Sunday 1 September 2013

FATHER HUGH KENNEDY- BELFAST - RETURNED TO MINISTRY

FATHER HUGH KENNEDY - BELFAST - RETURNED TO MINISTRY
FATHER HUGH KENNEDY


THIS MORNING THE BISHOP OF DOWN AND CONNOR NOEL TREANOR CONCELEBRATED MASS WITH FATHER HUGH KENNEDY AT ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL BELFAST AND ANNOUNCED THAT HUGH WAS BEING RETURNED TO FULL MINISTRY AFTER A TWO YEAR INVESTIGATION BY BOTH THE POLICE AND THE CHURCH.

I'M SURE THAT HUGH IS VERY RELIEVED THAT HIS TWO YEARS IN "LIMBO" IS OVER AND EVEN THOUGH I IMAGINE THAT HUGH KENNEDY WOULD HAVE LITTLE OR NO TIME FOR ME, I WISH HIM WELL IN THE FUTURE AND HOPE THAT THE WOUNDS CAUSED BY HIS ORDEAL WILL HEAL OVER.

SADLY, HUGH'S REPUTATION HAS SUFFERED A BATTERING - AND THERE WILL BE IGNORANT PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL SAY WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THERE IS FIRE

BUT HUGH KENNEDY MUST NOW BE REGARDED AS 100%INNOCENT. 

I WAS AMAZED TO LEARN FROM BISHOP TREANOR THAT HUGH WAS NEVER EVEN INTERVIEWED BY THE POLICE !!!
NOEL TREANOR


HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO WAS NEVER EVEN INTERVIEWED BY THE POLICE HAVE BEEN MADE LIVE UNDER THE SHADOW OF AN ACCUSATION FOR 2 YEARS???

THE POLICE CANNOT HAVE THOUGHT MUCH OF THE ACCUSATION IF THEY DID NOT EVEN WANT TO INTERVIEW HUGH???

THAT TELLS ME THAT THE ACCUSATION WAS EXTREMELY WEAK IN THE FIRST PLACE !!!

JUSTICE DELAYED - IS JUSTICE DENIED.

 FATHER KENNEDY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO SIT IN LIMBO FOR 2 YEARS ON THE BASIS OF AN ACCUSATION THAT DID NOT EVEN MERIT A POLICE INTERVIEW.

2 YEARS IS A BIG CHUNK OUT OF A LIFE AND OUT OF A PRIESTLY LIFE.

I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC - ESPECIALLY THE CATHOLIC PUBLIC - NOT TO MENTION HUGH'S PRIESTLY COLLEAGUES ARE ENTITLED TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EPISODE.

I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE ACCUSER.

I THINK WE DID TO KNOW THE NATURE OF THE ACCUSATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF POLICE ACTION.

I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THE EXTENT OF CHURCH ACTION.

AND IF THE ACCUSATION MADE WAS UNTRUE OR MALICIOUS I THINK THAT THE ACCUSER NEEDS TO BE NAMED AND SHAMED AND PROSECUTED.

FATHER KENNEDY'S ACCUSATION WILL BE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFETIME.

ANYONE GOOGLING HUGH KENNEDY WILL BE ABLE TO READ ABOUT THE ACCUSATION.

AND IS HUGH KENNEDY EXPECTED TO JUST GRIN AND BEAR THIS?

THATS NOT TRUTH ! THATS NOT JUSTICE ! THATS NOT SOMEONE'S NAME BEING CLEARED ABSOLUTELY !

VICTIMS OF ABUSE NEED TO BE BELIEVED. VICTIMS OF ABUSE NEED TO BE LISTENED TO.

BUT ANYONE WHO ACCUSES ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IN THE WRONG SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

WE OCCASIONALLY HEAR OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS.

BUT WE NEVER HEAR OF PEOPLE MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS BEING PROSECUTED.

WHY?

ACCUSING SOMEONE IN THE WRONG IS A CRIME AND SHOULD BE SEVERELY PUNISHED.

