Father Flannery’s sister Geraldine died earlier this month.
Geraldine RIP
He asked Michael Neary, the RC archbishop of Tuam for permission to celebrate the funeral and did not receive it.
Michael Neary 😉
So he celebrated the funeral in the sun room in Geraldine’s home.
It was recorded and placed on Youtube.
By all accounts, Geraldine was a wonderful, open and positive person. She entered a convent as a young woman, became a teacher and later left the convent to be a practitioner of Chinese Medicine in Tuam.
I was very impressed and touched by Father Tony’s celebration of the Funeral Mass and homily.
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Would Jesus have refused to allow Father Tony to celebrate the Funeral Mass.
Absolutely not.
The decision not to allow him to celebrate the funeral was un-Christ-like and unChristian.
It’s what happens when people put man-made canon law before the teachings of Jesus.
MY NEPHEW’S FUNERAL:
Tragically, my nephew took his own life in 1997.
I was refused the use of a Catholic Church in Dublin by Desmond Connell – even though it was 1997 and I was not a bishop and not “excommunicated”.
Thankfully the wonderful Christians at Dublin’s Unitarian Church came to my aid and we had the funeral there.
When a family has a priest member it is very important to the grieving family that their family priest celebrates the funeral.
Over the last 35 years I have found many ways and buildings to celebrate marriages, finerals and baptisms – the churches of other denominations, hotels, castles, the open air etc.
We need to tell these hierarchical and clerical bullies where to stuff themselves and their buildings 🐒
The PP of Coleraine (recently moved into Ardmore, is angry that his parishioners went over his head to the bishop.
“BE ON YOUR GUARD – I KNOW WHO YOU ARE” !
Here he speaks about it at Mass in Coleraine:
Rev Dr James McGrory PP
Fe / Dr McGrory the spoke about his authority being challenged by some parishioners.
Its interesting that some priests are still speaking about their authority.
In my opinion, the RCC and its bishops and priests have no authority at all anymore – except over those foolish people who want them to have authority over them ie: the masochists who want to be under the authority of the sadists 😄
Its not like the old times in Ireland when the PP went beating courting couples out of hedges with their blackthorn stick.
Maybe the kind parishioners of Ardmore will purchase a blackthorn for their new PP?
MORE HOMOSEXUAL PREDATION IN THE CHURCH IN THE USA.
Please dont concentrate on this video comibg from Church Militant. Concentrate on the content.
I’m not a Michael Voris fan – BUT Church Militant is exposing big dirt in the American Church.
DENIS “AN COILEACH” NULTY
There is a strong rumour among the clergy that Nulty is getting the archdiocese of Tuam.
Apparently, his nose was out of joint when Farrell got Dublin.
The HOMOSEXUALISATION OF THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD is speeding its way through the hierarchy, clergy and seminaries in many parts of the globe.
The Catholic Priesthood in this 21 st century is a GAY PROFESSION and many, if not most of these gay priests are sexually active in a way that would make the rabbit population blush.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a gay priest and many gay priests are good priests.
But there is much wrong with a priest, either straight or gay, publicly professing to be celibate, when in truth, he is a sex addict or a sexual predator.
Nor can the priesthood be allowed to become an exclusively gay profession. The priesthood, ideally, shoukd be as diverse as the People of God.
This predatory homosexuality thing is a real cancer in the church.
It has to be challenged and changed.
The church cannot be allowed to become a gay sauna and play house.
MAYNOOTH:
Is it true that ONLY FOUR seminarians have entered Maynooth this year?
4/seminarians for 26 dioceses?
Now, if that’s not a sign the church is in major trouble, what is?
Will this be 4 new victims of predatory homosexuality?
UPDATE RE MAYNOOTH
There were 5 seminarians to enter but 1 refused to be vaccinated. Thus there are 4.
I wish to thank you for the courtesy of a reply and for the reassuring content.
The lady is in the USA and her time zone is 8 hours behind ours.
