The existence of the letter, which was given to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, ”does not at all mean that resigning popes should become, let’s say, ‘the fashion,’ a normal thing”, the Pope said.
“Benedict had the courage to do it because he did not feel like going on because of his health. I for the moment do not have that on my agenda,” he said.
“Think that the ministry of the great patriarchs is always for life,” the Pope added. “And the historical tradition is important.”
Resignation, he said, “hasn’t crossed my mind”.
PAT SAYS
I do think that Francis’ current ministry of challenging Vatican II Deniers is important and that he should keep going.
However, I think Benedict undermined the Papacy is for life theory by resigning.
It led to the situation whereby we had two popes – a reigning pope and an emeritus pope.
I think there is nothing wrong with a pope resigning.
But he should not bear the title “pope emeritus”.
He should return to being a cardinal and be known as Cardinal ******** Bishop emeritusof Rome.
Nor should he live in Rome.
Benedict should have retired to his native Germany with his husband George
The pope is the Bishop of Rome.
A retired pope is no longer a pope and should simply be a bishop emeritus.
The Church is led by the Bishop of Rome and in communion with the world’s bishops, expressing and teachingthe sens
Sensus fidei (sense of the faith), also called sensus fidelium (sense of the faithful) is, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the supernatural appreciation of faith on the part of the whole people, when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals.”
And this really means something that popes, bishops and priests often forget…..
That the Holy Spirit speaks through all God’s people.
A man who claimed that a nun subjected him to years of sexual and physical abuse at a children’s home in Belfast is to receive £250,000 in damages.
The 41-year-old man, who is not being identified for legal reasons, stayed in Nazareth Lodge as a boy.
The payout forms part of a settlement reached over allegations that he was beaten and assaulted on a weekly basis.
He also claimed he was locked in a cupboard, made to eat food out of bins and was sat on as a form of punishment.
His action against the Sisters of Nazareth religious order was resolved at the High Court in Belfast without any admission of liability.
Lawyers for the plaintiff alleged that he was targeted between 1989 and 1996 by a senior nun at the home located on Ravenhill Road.
Dragged under a staircase’
He was groomed from the age of eight for the purposes of an abusive sexual, physical and emotional relationship, according to papers in the case.
The alleged treatment involved forbidding him from joining the rest of the children at mealtimes or speaking to other residents and members of staff.
It was claimed that the nun regularly punched, slapped, nipped and poked him, held him down, and pulled his hair.
On another occasion she allegedly dragged the plaintiff under a staircase to sit on him and spit in his face.
The nun was also said to have instructed a former resident, with whom she had an intimate relationship, to carry out an attack.
In a bid to prevent the plaintiff from telling anyone, she offered to reward him with sweets or by taking him for car journeys out of the home.
The lawsuit involved claims for negligence, assault, and post-traumatic stress disorder he suffered.
According to the man’s case, he was denied medical treatment for injuries inflicted by the nun.
‘Shame and suffering’
It was claimed that she told him that he was not lovable and she described him as a “reject”, “useless” and “dirty, fat and greedy”.
With the alleged sexual assaults described as “oppressive and degrading”, aggravated damages were sought due to the plaintiff’s young age.
The case had been listed for a three-day High Court trial but after negotiations a settlement was announced.
The judge ordered the Sisters of Nazareth to pay the man £250,000 in damages as well as his legal costs.
Outside court the man’s solicitor Claire McKeegan said he was relieved that his “ordeal” was over.
“Survivors of historical abuse carry with them from childhood a lifetime of shame and insecurity and suffering,” she said.
“Today’s settlement provides further vindication for survivors of religious institutions in Northern Ireland that abuse perpetrated on children was wrong and those who caused harm will be held accountable in our courts.”
PAT SAYS
In my childhood, I met wicked, aggressive, and violent nuns – nuns from Hell.
I always thought that these monsters were sexually frustrated and that they hated children because they would never have one themselves.
I remember seeing a vodka add that reminded me of these nuns:
“SO PURE THEY ARE WICKED”.
In this case, the nun beat the boy, locked him in a cupboard, spat on him, sat on him, pulled his hair out, isolated him from the other childrenetc, made him eat from bins.
I wonder if that old witch is still alive?
She should be named and shamed.
CAHAL DALY AND NAZARETH LODGE
As a priest, Cahal Daly was chaplain to the Nazareth Sisters in Belfast and said Mass for them daily.
When Daly was appointed Bishop in Longford, he took one of the orphans from Nazareth Lodge, who was 16 to live with him in Longford.
