my deep contempt for offending priests.
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2.02
Charlatan. No hyphens in your original comment.
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What’s wrong with the word ‘priest’. At this stage it = criminal, rapist, etc, in the popular imagination.
You would think the experts in humanity would have found some way to deal with this slight image problem by now, but no. Nothing.
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4.53
My original comment is at 8.22. Find the fourth line from the top, and read it. It contains the word ‘kiddie-fiddler’, with a hyphen.
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2:02 That’s not the function of a hyphen. In fact, it’s an error of punctuation. Your attempt at an apologia for abusing the phrase semantically and grammatically is not convincing. How do you earn a living?
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Perhaps +Eamon-Amy should change his motto from “Cantate Canticum Novum” to “Where There’s A Willie, There’s A Way”.
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Ubi mentula, ibi via, if you want it in Latin. 😁
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I remember watching some video of McCann talking about his ‘vocation journey’ filmed in the grounds of the Irish College Rome. Yuk ! What a self-satisfied creep. He had all the sanctimonious phrases that you hear from priests when they are talking about themselves and their vocation. I thought then that he was a creep, and I suspect I would still think the same if I came across him again. It would be very interesting if the video in this latest changing room encounter did find its way to YouTube. As it stands, even though having avoided a conviction, McCann is toast, and the only way he can possibly – and unadvisedly – carry on is to move abroad where he is not known and have another stab at his cherished vocation. I am fairly sure that the police and the prosecuting authorities saw enough in this case to warrant pursuing it because there was some kind of malfeasance there, albeit insufficient to pass the bar of criminal conviction. Amy and co need to review it carefully, ask questions, look in to that evidence in relation to McCann’s position and responsibility. I think they will find that this man has some problems and should not be allowed to carry on with his precious vocation. Tough, I know, but for too long the Church has indulged people like McCann with serious behavioural shortcomings. Just think Egan and PB JPL. That should no longer be the case. If McCann did the decent thing and moved on to a new life where he could not hide behind a priestly guise, I would have some respect for him. If he retreats, aided by Amy, in to the comfortable and cosseted clerical underworld, then he deserves to be outed and vilified. I suspect it will be a case of the latter, however.
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It is the fault of ordinary Catholics. We do not pray enough for our priests. We do not fast for them. We do not deny ourselves for them.
Priests are tempted beyond their ability to say no, because we say no to self-sacrifice. It is our fault, and our very grave sin.
Forgive us Lord, for we do know what we do, but don’t.
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The weird and warped thinking processes of cathbots never fails to be used me. Your @ 9:04 Anonymous is a good example.
I’ll bet you have absolutely no idea just how ridiculous your comment appears.
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The picture of McCann is a still taken from the Irish College video of him talking about his precious vocation. Looks dodgy, doesn’t her ?!
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Fr McCann won’t quit.
The child rapist priests, the swingers, the Killaloe beach wanking brigade, the absentee dads and the Phonsie Cullinan money fiddling priests don’t quit.
McCann will be partying to celebrate his acquittal this weekend.
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Why should he quit, he was not found guilty, but that does not suit the likes of you.
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He wasn’t found not guilty. The judge acquitted him on the level of evidence.
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Mind, Bp Pat, Dallat and McVeigh may not consider Clogherhead much of a promotion. McCann may now be destined for Loughinisland.
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12.34: Pat, do you respect the court rulig or will you continue to hoynd after Fr. McCann as a serial voyeur. Its a shame, out of your own experiences with the courts in the past, that you are so heartless against others. You must have been deeply hurt and humiliated to be before any judge, so surely you must have some empathy. Just empathy, not necessarily condoning bad practices.
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I do completely accept the court ruling.
I think it is good there is going to be a church inquiry.
All in all I feel that Fr Mc Cann has work to do on himself
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1.22
Where is it written that one must accept a court ruling? Where is it written that courts of law are infallible?
I do not accept the court ruling in this matter. I believe that Mr McCann is guilty, but lacked the balls to admit his guilt, at least publicly.
My sympathy is with his accuser.
