Wednesday 4 September 2013

DOWN AND CONNOR CRISIS DEEPENS

DOWN AND CONNOR CRISIS DEEPENS

THE IRISH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER HAS REVEALED THAT THE DIOCESE OF DOWN AND CONNOR - WITH 88 PARISHES - NOW HAS ONLY 8 CURATES!

WHEN I WAS A CURATE IN ST PETERS CATHEDRAL (1978 - 1983) THERE WERE 5 FULL TIMES PRIESTS IN THE PARISH.

TODAY THERE IS ONLY 1 PRIEST - CIARAN DALLAT
CIARAN DALLAT "ASSISTING"

DALLAT IS ON THE BOOKS AS THE "ASSISTANT" PRIEST. ASSISTING WHO? HE IS ASSISTING THE ADMINISTRATOR - FATHER HUGH KENNEDY WHO WAS RE-INSTALLED BY BISHOP NOEL TREANOR LAST SUNDAY AFTER A 2 YEAR INVESTIGATION.

BUT SINCE SUNDAY THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. LOOK AT THE PARISH WEB SITE AND THE WEB CAM - DALLAT HAS BEEN CELEBRATING ALL THE MASSES AND HUGH KENNEDY IS INVISIBLE. HE CAN'T BE ON HOLIDAY. HE IS JUST BACK FROM A 2 YEAR HOLIDAY
HUGH KENNEDY - INVISIBLE
AND THE DOWN AND CONNOR WEB SITE CARRIES NO NEWS OF HUGH KENNEDY'S RETURN TO MINISTRY.


WHAT KIND OF DEAL HAS BEEN WORKED OUT BETWEEN NOEL TREANOR AND HUGH KENNEDY? ITS ALL A BIG SECRET. BUT WHO EXACTLY IS FOOLING WHO?


THERE ARE TWO OTHER DOWN AND CONNOR PRIESTS STILL IN LIMBO
PAUL SYMONDS - MISSING


 - JOHN MCMANUS AND PAUL SYMONDS.
JOHN MC MANUS - MISSING



AND NOW ANOTHER HAS GONE MISSING. ONE OF THE DIOCESE'S YOUNGEST CURATES - BRIAN WATERS - WAS DUE TO MOVE FROM DRUMBOE TO HOLY FAMILY PARISH  - BUT HE HAS DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR. RUMOUR HAS IT THAT HE BECOME SUDDENLY ILL AND WILL NEVER RETURN TO MINISTRY
BRIAN WATERS - MISSING
BISHOP NOEL TREANOR - WHEN HE IS NOT ABROAD TRAVELLING - SEEMS UNABLE TO SORT OUT THE CRISIS. APART FROM HIS PERSONALITY PROBLEM HE SEEMS TO HAVE NO PLAN IN PLACE TO BREATHE NEW LIFE BACK INTO THE AILING DIOCESE.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ONE OF THE PARISH PRIESTS - FATHER MATT WALLACE - OBVIOUSLY LABOURING UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE TOOK  HIS OWN LIFE 
MATT WALLACE - RIP
SOME PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE FEAR THAT IF THE SITUATION CONTINUES THERE WILL BE MORE PRIESTLY SUICIDES!

IN KILKEEL WHERE I SERVED AS CURATE (1983-1984) THERE ARE 4 CHURCHES AND TWO PRIESTS - AN AGING PARISH PRIEST AND A RETIRED PRIEST.

AGAIN THE DOWN AND CONNOR WEB SITE IS NOT UPDATED WITH THE RECENT CLERICAL CHANGES. WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE WEBSITE. IS IT THE LISBREEN CAT OR THE LISBREEN MOUSE?

IS IT NOT TIME TO PUT ALL THE DIOCESAN PRIESTS OUT ON THE GROUND AS PASTORS AND LEAVE ALL THE ADMINISTRATION JOBS TO QUALIFIED LAY PEOPLE.

WHY DOES NOEL TREANOR NEED A PRIEST SECRETARY? PUT FATHER GLOVER LOOKING AFTER A PARISH.

WHY IS EDDIE MCGEE HANGING AROUND A COLLEGE. EMPLOY A LAY LECTURER AND GIVE EDDIE THE CHARGE OF A PARISH.
EDDIE MCGEE

WHY DOES BISHOP DONAL MCKEOWN NOT LIVE IN A PARISH AND PERFORM PARISH DUTIES?
DONAL MC KEOWN

WHY IS BISHOP ANTHONY FARQUHAR LIVING IN A PRIVATE HOUSE IN WEST BELFAST. WHY IS HE NOT LIVING IN A PRESBYTERS AND HELPING IN THE PARISH?