He told the boy not to tell the nuns where he was going or who he was going with.
The boy was James, and he lived as Daly’s servant until Daly died.Daly always introduced him as his “valet.“
Here they are in Rome when Daly was made a cardinal
James died recently. RIP.
JAMES DEATH NOTICE
James DONNELLY
Died 16 January 2022 peacefully at Nazareth Care Village
The remains of James will leave O’Kane’s Funeral Home 116-118 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2GX on Tuesday 18th January 2022
James’s remains shall be received at St Brigid’s Church, Derryvolgie Avenue at 6.00pm.
Requiem Mass will be on Wednesday 19th January at 11.00 am followed by interment in Milltown Cemetery.
Almost every day now, new shocking reports of CLERICAL SEXUAL ABUSE CASES are emerging all over EUROPE and the WORLD.
And we have hardly even started hearing about the abuse that happened in AFRICA, ASIA and SOUTH AMERICA – at the hands of foreign missionary priests, brothers and nuns
CHILDREN, especially in Jesus’ view, arethe Number One exemplars of the qualities needed for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus also reserved the greatest punishment for anyone who would hurt “the little ones.”
Matthew 18:6
Biblical Translations of Matthew 18:6
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
How many thousands of bishops, priests, brothers, and nunsshould have had a large millstones hung around their necks and be drowned in the depths of the sea?
How can the RCC exist with Christ’s condemnation on it?
How can it get away with pretending to be of Christ?
How can parents still hand their kids over to themin schools?
With all we have learned to date. Not to mention what is to come, how is the RCC still a legal entity, and why is it not banned and outlawed bythe international community?
Why is torturing and raping thousands upon thousands of children not regarded as NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM?
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.
The Catholic internet is buzzing with rumors. Pope Francis is said to be unhappy with the less-than-strenuous implementation of his desired restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass. And so he is rumored to be working on a new set that will prohibit Catholics from celebrating the Mass at any parish except those that belong to religious orders, such as the Society of St. Peter or the Institute of Christ the King, that are dedicated to its celebration. Further, it’s said that he intends to forbid all Catholics, including priests of those orders, from celebrating any of the sacraments in their traditional form.
Theologically, this is a bit of a mess. All bishops are successors to the apostles, and all of them have the competence and duty to provide for and regulate the liturgy in their diocese. They can be compelled to obey only by the pope tossing them on their ear and replacing them if he so chooses.
I suppose my fear is that such restrictions will be hard to undo precisely because of their brazenness. Imagine a more conservative successor to Pope Francis coming into the See of Peter years hence. He is tasked by the College of Cardinals with restoring the respect of the office and unity of the church. Such a pope would be tasked with restoring the church’s reputation for solidity and trustworthy authority — a church with few “surprises.” This desire for restored continuity cuts against the prospect of a third consecutive papal about-face on the Traditional Latin Mass.
PAT SAYS
I am inclined to agree with Pope Francis on this one.
The Latin Mass has been used by the RCC looney right to reject both Vatican II and the Papacy of Francis himself.
General councils have been regarded for 1700 years as having the most supreme authority in the Catholic Church.
If a group of Catholics reject a general council, they are, in fact, giving way to serious heresies.
Francis is left with no other option but to remove the thing they are all gathering around – the Latin Mass
I’m part of the Hexham and Newcastle diocese and have been following the McCoy and Byrne stories since they broke. Can I say it doesn’t shock me at all. McCoy was my parish priest and I never got a good vibe from him. He faffed too much and would tell the congregation every week how they weren’t raising enough money for him…I mean the diocese.
I was just wondering if you had heard anything from the archbishops meeting with the priests from Thursday? I hope it won’t be covered up and swept under the carpet. I think the people of Hexham and Newcastle deserve to know. It annoys me the people who are burying their heads in the sand and don’t want to believe what actually went on.
Many thanks for raising issues and concerns. It means a lot.
Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle: Meeting with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon.
There is frustration among some priests regarding the meeting with Archbishop McMahon on Thursday 9th January. The Archbishop gave a summary of the various investigations stating that what he shared with priests at the meeting was confidential.
What is clear is that anyone can express concerns, questions or comments about the diocese to the investigation for the Vatican that is being lead on behalf of Bishop Malcolm by Mrs Carol Lawrence, the Chief Operation Officer of the Diocese of Shrewsbury. The investigation will be looking at all aspects of diocesan life , so anyone is welcome to contact the investigation.