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Lord preserve us! We’ll debate it at O Tooles over weekend when we update ourselves on friend Dildo D.
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Dr Phillipa Martyr writes in Catholic Weekly that it’s time to turn the spotlight on to the laity and their role in enabling abusers in the Roman Catholic Church. She states that any number of compromised lay people have helped with covering up and explaining away, either directly or indirectly and that they are usually wealthy and influential or employed by the Church or in useful professions.
She confirms that almost all clerical related abuse has been exposed by outsider journalists, not by people inside the Church.
It has been pointed out that clericalism is linked to a sense of entitlement, superiority, exclusion and abuse of power. She points to a kind of ‘lay clericalism’ among people who occupy Church-related positions.
Clericalism has infected these individuals to the point where they minimise or excuse bad clerical behaviour.
They are more concerned with protecting an agency’s reputation and avoiding large insurance payouts than ministering to the survivors.
Abusive priests don’t get away with stuff by themselves, sometimes they have help and not just from their Bishops.
Predatory abusive clergy are very often highly charismatic individuals with male and female followers who will defend them to the death, even in the face of evidence showing the priest was a repeat offender.
These lay people can also be connected in lots of ways to a local Diocese, their brother in law is head of one agency, their sister works for someone important, their husband is on the board of somewhere else.
These laity have a vested interest in looking the other way.
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She’s spot on, but is missing an essential point here, namely that this is how all cults function: with the support of brain washed stooges.
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ABSOLUTELY! 👌
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so true. The laity desribed would also believe that they are closer to God than the ordinary lay person attending mass.
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‘Of all dioceses, Armagh is a diocese where clerical “willie” crimes and misbehaviours are almost absolutely tolerated.’
I’d not be so sure, Pat, that Armagh is ‘a diocese of all diocese.’ RCDHN has the same ‘problem’. Women with children, women with financial assets / property, ‘vulnerable’ women, groomed and coerced. Trouble is there aren’t enough priests & presbyteries to be ‘moved on’ enabling them to, with intent, perpetuate such ‘sins’ and crimes.
Its worldwide & officially known as ‘ the vow of celibacy’. Just because there is insufficient evidence does not mean it is not happening. We only have to look at the vulgar sexism of our Church.
The truth will out…….the truth is revolting…….Amen……..
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Wow! What I would give for a priest to want to look at me legally – and can not get it. I guess I’m ugly and fat though so I don’t blame the him.
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Father McCann was proven innocent for a reason, and the video obviously showed that this was nothing more than some girl trying to make a few pounds. Using a picture or footage from a YouTube video from nearly 10 years ago is hardly evidence of Father McCann’s personality and reputation. I hope he continues his priesthood in peace with a clear conscience, God Bless 🙏🏻
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10:58 Thank you very much for providing a live illustration of what the comments at 9:52 and 10:46 are talking about.
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Praying for your soul. You obviously live a very sad and cynical life. I hope you get some redemption and peace from within.
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11:53
Not if ‘redemption’ means supporting a dangerous cult of paedophiles and money launderers.
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@ 10:58am
Absolutely! God save him from all his evil detractors who wanted him convicted no matter what.
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Maybe they wanted him convicted because they actually believe he was guilty.
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Reply to;Anonymoussays:
Feb 10, 2023 at 10:58 am
He was NOT proved innocent. I hope he throws in the towel, do the decent thing for once, and, leave Roman Catholic ministry.
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Are you for real, 2.58? The young woman would not have made one penny had McCann been convicted. Not one penny.
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Aye until she brought her civil case
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5.18
You miss the point. It was a criminal case, not a civil one.
Did the young woman confide in you that she was going to take a civil case? No? Then sit down, and shut up.
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Correct
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If you love me and want me, find a way to contact me
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11 am I think you are on the wrong platform luv X
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“BREAKING NEWS
TODAYS STATEMENT FROM AMY
On 12th April 2022 Fr Aidan McCann sought leave of absence and voluntarily stepped aside from all public ministry pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
“Since those legal proceedings concluded yesterday with the acquittal of Fr McCann, the Archdiocese of Armagh will now conduct the Church processes which are required in such instances. Fr McCann remains voluntarily stepped aside from all public ministry while this is ongoing.