I have spoken to her at length and am impressed by her honesty and her very obvious desire, not for revenge, but for the protection of other women / persons and indeed to see Father Xxxxx getting the help she is convinced he needs.
I will speak to her urgently and urge her to work with your safeguarding officer.
I an aware of how “young” you are and I hope you soon get the opportunity to have a less stressful life.
Warm wishes,
+ Pat.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GAY / SATANIC GROUP RESEARCHER GIVES INFORMATION TO DENIS NULTY’S SAFEGUARDING OFFICER.
**** THIS MATTER INVOLVES A SERVING PRIEST OF K & L
Denis Nulty
Dear Kathleen,
Further to a correspondence from Bishop Pat Buckley I would like to confirm a report of abuse I received during a phone conversation with an ex cleric.
At the time I was investigating a group in Kildare organising Satanic type events amongst other things which led me to talk to this individual. Much of this material was reported to Gardai between 2016 and 2017.
The individual who has stated a link to the Fr Lomasney incident in Cork and similar incidents in Dublin has told me of his encounter in the Church in Nurney/Kildangan around 19XX when the alleged victim was 15. He described the incident as a sexual assault and has gone on to further discuss the current location of this priest as well as other personal details.
This gentleman, known as XX, describes himself as an ex cleric, and has up to recently shown pictures of other priests in compromising positions on his profile page on a gay dating site.
The gentleman’s (XX or XXXX) phone number is 087 XXXXXXX. He made the allegation against Fr XXXXXXXX and I reported this to Gardai in 2017. I have felt I needed to pass this on for the sake of Fr XXXXXXX who may be totally innocent in all this and of course any victims of abuse which may be out there related to this case.
Please confirm receipt of this email and perhaps I can make an official statement if I feel this matter can be resolved.
Ive heard from a lady in the USA who says she had an online sexual relationship with a priest from Galway.
She had an on line relationship with an Irish man. When they met on the chat site he told me after some time that he was a priest and she didn’t believe him. She thought he was joking with her. Then he sent her to his parish website to watch him celebrating Mass.
She is not a Catholic.
She asked him for a photograph and he told her to go and watch him celebrating Mass on his parish website.
He played a lot of head games with her during that time. The last time they spoke it was towards the end of Easter and he was celebrating the Stations of the Cross which was broadcast live and she noticed he was just sniffing and sniffing and sniffing and she told him people would know he was taking cocaine.
Another time he showed her an on line photograph of him holding a small bag of cocaine.
She says she is a sincere person and does not take screen shots of anyone she talks to on line. She says that is mainly done by people who want to blackmail other people later and that she would never do that.
The priest always rang her when it was very late at night in Ireland and he was always drunk and had taken cocaine.
She says they had online sex together including mutual masturbation etc.
The priest told her that he was leaving the priesthood and was going to the US to be with her.
She is also very seriously worried about him from the point of the view of his alcohol and cocaine addiction.
She says she is hurt by his deception but is not a scorned woman.
Of course, she thinks to be doing what he doing and be a priest at the same time is gross hypocrisy.
She says he is also on a website which is for transgender / transsexual people.
INITIAL EMAIL FROM US LADY
“I live in America. I met Father Xxxxxxx Xxxx on a internet chat site earlier this year and engaged in a online sexual relationship with him for months including facetime where we would mutually masturbate.
He had previously engaged (and was caught) having sexual relations with a person in his parish and I suspected and confronted him about some evidence I had that he was engaging in sexual acts not only online not just with women.
I believe that he may be at least bisexual.
He also revealed to me during the time that we were talking that he was heavily addicted to cocaine and on several occasions did it while we were on face chat.
There are a couple videos that were posted to the Xxxxxx Parish Facebook – mass live streams and you can tell that he has a cocaine problem especially given the way he sniffs during the entire service.
EMAIL TO THE RC BISHOP OF GALWAY
Brendan Kelly
20th September 2021
Dear Brendan,
I have heard from a lady in the USA who says that she has had an online sexual relationship with Father Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
She says they engaged in mutual masturbation etc.