THAT GIVES VICTIMS AND THE INNOCENT ACCUSED PROTECTION.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND NOW A WORD TO NOEL TREANOR:

NOEL, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER TWO PRIESTS OF DOWN AND CONNOR THAT YOU ARE STILL LEAVING IN ACCUSATION LIMBO:

FATHER JOHN MCMANUS
FATHER JOHN MCMANUS


AND FATHER PAUL SYMONDS
FATHER PAUL SYMONDS


NOEL, HOW LONG DO JOHN MCMANUS AND PAUL SYMONDS HAVE TO STAY IN LIMBO???

NOEL - GET YOUR FINGER OUT !!!

Bishop Pat Buckley 1.9.2013









71 comments:

  1. Pat - well said. It is sad that you are the only cleric in the Down and Connor area that can say what he thinks.

    We the priests of the diocese are getting more and more pissed off with being ignored and treated like shit on Treanor's boot.

    I never thought I would be congratulating you for anything. I was trained to be suspicious and nasty about you.

    But at least you speak the truth fearlessly.

    Sacerdos - Down and Connor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Caro Confratello Reverendisimo Padre, Il tempo e arrivato! Now is the hour. Time for the collars 2 come off. Clerical collars represent turning ones back on the world. That was why I rarely wore one. Tiocfaidh ar la! Noel Treanor can translate the Italian & the Gaelic phrase is well known in the Wee North of Ireland. While i'm at it can I throw in a Song my father used to sing while I was sat on his knee as a child. Its called the Rising Of The Moon. The lyrics im sure are on the internet. In Cristo Nostro Signore Sean

      Delete
  2. Well well Fr Hugh is back & all I can imagen is how horrible the past two years must have been for him. It is not nice to be under the scruteny of Church or State & these affairs can be so drawn out & convaluted. Clergy, Carers or Social Services workers can be easy pickings these days, so much so that bosses are afraid to shit without having the act witnissed in triplicate. As to the bastards that put Fr Hugh in the proverbial shithouse, they should be named & shamed. In my eyes the Bible statement "an eye for an eye" applies. False accusers are by association guilty of what they allegedly claimed is fact. This is not an escape for genuine wrongdoers who should not get "out of jail until they have paid the last penny" Sean

    ReplyDelete
  3. So the PSNI declare in November 2012 that Hugh Kennedy has no case to answer. It reached that conclusion after a full and exhaustive enquiry into the "allegations" I'm sure skilled detectives would have conducted the investigation. There wasn't even a requirement to send a file to the DPP. Yet it takes the Diocese of Down and Connor another 9 MONTHS to conclude this matter. This is not only a further display of the incompetence of the folk at Lisbreen but lacks Christian charity and sensitivity towards Hugh and his family and friends. If Traynor thinks that appearing in the cathedral this morning to re-introduce Hugh and give him a clean bill of health finishes the matter then he is in for one BIG surprise

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am very happy that my Brother Priest Hugh is getting his life back after the nightmare experience that all of us priests feel these days. He should never have been hung out to dry for so long by Treanor & Co.

    Part of the problem is that we priests take this type of treatment lying down! We need a union or a professional body to look after our rights.

    When you Pat stood up to Daly 30 years ago it was even harder than now.

    Fair play to you. I wish I had even one of your balls :-)

    PP

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rite u are mate! A cleric male or female havea foot in 2 camps which are canon & civil law. Clerics pay "stamps" so are entitled to employee rites in civil law including having a union rep present in serious or diciplinary meetings with employer. Churches were quick enough to engage with cleric/parish employees having a Police check to work with vulnerable or young people and rightly so. Let us now take this one step further & give full civil rights to clergy as well as other church employees. Brother Sean

      Delete
    2. I meant to add when I commented. Union good idea Why not approach a group such as UNISON They work with folk who are employed by local authorities. I allege some local authorities may well be as fecked up as some dioceses. Sean