“We offer our prayers and support for all concerned.”
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That will be another year MIA / c/o for McCann while the investigation works its slow way through. Whether they realise it or not, they have a problem on their hands, namely McCann. I haven’t seen much of an outpouring of support for him on these pages. I suspect that people think of him as a problem. Harsh though it might sound, I believe in situations like this a quick and decisive decision to terminate him is required, both for his sake and for ours. Otherwise it goes on and on and consumes so much oxygen which should be spent on other more worthy things. McCann is young enough to make a way for himself in life and should get on with it rather than being cosseted essentially for the rest of his life. +Amy need to grow a pair and be a lot more brutal and decisive. I doubt he will, though. It will drag on and on.
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The Archdiocese of Armagh will now conduct its whitewash.
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@ 12:10pm
You’re so cynical, o is it jut the verdict didn’t suit you? Yes I think so.
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It isn’t verdicts that matter. It’s truth
McCann’s accuser doesn’t equate that verdict with truth. Nor do I.
But I do get it that what matters only to you is verdict. The appearance of truth.
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‘Remains stepped aside’ is a revolting expression from an English language point of view. Quiller Couch is turning in his grave. Step aside is an intransitive verb.
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Yes at this rate he’ll be an attendee at St Luke’s.
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Anyone that signs up for the organ donation will receive a £500 voucher in the post. Before it becomes an opt out system.
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😂
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@ 2:28pm
I think you mean”your truth” but we need “The Truth” which has been delivered by the court.
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There is only truth, neither yours nor mine.
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A court cannot deliver truth, only a verdict, which may, or may not, express justice.
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3:48 Did you say that in the case of the first verdict on Cardinal Pell?.bet not.
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5.54
No, he did not. He maintained that Pell was innocent, despite a unanimous guilty verdict at his trial, and a majority ruling that rejected Pell’s appeal.
As far as that person is concerned, these men are innocent for one reason: they’re priests. Full stop.
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Archbishop Eamon Martin along with 13 other delegates will attend the first ever European Assembly of a Synod within the Catholic Church.
The European Assembly is taking place in Prague in the Czech Republic from 5 to 12 February 2023.
https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2023/02/01/archbishop-eamon-martin-to-attend-european-synodal-assembly-with-irish-delegation/
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International travel and convention / assembly / chapter travelling is par for the course for bishops and religious superiors – synods, regional meeting, English language grouping meetings, you name it ! My religious superior / provincial will make at least 6 international trips this year, 4 to European capitals and two to other continents – USA and Australia. All with a week or so tacked on the end to take advantage of the opportunities. I don’t hear much about virtual congresses / conventions / assemblies / chapters being talked about. Virtual is the way business has gone in the real world. Oh, and the longer trips are definitely done in business class ! Well, you may as well enjoy the kingdom, shouldn’t you ?!
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1.28pm. “It’ll do for our day”, as Bishop Joe Duffy liked to say, referring to the lifestyle that can still be eked out of the Church in its autumn years, and with no expectation that the Church will be around for much long after their death of the Joe Duffy generation.
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@ 5:54pm
Wrong, I did actually.😊
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Prague has four gay saunas, including the biggest and most popular, Sauna Babylonia we have read about before on the blog. The other three, Sauna BonBon, Sauna St David, and Sauna Labyrint, all cater for… well, let’s just say, the older gent, which will suit the male members of the Irish delegation, I am sure.
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He looks very smug.
Do priests in 2023 not realize the vast majority of people look at them as objects of derision and contempt?
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In the same way they looked at Jesus!
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12:57 There’s no record of Jesus being a kiddy fiddler though, so your point is, as usual, worthless.
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2.07, but Jesus keeps calling kiddy fiddlers, assorted perverts, embezzlers, liars, frauds, etc. to the priesthood, doesn’t he? At least that is what the church is telling us through its belief that priesthood is a vocation from and not a job or service.