She also says that Father Xxxxx has an ongoing alcohol and cocaine addiction and that he has shared photographs with her with him holding a bag of cocaine.
Apparently, Father Xxxxx promised her he was leaving the priesthood and going to the USA to be with her.
Apart from any other appropriate action it would seem that Father Xxxxx needs professional help with his addictions.
Because of the illegal nature of the cocaine aspect I have informed the Galway Gardai of the matter.
Sincerely yours,
+ Pat Buckley
PAT SAYS:
These cases of priests having sex keep coming. Mainly they are with men. This one is with a woman – with trans and cocaine aspects added into the mix.
RC priests need to realise that because they publicly take a promise or vow of celibacy the public and laity expect them to honour it.
Not to do so is hypocrisy.
They always have the option of of leaving if they will not or cannot keep their public promise.
But many stay for the cushy life and the social respect.
This woman in the USA was given to understand that she was beginning a long term relationship with this priest. If that was not his intention then he was using the woman and deceiving her. Thats is not good and not nice and not principled.
We Christians and especially we priests should not use people for our ends.
If you google it, there are quite a number of priests involved in drug-taking.
Drugs are illegal.
Drugs take lives.
On Sunday I celebrated an anniversary Mass for my nephew Christopher who got involved in drugs and took his own life 24 years ago.
Priests using cocaine and other drugs is illegal and immoral and very sinful.
It cannot be tolerated.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Amy with the Colonel in Chief of the Paratroopers.
Here’s a sermon I gave in the Dublin Unitarian Church on 16th September 2001, just five days after the events of 9/11. It was published a few days later in the Irish Times. Twenty years on, there’s not much I would change.
Rev Bill Darlison
The American Disaster
An American friend sent me an e-mail on Wednesday. She lives in Washington and her husband works near the Pentagon, so she was understandably distraught, dazed, and fearful. After expressing her own concerns, she expressed concern for me. “It must be a very difficult time to be a minister of religion,” she wrote. Those words didn’t register too clearly with me when I first read them. I was still reeling from the shock of the terrible events we witnessed on Tuesday, but the truth of them gradually began to sink in. After the disbelief, the unreality, there was the activity surrounding the special service we held here on Friday morning, but on Friday evening I was overcome with a feeling of despair, vulnerability, and fear – feelings which, I am sure, we all have now that the numbness has worn off and the pain of it all begins to creep in.
But, mingled with all those feelings was the sense of responsibility that we ministers have – responsibility to comment, to explain, to advise, to give sermons like this one without much opportunity for reflection, and with none of the perspective that time and distance can provide.
My friend, Marlena, was right. It is difficult to be a minister of religion at times like this, so I hope you will understand my problem and excuse the unpolished and halting nature of this effort. I have written this address while the wound is still raw, and I have undertaken to do it because I feel obliged to do so, but whether I’ll feel quite the same in a few weeks or a few months I cannot say.
One of the big questions we ministers have to answer in times like these – perhaps the overwhelming question for many people – is, where was God in all this?
Perhaps for contemporary Unitarians, who tend not to have such a clearly defined sense of divine providence as other religious groups, it is not so pressing, but it still has to be addressed.
How can God, whom we refer to as Our Father, our loving father, allow such an atrocity to take place? While we can just about understand how individual personal calamities might escape God’s attention, surely something of this magnitude could have, should have, been averted by divine intervention.
Alas, to think like this is to forget our history and the broader picture of our contemporary world. Innocent lives are lost by the thousand daily – war, famine, natural disasters, preventable disease – and our past, even our relatively recent past, is littered with examples of human cruelty and terror too awful to contemplate – the Somme, the Holocaust, Stalin’s gulags, Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the killing fields of Cambodia. The list is as endless as it is horrifying, and if we are to call into question the existence of a loving God, we have more reasons to do so than that provided by the events of last Tuesday in New York and Washington. I cannot even begin to approach this question with a cool philosophical detachment. It has haunted me all my adult life and will never be satisfactorily resolved. There are no glib answers.