BISHOP FARQUHAR (LEFT)
WHY - WHEN THERE IS A MASSIVE SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS IF COLM CURRAN SENT OFF FOR "STUDIES"

COLM CURRAN
WHY IS EUGENE O HAGAN SPENDING MOST OF HIS TIME IN LISBREEN AND THE MARRIAGE TRIBUNALS WHEN QUALIFIED LATY CANON LAWYERS CAN DO THAT WORK?

EUGENE O HAGAN
 WHY IS TIMMY BARTLETT SITTING AROUND MAYNOOTH HOPING AND PRAYING FOR A MITRE WHEN HE COULD BE RUNNING A PARISH?
TIMMY BARTLETT
WHY, WITH THE SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS IS VINCENT CUSHNAHAN BEING SENT TO CANADA TO STUDY CANON LAW?

VINCENT CUSHNAHAN
WHY IS OLIVER TREANOR IN MAYNOOTH WHEN LAY PEOPLE CAN LECTURE THERE. WHY IS HE NOT RUNNING A PARISH?


OLIVER TREANOR
WHY HAS THOMAS MCGLYNN JUST BEING SENT AWAY FOR STUDIES WHEN HE IS A YOUNG WORKING PRIEST?


THOMAS MCGLYNN
WHERE IS THE YOUNG FATHER JOHN BURNS?

WHY IS FATHER PETER CARLIN IN PERU INSTEAD OF DOWN AND CONNOR?

WHY IS FATHER NIALL COLL A TEACHER AND NOT AN ACTIVE PARISH PRIEST?

WHY IS FATHER PAUL FLEMMING IN ST MARY'S COLLEGE AND NOT IN A PARISH?

WHY IS FATHER COLM GRANT IN ST MALACHY'S COLLEGE AND NOT A PARISH?

WHY IS FATHER MARTIN HENRY A TEACHER IN MAYNOOTH?

WHY IS FATHER FEDHLIMIDH  MAGENNIS TEACHING AND NOT IN A PARISH?

WHY IS FATHER JOHN O CONNOR A SOCIAL WORKER AND NOT IN A PARISH?

WHY IS FATHER MICHAEL SPENCE NOT IN A PARISH?

WHY IS FATHER PADDY WHITE NOT IN A PARISH?


I HAVE LISTED 23 PRIESTS ABOVE WHO COULD BE PARISH PRIESTS OR CURATES.

JOBS LIKE TEACHING, SOCIAL CARE, ADMINISTRATION, CANON LAW ETC ETC CAN BE DONE BY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED LAY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NEED TO BE PRIESTS.

LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE AN INFUSION OF 23 MEN WOULD MAKE INTO STRUGGLING PARISHES.

DOWN AND CONNOR JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS.

IT ALSO SEEMS NOT TO HAVE PROPER PASTORAL STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH STRUGGLING AREAS.

WE CAN ALSO BRING THE PERMANENT DIACONATE ON LINE.

LAY PEOPLE CAN HANDLE ADMIN WORK, SCHOOLS, ACCOUNTS ETC.

PRIESTS CAN BE FREED UP TO BE WHAT PRIESTS SHOULD BE - PASTORS.

IS DOWN AND CONNOR HEADING FOR A TITANIC MOMENT? 

WHERE IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP?

Bishop Pat Buckley
4.9.2013











42 comments:

  1. The captain of the ship is seldom or never on the bridge

    ReplyDelete
  2. people looking for evidence that the "dead arose and spoke to many" need look no further than the parish of Ballymoney where according to the Down and Connor website yesterday the assistant priest is Canon Dominic McHugh. Canon Mc Hugh has been dead for two years. RIP. He is not the only one still listed yet gone to his eternal reward. And I'm sure there will be many relatives of clergy who have died over the last few years who may feel a little disheartened that no obituary appears in the same website to mark their service to the diocese. get a grip Noel !!!

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  3. The priest in Ballymoney is not the only one who is still active according to the website. Fr Casimir from our parish (Holy Cross Ardoyne) is still listed as a working priest despite the fact that his death and the circumstances surrounding it were widely reported in the media. Is it that the regime in Lisbeen are so dysfunctional that they don't know that priests working in the diocese are dying or is it that nobody gives a toss for the sensitivities of their family and friends still seeing these listings.