You’d almost think that Jesus wanted the priesthood to fail wouldn’t you?
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2:24 According to the ‘Catholic’ church, indeed he does. Very strange idea they have of God, or possibly a very strange god.
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Remember, all publicity is good publicity, getting you noticed. Very important when the traditional ways of approbation and approval are drying up.
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Pat, You have deprived me of being able to press that laughter button yet again. I can’t see how he can go back to Roman Catholic ministry, and he certainly won’t find employment in a women’s clothes shop. He will probably be shipped off to some far flung country, or leave the priesthood.
I hope he feels deeply ashamed of himself, he knows what he did, and if he was any sort of a decent, honest man, he would have admitted to his voyeurism, and apologised for his disgusting misbehaviour.
My sympathy and thoughts are with the person McCann was prying on, she must be devastated and angry beyond words.
Now what on earth does this case remind of? Oh! I remember, that Australian other man of the cloth named Pell.
There is no justice.
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@ 12:37pm
Queenie,
who made you judge,jury and executioner ? you had this priest guilty on the allegation of some bint who had no evidence to present to the court. Thanks be to God there is justice, get a grip!😏
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Pat, ‘bint’ is a disparaging word expressing contempt and mysogyny.
Why did you publish the comment at 12.58? To get a reaction?
You know that person has a history of deliberately being offensive and cruel. No wonder so many women who have been sexually molested refuse to go public with the information when they know that they’ll be treated in this way.
You are almost as bad as that commenter, Pat, for facilitating a mysogynistic culture that forces many women to suffer in silence.
I would appeal to the better nature of that commenter, if he had one, but you know better, Pat, and shouldn’t require reminding.
Do the decent thing by deleting that disgraceful remark and by warning that commenter about his typical behaviour on this blog.
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Queenies anxiety to have men convicted of deviant sex makes me ponder Queenies own pathologies.
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1.52
I think Bishop Pat protects that comment maker just, as you said, to get a reaction, to make the blog as polemical as possible. It’s a journalistic device to increase readership.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Pat was that person.
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Repy to; Anonymoussays:
Feb 10, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Isn’t the nature of the voyeuristic offending a secretive, occupation, therefore difficult to have evidence, similar to child sexual abuse, not too many people are witness to that, the woman involved saw McCann and named him. I believe he is guilty. He was acquitted, not proven guilty, nor, innocent according to the court.
I wonder how many times McCann carried out this offensive misbehavior previously. If he has a predilection for voyeurism and, its not treated, this won’t be the last we hear of him, time will tell.
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I think I must let you go, I can no longer hurt you
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1.39 Enjoying this craic immensely.
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@ 1:52pm
Get a grip ya stupid bint. who do you think you are telling Patsy to censor my comments, just because they are different to yours. That Much overused woke word mysogyny that people of your ilk are never done using is such a bore. I appeal to dear Patsy to delete you and your ramblings from the blog forthwith.😀
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@ 4:05pm
I can assure you the comment was not made by Patsy. There are some people like you who can’t accept that others have a contrary point of view to yours.🙄
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I’m no homophobe mate, but I seen two men kissing with tongues in Lisburn CC and don’t think it was appropriate. I was with my two daughters who were asking me why two men were doing that and I didn’t know what to say. I don’t think anyone – regardless of sexuality – should be doing that in public
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When I was gay – a phase – I always did this to prove a point and initiate a reaction, thankfully I am older now – and straight
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Not a phase.Who do you think you’re kidding? You’re no more straight than mister pussy.
But if your self delusion let’s you sleep at night, carry on 😂
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If prostitutes are just in it for the money then how is rape any different? They don’t want it to happen but want the money.
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Them poor women being exploited is atrocious, men are horrible bastards – well the straight ones
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2:27 You mean like anything else you are in for the money? Any job?
A better education would have helped you to get a better job and not to make stupid comments.
A condom would have saved us from you completely.
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I feel sorry for this priest,how many other times has he made efforts to see females in various stages of undress,is he a peeping tom.this incident is going to follow him if he remains a priest.PLEASE PLEASE stop referring to child sexual abusers as kiddy fiddlers its so disrespectful to victims of sex abuse and frankly it’s nauseating.