All I can say is that my instincts tell me to stay with the idea that, despite the suffering and the tragedy, there is some point to all this, that human life is still worth living, that it is moving somewhere however obscure that goal seems to be, and that God is with us even though the pain and the sorrow seem to point towards His indifference and, at times, even towards His absence.
Elie Wiesel, the Jewish writer who lost his family members in Hitler’s concentration camps, tells the true story of a mock trial held by the Jews in Auschwitz.
The rabbis in the camp decided to put God on trial for failing in his biblical promise to be the protector of Israel. There was a defence and a prosecution, a judge and a jury; witnesses were called and questioned and, finally, the members of the jury were asked to vote. And there, in the midst of the horrors of Auschwitz, God was found guilty as charged. When the deliberations had ended, the senior rabbi spoke on behalf of the whole assembly: “Now let us say our evening prayer,” he said.
The story speaks for itself, and that’s where I want to leave it.
PAT SAYS
This sermon by Bill is a good sermon addressing why the loving God allows very things to happen.
I used this sermon yesterday with my own congregation to discuss the same big question.
Our conclusions were:
1. This is a difficult question and man’s brain is unable to answer it without saying that a. God does not exist or b. That God is a uncaring God – statements that Christians will not accept.
2. We decided that the heart and not the brain was the right organ with which to deal with God as the heart is capable of extremes when it comes to great joy or great sorrow.
3. We felt the rabbis and the Jews in Auschwitz handled it well, when after finding God guilty they turned to prayer. In this, they were doing what John Henry Newman did when he prayed: “O Lord I believe. Help my unbelief”
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, was invited to a church service in Northern Ireland to celebrate the PARTITION of Ireland and the SETTING UP of NORTHERN IRELAND.
Thats like asking the president of Israel to attend a service celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Auschwitz.
Or asking a Balkan president to attend a church service to celebrate the establishment of ethnic cleansing.
The partition of Ireland, by the British, was the final blow in Britain’s 800 years of invasion and colonisation of Ireland.
No self-respecting Irish person should be happy with this invasion and colonisation achieved generally by barbaric means.
Certainly, an Irish president should ever attend such a ceremony.
PRESIDENT’S PROPER TITLE
When the organisers of this badly named church service wrote to President Higgins, calling him the PRESIDENT OF IRELAND.
The DUP then deliberately called him THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
That is not President Higgins title. He is simple the PRESIDENT OF IRELAND.
In talking to him as they did the DUP deliberately tried to say that he had no role to play in Northern Ireland.
I am an Irish citizen living in Northern Ireland for 43 years.
I regard President Higgins as my president.
Currently in International Law Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
I would never attempt to insult Queen Elizabeth or indeed the UK flag or national anthem.
But we cannot ignore our history and eventually there must be a resolution on the island to the historic problem.
AMY MARTIN’S STUPIDITY;
FACEBOOK COMMENT
Amy is a Catholic from Derry’s Bogside and here he is throwing in his lot with the Brits and Unionists.
PAT: I only heard the term trauma bonding this week.
This article gives VERY IMPORTANT INSIGHTS.
Medically reviewed by Jacquelyn Johnson, PsyD. — Written by Lois Zoppi on November 26, 2020
Definition When does it happen? Signs Breaking the bond Recovery When to seek help Summary
Trauma bonding is a psychological response to abuse. It occurs when the abused person forms an unhealthy bond with the person who abuses them.
The person experiencing abuse may develop sympathy for the abusive person, which becomes reinforced by cycles of abuse, followed by remorse. Stockholm syndrome is one type of trauma bonding.
This article explains what trauma bonding is, when it might occur, and how recovery can begin.
What is a trauma bond?
A trauma bond is a connection between an abusive person and the individual they abuse. It typically occurs when the abused person begins to develop sympathy or affection for the abuser.
This bond can develop over days, weeks, or months. Not everyone who experiences abuse develops a trauma bond.
Stockholm syndrome is a specific type of trauma bond. While this term typically refers to someone who is captive developing positive feelings for their captors, this dynamic can occur in other situations and relationships.