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  4. You may find that the "deal" between Treanor and Hughie "The Breadman" Kennedy was done in the presbytery of the Sacred Heart Church in Cargin near Toomebridge where the two of them met recently at the funeral of the late Fr Oliver Kennedy. Methinks there is sommit fishy about the whole thing !!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is interesting to know the place where the deal was struck.

      Pat

      Delete
  5. You have outdone yourself in demonstrating the sad state of affairs in the Diocese of D&C.

    The blood sucking apparatus of Bishop Noel continues the assault on the life blood of the Catholic Church in our part of Ireland.

    The bite marks are aimed towards the necks of natural justice and pastoral care. What is as threatening as the sunlight to Bishop Noel? Authentic Christian living... Reverence for Faith...Respect for the Real Presence...and the Pastoral Care for the people which seems to anger bad Bishops as much as a Crucifix repels Dracula.

    How interesting a fact is it that atheist Bishops don't like the Crucifix either. There are no accidents. The comparison is astoundingly accurate.

    Noel would be great in a secular business with no values other that profit and loss!!!

    Lover of D&C.

    ReplyDelete
  6. In the movie,"Becket", the story of St. Thomas a Becket, the saint, played by Richard Burton, tells those who want to silence his revelations and loud protests of corrupt priests and bishops, that "The Kingdom of God is like any kingdom, and must be defended." He did not stop defending his Faith and was martyred.

    Keep going Bishop Pat

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  7. I agree with your exhortations Bishop Pat, but what is your call to action? You are stirring up the righteous passion of all orthodox Catholics who read your blog, but to what end can we focus our passion?

    If you have no viable suggested action then you risk allowing our righteous anger to fester into bitterness and pessimism. Do you have any ideas, any hopeful suggestions for those sheep suffering under wayward bishops? The world is full of complainers, it is only those who are willing to take action who can effect change.

    Time for action, the Congress is soon!!!!

    George

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. George,

      I have recommended some actions:

      1. Take the 23 priests out of teaching and put them into parishes.

      2. Introduce the permanent, married diaconate.

      3. Put suitable qualified lay people in charge of all finance and admin.

      4. Have a proper elected Diocesan Council running the diocese.

      5. Have properly elected parish councils running parishes.

      AND

      6 Ordain married men as priests.

      7. Bring back the 250,000 who have left to marry to active ministry.

      8. Ordain women.

      That would not be a bad start.

      Pat

      Delete
    2. You go, Pat!!

      Delete
  8. The Holy Father said "Christ is not looking for tired conformists, but witnesses of courageous faith, those who burn in the fire of His love."

    Do not conform and speak up please.........

    Tom

    ReplyDelete
  9. Taking bishops to task publicly is a risky position at the best of times.
    This begs the question, at least as I see it… Is a blog a place to do this? I am of a mixed mind about that. There was a time when I used my blog to rant and rave about all manner of things. Perhaps this is just my own experience but I found that that was not useful for me or anyone else.
    I guess I am also reminded of the Gospel of the woman to be stoned for adultery and a reminder of who should be casting the first stone.
    Let me say this in closing, I often think of the words of the author Anne Lamott who (and I paraphrase her here) says something to the effect of, you have refashioned God in your own image when he hates all the same people that you do.

    Fran

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran,

      You make good points.

      But people NEED a place to voice their concerns / suggestions.

      Pat

      Delete
  10. “I have more respect for a prostitute than a live-in girlfriend.
    At least they’re getting paid for it!”
    -Dr. Laura Schlessinger

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  11. It seems that the saying, “The fish stinks from the head down,” certainly applies to many areas of D&C life but it conspicuously applies to those prelates in the role of principal teacher and leader of the Catholic church, the very ones who have the sacred obligation to promote and teach the loving Jesus, the Tradition and traditions of the church.

    The very ones who must defend the Church against apostates and the degenerate, and maintain the moral and spiritual integrity of the Church. Not so in D&C.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So what is this protesting exactly?
    Is he too conservative?
    Is he too liberal?
    Is it something else?
    Inquiring minds need to know.

    Assistant

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What is Noel's problem?