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I love sex but I never vowed a life of celibacy. Why should I be starved of the one free enjoyment in life. I feel like I’m losing you guys
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Bishop Buckley – what an inspiration you are to me. I love your courage and tenacity but I really wish you would look into the strange beings in our parochial house on a Friday evening. Men come and go all night. One day, one will tell……
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I agree I love Bishop Buckley and yet I have never met him
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Pat would you officiate my marriage to a man?
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Yes.
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Reply to; Anonymoussays:
Feb 10, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Are you by any chance suggesting that any sexually deviant man (woman) who foists there sexual aberration on a another person should be accepted by that person? I think you are watching too much pornography, instead of saying your prayers.
Come on, spit it out man, what type pathologies have you got in mind?
Or more to point, are you upset/challenged that I do NOT agree (with you) that the priest, McCann was not involved in the voyeurism he is accused of, or is it possible that I am touching a nerve in you………..
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Pat I long for a live in partner like you – is there something wrong with me why I can’t?
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Because you’re a RC priest maybe? Leave and find someone to share your life with.
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Probably set in your ways.
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When I was younger the word “Clericalism” was only applied to a political reality in Europe where most of the countries had a political party that supported the agenda of the Catholic Church. This was particularly true of France where the Church has been on the defensive for centuries. In Ireland there was no difference, as both Church and State drew their life’s blood from political opposition to Britain.
I have been confused by many of Pope Francis’ statements in which he refers to a “Clericalism” which is internal to the Church and absolutely zilch outside of it. The problem that he highlights, which also applies to himself, is not the result of anything but simple hypocrisy. Clerics can be hypocrites all humans can be hypocrites. Priests are not special to the point of being sinful in their own special “clerical” way.
I know how easy it is to sin, but cannot for the life of me understand how the thousands of priests and bishops in our world can read and hear the gospels without cringing in shame and turning their backs on the hypocrisy that they as an individual human exhibit every time they preside over the ceremony in which they purport to follow the commands of Our Lord who was also talking about them when he condemned the “nest of vipers” the descendants of Aaron had become.
All the priests and hierarchs of our world need as the individual human sinners that they are to make an admission that they are blameworthy in this present age and that they have obtained absolution for their sins every time that they arrive in front of the Altar. They have gone too far in their deceitful hypocrisy for us to be reassured by the words of the General Confession as to their worthiness to join our Lord in the sacramental memorial that he first celebrated even before the sacrifice of himself.
How many of them have known but kept silent. This is a human failing and not a product of caste. We are all responsible for our own sins and what we are in the eyes of the world is nothing in comparison to God’s knowledge of our true selves.
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You wonder why priests and bishops, upon hearing the Gospel, don’t turn away, in shame, from their moral hypocrisy?
BECAUSE THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN IT.
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VICTIM OF BURTON PAEDOPHILE PRIEST SAYS IT TOOK YEARS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HORRIFIC ABUSE HE SUFFERED
By Helen Kreft
Senior reporter
10 FEB 2023
” The victim of a paedophile priest from Burton has spoken of his horrific ordeal and how it took years before he could even speak about what happened to him. Eamonn Flanagan was 11 when he was first abused by vile Father Sam Penney, who was at the time the priest at St Mary and Modwen Catholic Church in the town. Mr Flanagan, who has waived his right to anonymity, says he was abused while he was a choirboy at the Guild Street church in the 1970s.” ” I also told the Birmingham Diocese, thinking they would solve the problem. Big mistake – Penney continued to abuse children even after I and others had met with and complained to church officials.”
https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/burton-news/victim-burton-paedophile-priest-says-7878552
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Why is this coming up now ? Has something new happened ? Penney stuff is decades old, IICSA is done and dusted. So, where’s the new interest in this ? Yes, I get it that the victim mentioned here carries a heavy burden. But, why bring it up now ?
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The answer is in the last sentence “Penney continued to abuse children even after I and others complained to church officials”.