2018 research investigating abuse in athletics suggests that Stockholm syndrome may begin when a person experiencing abuse begins to rationalize the actions of the perpetrator.
Why does it happen?
Feelings of attachment and dependence can contribute to a trauma bond, as can a pattern of abuse and remorse.
Attachment
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, trauma bonds are the result of an unhealthy attachment.
Humans form attachments as a means of survival. Babies become attached to the parents or caregivers whom they depend on, and adults form attachments to others who provide comfort or support.
When someone’s main source of support is also their abuser, a trauma bond can develop. An abused person may turn to the abusive person for comfort when they are hurt, even if the other person was the one who caused it.
Dependence
A person may develop a trauma bond because they rely on the abusive person to fulfill emotional needs.
For example, a child relies on their parent or caregiver for love and support. If that caregiver is abusive, the child may come to associate love with abuse. Believing that this association is normal, the child may be unable to see the abusive caregiver as “bad.”
The child may instead blame themselves for the abuse as a way of making sense of what is happening to them. This allows the caregiver to continue being “good” in the child’s eyes, which reinforces their bond.
Cycle of abuse
Some abusive relationships follow a pattern of abuse, then remorse.
After causing harm, an abusive person may promise to change. Some may be especially kind or romantic to make up for their behavior.
This gives the abused person hope that their suffering will end and that they will one day receive the love or connection that the perpetrator has promised. The person experiencing the abuse may see suffering as a price to pay for kindness.
Remorseful behavior may also cause the abused person to feel grateful, particularly if they have become accustomed to poor treatment. This reinforces the bond.
When can trauma bonding happen? In theory, trauma bonding can occur in any situation that involves one person abusing or exploiting another. This may include situations that involve:
domestic abuse child abuse incest elder abuse exploitative employment, such as one involving people who have immigrated without documentation kidnapping or hostage-taking human trafficking religious extremism or cults According to the organization Parents Against Child Exploitation, a trauma bond develops under specific conditions.
A person must: perceive a real threat of danger from their abuser experience harsh treatment with small periods of kindness be isolated from other people and their perspectives believe that they cannot escape.
Signs of trauma bonding
The main sign that a person has bonded with an abuser is that they try to justify or defend the abuse.
They may also: agree with the abusive person’s reasons for treating them badly try to cover for the abusive person argue with or distance themselves from people trying to help, such as friends, family members, or neighbors become defensive or hostile if someone intervenes and attempts to stop the abuse, such as a bystander or police officer be reluctant or unwilling to take steps to leave the abusive situation or break the bond
A person bonded with their abuser might say, for example:
“He is only like that because he loves me so much — you would not understand.”
“She is under a lot of pressure at work, she cannot help it. She will make it up to me later.”
“I will not leave him, he is the love of my life. You are just jealous.”
“It is my fault — I make them angry.”
It is worth noting that these feelings of attachment do not necessarily end when the person leaves the harmful situation. A person may still feel loyal or loving toward the person who abused them or feel tempted to return.
Breaking a trauma bond
Breaking a trauma bond can be challenging and may take time, but it is possible. The National Domestic Violence Hotline suggest that people:
Focus on the present: Hope that an abusive person will change or nostalgia for good times in the past can keep people in their trauma bonds. Try to acknowledge what is currently happening and the impact that it has by pausing to reflect on it. If it is safe to do so, keep a diary.
Focus on the evidence: If a person continues to abuse or takes no steps to get help, stay focused on this, rather than on their promises about the future.
Practice positive self-talk: Abuse can lower a person’s self-esteem and make them feel that they cannot be without the abusive person. Noticing negative self-talk and challenging with positive alternatives can start to change this.
Practice self-care: Taking care of oneself may help relieve some stress and reduce the desire to turn to an abusive person for comfort. Journaling, meditation, exercise, hobbies, prayer, or talking to trusted friends can help.
If possible, a person can also:
Learn about abusive and toxic relationships in order to spot the signs early and reinforce that they are not healthy.