CAROL LAWRENCE
Carol Lawrence said:
I would be keen to hear from anyone who would like to share with me their experiences and views. In line with the Terms of Reference individual meetings with stakeholders will be arranged over the coming weeks, and I should like to begin by extending the offer of a meeting to any priest who would like to talk to me. I am happy to meet preferably in person, or to speak on the phone, or indeed to receive correspondence from you by email or by post.
You can contact me by email at carolHNinvestigation@gmail.com or by telephone on 07930 891327 to share information with me or to request to meet, or write to me at Diocese of Shrewsbury, 2 Park Road South, Prenton CH43 4UX. Please mark any postal correspondence ‘Private and Confidential’.
People close to Aidan McCann’s family and friends in his native Cookstown are suggesting a different perspective to the shopping centre incident.
They are saying that the incident in question took place in unisex changing rooms in the shopping centre ???
According to this scenario, Aidan, dressed in clericals, went in to buy a new pair of trousers and was trying them on when a lady pulled back the cubicle curtain and caught Aidan in between trousers ?
This version of events suggests that the lady, and not Aidan, was the person wielding the camera ?
There is also a suggestion that the many mirrorsin the changing area back up this second story ?
A MAYNOOTH SEMINARIAN PERSPECTIVE
“Given the most recent crisis to hit the Armagh diocese with the Aidan McCann saga, I think if you had the time and the connections, there is a common denominator.
McCann, Ciaran O’Connell (former Dub student, Oratorian now, whatever they are), Martin McFadden (ex Raphoe student) to name but a few, have all been friends with a then student, now priest, Brendan Kealy, Dublin diocese.
BRENDAN KEALY
He only ever associates with younger men, much younger. He must be easily 60at this stage, and yet the only students he hung around with in Maynooth were young philosophy students. We wouldn’t mix with the older, more mature theology students. In a similar pattern, he does not mix with any or many of the priests of the Dublin diocese.
The above named are still part of his circle of friends. They live very high flying lives, food and drink wise.
Last Sunday morning in Rahan, there were snowdrops on the altar to commemorate the one hundredth birthday of a most remarkable person.
Sister Oliver Wrafter (who passed away in April 2021) had no presence on social media, was an unassuming and softly-spoken person, but made an impact for the good in the Irish midlands that few people could hope to emulate. She and her fellow sisters were pioneers of education in Offaly. Against all the odds, and despite much opposition from the department of education, they succeeded in establishing a first-grade secondary school with Leaving Certificate status in a very rural setting.
So why the snowdrops?
When the young Ita Wrafter (the future Sister Oliver) was nearing the end of her time in secondary school, she couldn’t decide whether or not to enter the religious life. One morning, she asked the Lord for some heavenly assistance. If someone were to give her flowers that day, she would take it as a divine sign that she should enter a religious order. Later the same day, out of the blue, a schoolmate gave Ita a bunch of snowdrops. From that moment on, she never looked back. The humble sister with the ready smile and twinkling eyes would spend the rest of her life in Killina Presentation, working as a teacher, principal, and mentor to students and teachers alike.
The legacy of Sister Oliver and her fellow sisters is very much alive. This June, a group of students and teachers from Rahan Presentation secondary school will visit various projects in Zambia that were set up by Irish Presentation sisters. They include an orphanage and AIDS centre in an area of great poverty. The Zambia Immersion Project is of enormous educational benefit to these students from County Offaly. In addition, during their visit, they will provide material support to the projects founded by the Irish sisters.
TODAYS SCHOOL
PAT SAYS
I was very touched reading this piece about SISTER OLIVER of whom I had never heard.
Although its setting in RAHAN in Offaly has deep meaning for me as my branch of the Buckleys hail from near there, and I attended Sunday Mass in Rahan regularly at the Jesuit House of TULLABEG.
Sister Oliver reminds me of the millions of religious sisters and lay people who practised their faith in prayer and action without ever being known, heard tell of or acknowledged.
The fact that the sisters in this part of rural Ireland reached out to Africa to orphans and AIDS victims is astounding.
In many ways, the fact thatthis good work of so many has been overshadowed by all the scandal and corruption in the Church is so very, very sad.
But I’m sure that Oliver and others did all they did for Christ and that Christ, sees, remembers and rewards.
I wonder how Sr Oliver felt about all the scandals that enveloped her and others in the last 30 of her life?
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.
“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 thewoman who accused him.
If she was lying or exaggerating, shehas 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 