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5:39 – but that was back in the 1990s. What is it now, today, that causes the spectre of Penny to be raised again ? Has there been some development ? That’s all I’m asking.
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The clerics and their teams of lay protectors are celebrating Fr Aidan McCann today. Not an iota of Christian charity for the victim. They’re only involved in the RCC for the money the sex and the opportunities to abuse and exploit others.
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++Eamon must flex his episcopal muscles and rebuke Fr. Tom Deenihan, the episcopal charlatan, who continues his most unChristian persecution of Dom Benedict Andersen, the true Prior of Silverstream.
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You are boring and obsessed with this. Go and see Dom Benedict and the Bishop if you are so concerned. BUT, please stop boring us. You are a complete turn off.
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7:11
Silence is compliance. So is highlighting injustice a big turn off for you?
It’s not surprising covering up of abuse corruption and crime is endemic
in institutional catholicism.
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7:11, why does ++Eamon shy away from rebuking Fr. Tom Deenihan?
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Neither you nor Arthur Kirkland are addressing the point “Go and see Dom Benedict and the Bishop if you are so concerned.” Why???
I repeat. You are boring with this obsession. Get a life and change the record. You are tuning readers off.
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8:35
I gather highlighting Dom Benedict’s situation on this blog is a source of embarrassment. Dom Benedict, a whistleblower, was VICTIMIZED. WHY?
WHY has Archbishop Martin or Bishops conference failed to intervene in the situation? Again, how come highlighting injustice is such a big turn off for you? Are you a friend of Deenihan’s because it might explain your rants against Seamus.
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8:35, ++Eamon is the Primate of All Ireland. Should he be shying away from these matters? Does he fear Fr. Tom Deenihan?
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@ 3:57pm
Where is there an iota of Christian charity in your comment for this poor priest who had a false allegation made against him. He is the victim.
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7:54 Y’all just looove being the victim don’t ya!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/conquering-codependency/202110/overcoming-martyr-complex
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Nonsense,Pat.
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Birmingham are a piece of work – imagine they could have stopped Penny and knew all about his MO but did nothing – something v dark about that diocese.
Bet they knew all about Walsh, Quigley, Robinson and Jolly too but did nothing.
PP of Stone fezzed up to IICSA that he gave Penny the heads up that the police were onto him and gave him a wad of cash to get out of judge – took decades for PP to fess up said he was only a soldier following orders (Dan Leonard) – Jeeez no wonder Leonard was cacking himself on his death bed – senior clergy in Brum like the Mafia and adept at cover up – shocking and scandalous they are a byword for a child abusing and cover up diocese – Penny’s victim v brave – diocese make out they don’t fund Penny but does anyone believe that?
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They don’t give a monkeys about the faithful
They take their money and laugh at them behind closed doors.
Anyone subscribing to them after all that’s known about them is a blatant fool.
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Birmingham Archdiocese had a priest with a great gift for explaining Holy Communion in the up to date Novus Ordo style that was supieror to the older clergy who were stuck in their pre Vatican Two ways. He was sent around the Catholic Primary schools, thats right Fr S Penny
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Bit like having Quigley wandering around Birmingham and beyond as a expert in Catholic education. Wasn’t he some top advisor from the English and Welsh bishops on education ? You couldn’t make it up. Mind you, I guess if you are going to live a lie it’s best to live it big and out in the open, then people just can’t imagine that you must have a secret to hide. Until….. !
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The basic moral and legal principle is that an accused is, and remains, innocent unless proven guilty.
This priest, by that standard, left court as an innocent man.
It’s unfair to suggest otherwise. Or even to imply his guilt.
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He isn’t innocent if he actually committed the crime.
As the judge wasn’t present on the occasion, she had no authority to declare him innocent, and, of course, she didn’t.
Learn the difference between ‘PRESUMED innocent’ and ‘ACTUALLY innocent’. Take your time.
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He was innocent because there was no evidence!!! You are innocent until proved guilty.
There is talk of a video. Let us see it. We may change our minds.