Learn what healthy relationships look like and seek them out.
Create a plan to improve safety and make it possible to leave.
Safety planning
Safety plans include personalized steps that an individual can take to protect themselves physically and emotionally. The plan may include:
safe places where someone can go to protect themselves, children, or pets from violence names and contact information for people who provide support information about local organizations and services a way to gather evidence of the abuse, such as a journal with events and dates that a person keeps in a safe place a plan to leave, considering factors such as money, a safe place to live, and work a plan for staying safe after leaving, which may include changing locks and phone numbers, altering working hours, and pursuing legal action
Recovery from abuse
The trauma of abuse can have lasting effects on mental and physical health. No one has to cope with this alone. The following approaches may help people understand their experiences and address related issues, such as anxiety or depression.
Therapy
A person may experience pain, a sense of loss, and grief after escaping an abusive situation.
An understanding therapist, counselor, or support worker can help someone work through this. It may help to find a therapist who has experience with trauma and abuse survivors.
A therapist can provide a safe space to talk about all thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They can also identify and treat conditions that may develop as a result of abuse, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD.
Support groups
Support groups offer abuse survivors places to share their stories with others who understand. This can help a person feel less alone and remind them that there are others who care.
People in support groups may also share tips on coping and staying safe, and provide other practical advice about moving on from an abusive situation.
Medication
If a person develops an anxiety disorder or depression as a result of abuse, medications may help relieve some of the symptoms. Anyone interested can discuss this option with a doctor.
When to seek help
Summary
Trauma bonding occurs when a person experiencing abuse develops an unhealthy attachment to their abuser. They may rationalize or defend the abusive actions, feel a sense of loyalty, isolate from others, and hope that the abuser’s behavior will change.
Breaking a trauma bond and recovering can be a long journey, and recognizing the true nature of the bond is an important first step. Trusted family members, friends, other survivors, counselors, support services, and therapists can all help a person heal.
When I was 6 I was sexually abused by a young delivery man.
I did not understand what was happening and was very confused.
Something told me it was wrong and if it was wrong, I thought, it must be my fault, because grown upd are always right and children wrong.
The other thing was, I was already the oldest of 4 or 5 and I had stopped being the baby at 11 months when my next sibling arrived. So I had to move on and let the new baby and babies get the attention.
So I was lonely and lacking attention.
And then my abuser arrived, giving me attention, making me feel special and bringing me lovely sweets and biscuits.
So, of course, I liked him and liked when he came around.
So, I “bonded” with him.
I didn’t understand or appreciate what he did to me in the locked bathroom. But he still gave me attention and gifts and I still liked him.
Then he disappeared, suddenly.
And I missed him. I felt a loss, a kind of grief. And I kept looking for him for years.
Later, in therapy, I understood what happened.
But only this week did I learn it was called TRAUMA BONDING.
Monk calls for better protections for church whistleblowers after being ostracised from Co Meath monastery
Sarah Mac Donald Irish Independent September 15 2021
A monk who raised concerns over financial governance and inappropriate behaviour at a Co Meath monastery has called for new protections for whistleblowers in the Catholic Church.
Fr Benedict Andersen, who was formerly second in command at Silverstream Priory near Stamullen, Co Meath, told the Irish Independent that he now finds himself out of ministry, with no income and living in America.
“It might be a good time for some new protections for those who become whistleblowers in the church,” he said.
Fr Andersen is calling for an “impartial investigation” of his claims. “What has happened at Silverstream Priory is a textbook example of how a religious community should not be governed,” he said.
Silverstream monastery was founded in 2012 by charismatic US-born Benedictine monk Fr Mark Daniel Kirby, who was prior until 2020.
The Co Meath community promotes the Latin liturgy and a conservative form of Catholicism.
In May 2020, Bishop Tom Deenihan of Meath ordered a canonical visitation or investigation of Silverstream monastery.
A five-page report which followed the visitation, seen by the Irish Independent, enumerated concerns about its financial management as well as the structure and governance of the monastery’s community life.
