IRISH NEWS NEWSPAPER BELFAST PUBLISHES EDITED VERSION OF MY LETTER

1.     

     THE "IRISH NEWS" NEWSPAPER, BELFAST HAS TODAY, JUNE 28TH 2013, PUBLISHED AN EDITED VERSION OF MY LETTER SENT TO THEM ON JUNE 17TH ABOUT PRIESTLY SUICIDES. THEY REMOVED 3 SECTIONS OF MY LETTER - (1) THE SECTION  ABOUT  PRIESTLY CELIBACY NOT WORKING; (2) THE SECTION ABOUT THE "CLERICALISM" CONDEMNED BY POPE FRANCIS AND (3) THE SECTION ABOUT BISHOPS, INCLUDING BISHOP NOEL TREANOR BEING ALOOF AND UNAVAILABLE TO PRIESTS. WHY WERE THOSE SECTIONS REMOVED? IS IT BECAUSE THE PART ABOUT CELIBACY NOT WORKING WHO ANGER BELFAST PRIESTS? AND IS THE IRISH NEWS NOT WILLING TO ALLOW CRITICISM OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS?

    OR IS THE NEWSPAPERS EDITOR, NOEL DORAN, AFRAID OF HIS PROPRIETOR JIM FITZPATRICK - THE RIGHT WING WEALTHY BELFAST CATHOLIC? 

NOEL DORAN

JIM FITZPATRICK

NOEL, I AM ONLY A POWERLESS DISSIDENT BISHOP WHO HAS NO POWER TO BRING YOU TO BOOK. YOU ARE THE EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER THAT CAN RUBBISH ME WHEN YOU WANT AND YOU ARE BACKED BY YOUR MILLIONAIRE OWNER.

     BELOW ARE THE SECTIONS REMOVED AND CENSORED:

Most seminarians and young priests are initially dedicated to the life of celibacy. If they make it through the seminary without being propositioned or seduced by another seminarian or priest they are fortunate. However when they mature a little they are confronted with their own very normal sexual urges accompanied by loneliness and they become hopelessly trapped. The majority of priests eventually leave the priesthood, lead a double life in secret or succumb to psychotic loneliness, depression, anxiety or to various addictions. Whatever way they try to cope they are internally conflicted and lose a sense of integrity and wholeness. Also Is it an accident that there are a greater number of gay men in the Catholic priesthood than there are in society as a whole. Being secretly gay puts huge pressures on priests.

2.      The “clerical club” in the seminary and later in the diocese is a cruel and unforgiving environment. Among seminarians you will find the same bullies as you find in secular life. Priests are afraid to be vulnerable before other priests. They are afraid to being judged and thought weak. When they are in a crisis they often cannot bring themselves to talk to another priest about their crisis.

3.      Bishops are supposed to be “fathers” to their priests. But many bishops are aloof and cold and unapproachable. How many priests have their bishop’s private mobile number? Could they call him and go to him at 3 am if they are on the very edge? Could Matt Wallace have done that? In any event how can you talk to a bishop about your struggles or weaknesses when it is he who has the power to discipline you, take away your life as you know it, or even report you to the police.

Bishop Pat Buckley 28.6.2013