      Delete
  5. Why the inordinate amount of time for Hugh to be restored to full ministry. It is obvious that the police realised that Hugh had no case to answer. He wasn't even interviewed by the PSNI. The logical conclusion is that the whole allegation was malicious. No report was even made to prosecutors office. Yet, notwithstanding all of this, Treanor and his inner circle by their perceived inaction and silence left this good man in a state of suspense allowing further damaging rumour and innuendo to run rife and go unchallenged. This whole affair has struck deep at the morale of many men in this presbyterate.This morning during the statement at the end of mass in the cathedral the bishop thanked all those who had supported Hugh during his difficulties. Indeed. Honeyed words from the one whose whole inept handling of this business prolonged the agony for the man. It is reported that after reading the text Treanor walked over and shook hands with Fr kennedy. I know from a number of people at the mass that it was perceived as an embarrassingly hollow and empty gesture- too little, too late. The Ian Elliot affair and now this whole carry-on have been PR disasters for this diocese. A very disgruntled PP (reflecting the views of many other colleagues all of whom used to be proud of this Diocese) Does anyone know the time of the next bus to Clogher?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bet you all my bottom dollar that in a week or two there will be a round of changes in the diocese. We will have something like Rev Hugh Kennedy, St Peter's Cathedral to be PP of St Such and suches. Rev Cairan Dallat to be Administrator St Peter's Cathedral. And we all lived happily ever after. Like hell.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Reading your article about Fr Hugh Kennedy, I totally agree with your comments., They should be shouted from the rooftops, It angers me beyond reason, that when someone can make an accusation, and particularly if it turns out to be a false one, these people are not prosecuted, or as you say, NAMED AND SHAMED. or rather in my words, LEFT HUNG OUT TO DRY, in more ways than one, then just maybe, they might think twice, before making a false accusation, against a priest.
    Life for a priest today is hard enough, and if these idiots, of No Intelligence, were made to walk in the shoes a little while, of the ones they wrongly accuse, they might just think twice before opening their mouth.
    As regards to Down and Connor diocese, I don`t know whether they give the accused priests, support or not, but if they don`t, then really that is the sad reflection, of a Diocese that is remote, and out of touch, Kind of in some ways, Like a Shepherd, who has lost his sheep, only the shepherd at the time, did not really realize this.

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  8. As an Oratory Society Priest I would like to send my best wishes and blessings to Hugh and his family. The situation that many clergy find themselves operating in, is in my view not acceptable - I see it as a human rights issue!

    Many clergy find that they can be accused of anything at anytime and that they are NOT afforded all the protections and nautral assumption of innocence until proven guilty that natural justice prescribes!

    I know that the D&C clergy do ot see me in good light and some have been not so nice to me, but that is ok, for I also have my theological differences. But one thing that I do not like is the strain that many of them are working under with seemingly NO adovacy! There is a serious and urgent need for some kind of advocate system of 'union' type for clergy in Ireland. Why? To be fair to the prescription of natural justice!

    I followed Hugh's case in the media and it was very vocal in describing a serious police investigation with the question remaining - was is children? Then it was public that the Church was holding an investigation! In the twain Hugh was trying to keep his head above water, I say well done for holding your head high and dealing with both the state and church with such dignity!!

    I say the Bishop Noel, whom I do not know, afford your men with all the rights and protections of natural law, do not allow them to be treated so badly in the market square.

    God bless all who are falsely accused and please be assured of our prayers. We will have our theological differences though, but that is ok, it is legal!

    Priest of the Oratory Society

    ReplyDelete
  9. If you are who you are my friend I was in seminary with you, top of the class as usual!! Seems some have more rights then others, Animal Farm revisited.

    Pity things are the way they are!

    Young PP

    ReplyDelete
  10. The media says: "If you are Catholics, you are guilty"! If you are not Catholics, they have a small line on the last page without name!
    Yes, there is discrimination against Catholic clergy!

    Hugh, John & Paul are examples!

    I hate Lisbreen!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Some animals in the barnyard are more equal than others... the Lisbreen brigade would have all the leagl protections! God help the rest of us!

    ReplyDelete
  12. "Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you".

    Hugh and not Rev Hugh!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Here in the West of Scotland one of the first lessons learned in local politics is an accont of a meeting in the early1960s of the Town Council of the now defunct old burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw (of which the late Cardinal Tom Wnning's grandfather was a Baillie). The legandary Councillor Bernard Brogan at one point in high dudgeon thumped the table and shouted: "Mr Provost, allegations have been made and I demand to know who the allegators are!"

    How many of the allegators against Catholic priests and, and especially, their lawyers are now gorging themselves on the bounty of false allegations?

    I hold the purse in our diocese - you do not want to know thw legal fees!