The church investigation came about following complaints made to the Bishop of Meath and the Papal Nuncio in April 2020 by Fr Andersen.
He says they were “the culmination of years of deep concern”.
He also alleges “a culture of habitual boundary-crossing in almost every area of community life: spiritual, emotional, physical, and material/ financial”.
Fr Andersen’s complaints range from lack of financial oversight to inappropriate behaviour to “egregious breaches of confidentiality” in relation to medical and spiritual matters.
According to Fr Andersen, monks at the monastery were not usually allowed go to the doctor and be examined without another member of the community with them.
In their report, the visitation team recognised that serious breaches of medical data protection and spiritual confidentiality (what they termed the “internal forum”) were occurring.
The visitation team was led by the Abbot of Glenstal, Brendan Coffey, who was assisted by the Abbot of Mount Melleray, Richard Purcell, and Monsignor Gearoid Dullea of the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
For many years since its foundation, Silverstream Priory was lauded as an example of a flourishing conservative community which had attracted many vocations.
Silverstream was in the headlines in 2017 when the former Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, presided at a ceremony which formally recognised it as a monastic institute of consecrated life, making it the first new monastery established in the diocese of Meath since Reformation times.
The community grew from two monks to 15, attracting vocations, such as an Australian former surfer and others from the US and Denmark.
As the community grew, an ambitious plan for the reconstruction of the monastery’s buildings got under way. But in order to carry these out, a lot of money had to be raised.
The visitation report noted that during the years 2016-2019, the community invested over €2.5m in purchasing the property and renovating it, even though the monastery’s income in 2019 dropped by 50pc of what it was in each of the three previous years. At the same time, expenses were increasing by 20pc each year.
One of Fr Andersen’s major concerns was the monastery’s failure to keep records, plan its budget, or record specific donations.
The Visitation Report warned the community that the civil legal structure of Silverstream Priory needed attention to make it compliant with civil law, the Revenue Commissioners, the Charity Governance Code and Data Protection legislation.
“We have concerns in these areas,” the report stated.
Other concerns focused on the monastery’s failure to present annual accounts to Silverstream’s chapter for approval.
Furthermore, Fr Andersen felt that Fr Kirby’s revelation to him that he had filled dozens of prayer journals with prayers and reflections about him, along with his hugs, his caressing of Fr Andersen’s head, as well as graphic disclosures of sexual abuse, overstepped boundaries.
Fr Andersen first spoke to Bishop Deenihan of Meath about his concerns in February 2020, as he was at that point thinking of leaving Silverstream. He then wrote to the bishop on April 30, outlining his concerns and expressing the view that Fr Kirby could not remain as the community’s superior.
On May 20, Bishop Deenihan announced a visitation. Due to the pandemic, the process was delayed, and the visitation team arrived at the monastery on June 9, 2020, and spent three days interviewing the monks.
On 25 June, Silverstream received a copy of the visitors’ five-page report, which praised the monastery as a “place of prayer, a place that is a centre of peace and retreat”, which was clearly at odds with the allegations made by Fr Andersen.
Asked to respond to Fr Andersen’s allegations, a spokesman for Bishop Deenihan explained that Silverstream was established as a Diocesan Institute of Consecrated Life in 2017 by the former Bishop of Meath, Bishop Michael Smith.
Martin Long of the Catholic Communications office told the Irish Independent : “As Silverstream had not long been established as a Diocesan Institute of Consecrated Life, it was timely that it underwent a visitation which is now concluded. This is a normal part of church life, and the purpose of its report is to assist the good governance of the monastery and is not for publication.”
He also highlighted that there had been “personalised and serious charges published online concerning the monastic community and its members and, in justice, the diocese cannot respond as there are ongoing investigations by canonical and civil authorities”.
A spokesperson for the Garda confirmed to the Irish Independent that there is an investigation relating to a monastery in Stamullen, Co Meath. The Irish Independent also requested a response from Silverstream community and was told: “This matter is still subject to a Garda investigation, and we will not make any further comment until this is complete.”