      1. He does not want to be in Down and Connor.

      2. He could have coped better with the Armagh job that he was supposed to get until he tried to shaft Ian Elliott.

      3. I do not know if Noel has any faith or prays?

      In short his is suffering from AUTISM BY DESIRE as his coping mechanism.

      Pat

      Delete
  13. He has seen the light and no longer believes in god.......! So say all of us.

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  14. "Protesters are also calling for a more modest leadership style citing Pope Francis as an example. " Don't make me lol, for all his stunts this new Pope is still sitting on a big pile of gold and he ain't sharing any of it any time soon.

    A poor mother

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  15. "means serving and not to be served" Crux of the message aught to be agreed Noel.

    PP

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  16. This story reads like a mediocre press release that was forwarded as a "news" story with none of the normal journalism practices: check assertions for factual accuracy, background sources, interview Church experts and authorities. A good copy editor would have pointed out dozens of holes and unsupported assertions and a lack of balance.

    A puff piece, this story doesn't meet the basic criteria of a story in Reporting

    D&C - Priest

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear D & C priest.

      Please be specific about the failures in this blog.

      Write one yourself and send it to me - and I'll publish it UNEDITED.

      Pat

      Delete
  17. Pat, why can't your priest's take on a parish? We need pastoral care and good pastors. I have had occasion to cross paths with one of your young priest's who showed all the traits of a good Christian pastor. The concern he showed and spiritual direction given was most gratefully absorbed by my family and I.

    God Bless the positive and FREELY given ministry.

    Steve

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try Parish by consensus rather than geography. I am working on how to exercise my ministry here in greater manchester. My home is a church 5 mins down the road but I attend Church of The Saviour Collyhurst on a Sunday. (Its on the Net)I have completed an authorised lay ministry course with focus on worship. I am waiting to see what the Lord will do with me next. The road is amazing & parish is more than geography. Fair play to ya mate for putting your name up I wish the anonymousati would do the same. Sean

      Delete
  18. I have 5 priests working with me. All 6 of us would be willing to work in Down and Connor parishes.

    Of course we have not being asked.

    But we are ready and willing.

    Pat

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  19. Bishop Pat, I am sure that by now Bishop Noel will be aware of your very kind offer for the Oratory priests to serve in the Diocese. Knowing him I think he may be a tad reluctant to ring you tonight as he would be in the unique situation that there would be 6 bishops in D&C. Too many bishops for him to handle !!

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  20. Treanor, Farquhar, McKeown, Walsh, Buckley, who is no 6?

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  21. For the last number of weeks there has been a Scottish bishop residing in a small village on the east coast of the Ards peninsula. He is always in mufty but two friends, both Scottish, have seen him as recently as yesterday in Tesco in Newtownards. Perhaps he is acting as chaplin to the fishermen.

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  22. Fr Coll is a priest of the Diocese of Raphoe

    Fr Magennis is a priest of the Diocese of Dromore

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  23. Their backgrounds are not relevant.

    If they can serve in D & C colleges they can serve in D & C parishes

    Par

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, but they are not D&C Colleges (or even College). it is a College that happens to be located in D&C!

      Delete
    2. Ok. We are now beginning to split clerical hairs :-)

      Pat

      Delete
    3. By your logic Frs Henry and Treanor should be working in Dublin Archdiocese (where Maynooth is situated)!!!!

      Delete
  24. Isn't it a small world. My wife and I were out for a walk last week in Ballyhalbert and we passed a man in a checked shirt and my wife said she thought he was the image of a Scottish bishop.

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  25. ive seen the same guy but he certainly resembles O brien from Edinburgh but I don't think its him

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  26. When I was in St Annes in Sligo Bishop Dominic Conway had his own house a 5 min walk from St Marys where the curates & administrator lived. I always felt uncomfortable around the bishop. I suppose its like the army, officers & ranks are separate for a reason. Does the hierarchical church need to restructure? Down & Connor appear to be in a right mess. How does D & C compare with the rest of Ireland & the UK? Sometimes I wonder do people give a crap anymore. Let them dissappear up their own asses in a puff of smoke. Is Darwin's theory of evolution & natural selection at work. If the Church is mutating what will the next identified species be? Sean

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  27. You have said it well, my friend. Our Church needs your advice.

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  28. Fr John Burns has now left the church.

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  29. Been working in St Mary's 25 years and I've never heard of NIALL CORR nor MICHAEL SPENCE. Are you making these names up now?

    ReplyDelete