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No, an accused is not innocent until proved guilty: an accused is merely PRESUMED innocent until such time. You are quoting an informal but inaccurate statement.
If a person were ACTUALLY innocent, then this state, logically, could not change, even should a court of law render a guilty verdict. This event would constitute a miscarriage of justice.
As I said, take your time.
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7.22pm (🥃).
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 11, states: “Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.”
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You don’t understand our legal system. You are innocent until proven guilty. It is that simple. The guilty are judged guilty and the innocent are not.
Don’t like it? Go to Iraq.
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Absolutely howling at this exchange. 6:44 is of course correct.
I wonder whether 6:09 thinks the tiny proportion of child abusers who get convicted means the other, credibly accused, ones should be allowed liberty to continue.
No, wait, it’s becoming clear – you’re a Roman Catholic aren’t you?
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9:07 Thank you for that helpful quote proving 7:22’s point. A bit less of the 🥃 yourself and you might have noticed that’s what you were doing. 😂
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Presumed, in law, means “considered”. Which is my point. This priest must be considered innocent (and, in that sense, he is in the same legal category as those of us who have not been accused of a crime) unless and until guilt has been proven.
(And, please, let’s discuss these issues without rudeness. Thanks.)
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Penny and Robinson were supported by Brum Archdiocese for number of years following release from prison in the case of Penny, and after his midnight flit to the USA in the case of Robinson. I wonder what they will do when others of their brotherhood come out of jail. Bede Walsh especially. I’m sure the arms of the Johnson Fund etc will wrap around him. Perhaps they are even sending him pocket money while he is in prison right now ? I’m sure Adlo is helping him out, on the basis of their shared indelible ontological sacramental sign as priests together forever stuff….. Jolly ? I think he’s Liverpool, but I’m sure if you dig deep enough you will find ongoing support of some financial nature there too.
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A team of journalists investigate a conspiracy to cover up child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. 2015 Drama with Mark Ruffalo & Michael Keaton.
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This blog just proves how sick and twisted priests and their types are. You’d be taking your life in your hands going anywhere near them. They seem to be into everything and anything. Crooks galore.
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Good points.
I laugh at the fools who fawn around these ‘Christmen’, and throw money in their bone-idle direction.
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Try living in Armagh luv! Pray for us.
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8.47
And yet you attempted to swell their ranks. But good sense (of others) intervened.
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That priest had no business in the ladies changing room. We will be hearing more about him.
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Drag artists, DJs, an LGBT festival like no other.
Venue:
The Inn at Dromoland
Newmarket on Fergus
Co Clare
Valentines Weekend
10th – 12th February 2023
http://www.TheOutingFestival.com
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9.48: A travesty of human and divine nature. A slap in the face of GOD Creator. This world is deteriorating into a moral darkness.
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Why does the church have to carry out their own investigation. Fr Aidan is found not guilty. What more is there to say. Let the man get back to the ministry as soon as possible.
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9.50: I agree with you. Now we’ll witness a charade of an investigation to suit the witch hunters. The cohort of haters on this blog want Fr. Aidan pushed over the cliff. They want heads on plates. If Jesus was to stand before them they’d spit in his face and walk over him. The pretend seekers of truth on this blog are die-hard haters and professional practitioners of their new religion: that of NASTYISM.
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Here here
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He committed the worst sin in church circles. He got caught and embarrassed them.
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You judged and now you are being judged.
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Well, why a priest was in The female changing room raises questions. The police would have searched his phone and computer. Material on it may not have been criminal but unbecoming for a clerk in holy orders to view.
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DJ Kelly disapproves of nonce hunters
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/judge-voices-concerns-over-paedophile-hunters-detaining-man-accused-of-child-sexual-communication/42058644.html
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Data Protection Commission…to be continued 😊
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Pat, sadly again you’ve facilitated the vilest of attacks on priests. I accept legitimate criticisms but surely you yourself must accept that much commentary today is totally unacceptable. It’s vile, dangerous and violently ugly. I am at a loss as to why you approve of some horrible verbiage today. It’s very sickening.
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How in God’s name did Deenihan get appointed to Meath?
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