Since he aired his concerns about Silverstream, Fr Andersen claims he has been ostracised by the community, accused of indirectly violating the confessional seal, left without a ministry, and a home.
He says however that he does not know who accused him of the canonical crime of breaking the seal of confession and reporting him to the Vatican.
“My canonical advocate in Rome has, thus far, been unable to learn anything about these charges. We have not even been able to learn if there is an associated ‘protocol number’, which would be proof that there is a complaint against me in the files of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” he said.
He added: “Of course, I will defend myself vigorously: no such violation has ever occurred. It has been suggested to me by my advocate that it is a way of undermining my credibility in the civil forum.”
His advocate has also failed to get any response from Bishop Deenihan about the complaint.
PAT SAY:
Father Benedict has been treated atrociously by his monastery and Tom Deenihan the Roman Catholic incumbent of Meath.
He was subjected to serious sexual harassment by the prior – that nut job Kirby.
Tom Deenihan has been most unkind and unChristian to him.
Benedict is a kind, sincere and very prayerful monk.
What is it about the RCC – the more of a bastard you the better you are treated.
I’m sure the Good Lord will bring Benedict to a place that deserves him and respects him.
REPLY FROM DENIS AN COILEACH NULTY.
Peter, the man with the info on the Gay / Satanic group and the child abuse will follow that up on Monday.
I want to draw your attention to my blog of today about Gay / Satanic meeting taking place in Kildare that are being attended allegedly by a retired bishop, priests, monks and seminarians along with former priests, former seminarians and lay men. I enclose a copy of the blog herein.
These meeting often take place on the Feast Days of Our Blessed Lady and up to 60 people attend.
Their last meeting was on the 25th August 2021 and the next meeting in on 25th September 2021.
One of the organisers of this meeting is a former priest, maybe of Kildare, who claims that he abducted and sexually abused by a serving priest of your diocese – Father Xxxxx xxxxxc– at the age of 15.
The man with all the information on all these matters is known, for now, as Peter – and he is happy to meet you and give you all the information he has.
If you let me know the best number for Peter to ring you on, I will have him call you in the following days.
These matters have been known to the Gardai for 5 years and for some inexplicable reason no action has yet been taken.
After meeting Peter I would ask you to investigate the:
1. Alleged sex abuse by Fr Xxxxx xxxxx
2, The Satanic / Gay sex ring in your diocese attended by clergy, religious and laity.
Sincerely yours,
+ Pat Buckley.
DERRY DIOCESAN CHANGES:
Clerical changes were announced last night by Bishop Donal McKeown.
The Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown, has announced the following clerical changes for the Derry Diocese.
Rev Neil Farren, PP Ardmore to be PP Coleraine (Dunboe, Macosquin and Aghadowey).
Rev Dr James McGrory, PP Coleraine, to be PP Ardmore.
Rev Patrick Baker, CC Limavady to be Administrator, Longt Tower.
Rev Chris McDermott, CC Drumragh (Omagh) and CC Langfield to be CC Limavady.
Rev Malachy Gallagher, CC Glendermott and CC Strathfoyle to be CC Melmount and CC Sion Mills.
Rev Peter O’Kane, to return from the Irish Dominican Province to be CC Drumragh (Omagh) and CC Langfield.
Rev James Devine, to return from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception to be CC Holy Family, Ballymagroarty.
Rev Ignacy Saniuta, on loan from Diocese of Vitebsk and CC Drumragh (Omagh) and CC Langfield to be CC St Eugene’s Cathedral, as well as continuing his ministry to the Polish community in the Diocese of Derry.
Rev Roni Zacharias, on loan from the Archeparchy of Changanacherry to be CC Glendermott and CC Strathfoyle.
Rev John P Forbes, priest-in-residence Badoney Lower, to retire.
Rev Christopher Ferguson, priest-in-residence, Three Patrons (Pennburn, Galliagh and Carnhill), has requested and been granted leave of absence from ministry from 16 October next until 31 August next year.
Most of the changes will come into effect from this Saturday, September 18.
