BY GORDON DEEGAN
An outspoken north Clare parish priest has made an undisclosed payout arising from a court action taken by a traveller woman concerning a First Holy Communion flashpoint eight years ago.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford noted the out-of-court settlement between Ennistymon parish priest Fr Willie Cummins and Caroline Sherlock.
Ms Sherlock took a separate action against the late Martin Drennan, former Bishop of the Diocese Of Galway and Kilmacduagh, concerning her discrimination case.
The joint discrimination action by Ms Sherlock arose from the alleged refusal by Fr Cummins to allow her to attend the Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Ennistymon for her niece and nephew’s First Communion on May 23rd, 2015.
Judge Comerford made the out-of-court settlement between Bishop Drennan, who died last November, and Caroline Sherlock a rule of court.
PAT SAYS
Thankfully, the days are gone when priests can verbally and socially abuse people and get away with it.
Who did WILLIE CUMMINGS think he was to refuse a Traveller lady into a church ceremony just because she wasn’t dressed as he thought she should be?
Traveller women and girls have their own sense of style.
It may not conform to our sense of style, but so what?
And we can not accuse them of “immodesty” as Traveller females are extremely conscious of boundaries, especially with men.
Traveller women basically get 3 days on life when they can shine – their Holy Communion Day, their Confirmation Day, and their Wedding Day.
Days out are very important to them.
And they like to dress up.
The mean no disrespect to churches, priests, etc.
I think that WILLIE CUMMINGS was ignorant and misogynistic.
I hope he and his clerical ilk have learned a lesson.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 