    Bishops wake up

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very good article. Unfortunately, innocent Priests will suffer for the sins and cover up of the pedophiles whose behaviour remained anonymous to the trusting flock.

    I am inspired by the Priestly vocations that are coming forth.....such courage and obviously gifts to us! Well done Fr Hugh.

    ezbs

    ReplyDelete
  15. Some innocent priests will be accused and vilified, but for those priests that remained anonymous or for many years and got away with their crimes, I hope they go further and plaster their images on billboards!

    When a priest sexually abuses one of his flock his sin goes far beyond the abuse itself. He is destroying the faith of the community in their priests, and the stigma, no matter how big or small, remains for generations. It also gives a cleat excuse for society to vilify the priesthood and make a mockery if it. As we have seen over the past few hears.

    So I say, plaster the accused priests face all over the media and let the Catholic Church support the vilification of the abuse. Stop hiding and covering up for the sins of the few. Because in doing that you appear complicit in the crime, even if you aren't.

    The Bishop's are to blame for the situation, but help the innocent!

    Clare

    ReplyDelete
  16. Some innocent teachers will be accused and vilified, but for those teachers that remained anonymous or for many years and got away with their crimes, I hope they go further and plaster their images on billboards!

    When a teacher sexually abuses one of his students his sin goes far beyond the abuse itself. He is destroying the faith of the community in their teachers, and the stigma, no matter how big or small, remains for generations. It also gives a cleat excuse for society to vilify public education and make a mockery if it. As we have seen over the past few years.

    So I say, plaster the accused teachers faces all over the media and let the public schools and Department of Education support the vilification of the abuse. Stop hiding and covering up for the sins of the few. Because in doing that you appear complicit in the crime, even if you aren't.

    Now let me change it to doctor's, social worker's, dentist's, lawyer's etc - it must be fair!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. So you want to destroy the lives of many _innocent_ people, just to hunt down one. Think about it, a pedophile may destroy one innocent life, but your idea will destroy many more.

    I believe that all details should be kept private until _after_ a fair and just trial. Then both those that are found guilty and those that have made false accusations should be made public.

    Mary Garret

    ReplyDelete
  18. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I can't beliveve the lack of rights of the accused in D&C. Disgrace!

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is unfortunate that these innocent priests must suffer unnecessarily because Bishops and other clergy covered up sexual assaults by priests for decades.

    Catholic Mother of a Priest and breaking my heary.

    ReplyDelete
  20. At least a thousand innocent priests have been removed and remain out of public ministry because of unproven accusations.

    This is in the USA - disgrace!

    Pastor

    ReplyDelete
  21. Making a false accusation against a priest in the hope of gaining money from the church can be considered extortion, but only occasionally does a diocese fight back and sue false accusers; one who has done so successfully is Cardinal Mahoney; one who is currently doing so is the well known and respected Fr. John Corapi.

    ReplyDelete
  22. In California, false accusations of priests are "rampant."

    I live my life terrified, I just want to switch off!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. In many cases where the media, organisations such as SNAP, and private individuals rush to judgement and declare guilt, the accusation has been false and prompted by greed, grudge, or, in a few cases, false memory.

    Fear is the name of the game at the moment!

    ReplyDelete
  24. A growing number of accused priests are being exonerated as investigations into allegations turn up false accusations against them. The active role of the parish members, who know the priest, can play an important role in accuracy and depth of investigations that lead to exoneration.


    The bishop accountability site (which was set up as a watch dog organization to monitor those cases in which accused priests have been convicted) also shows a certain percentage of priests who are falsely accused and subsequently exonerated.




    ReplyDelete
  25. “Someday your story and that of your fellow sufferers will come to light and will be instrumental in a reform. Your writing, which is clear, eloquent, and spiritually sound will be a monument to your trials.”

    Keep going in faith.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dear Pat,
    How are U today? Just want you to know that your life’s story has been an inspiration to me and I enjoy reading your write-ups on your blog. I will always keep you in my prayers while looking for other concret ways that I can be of help to your course. Well done for supporting and visiting one of our lovely bishops under strain. Thank you and God bless you more.

    Your African brother,
    CSsR.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am shocked. I had no idea this was happening. I live in Canada. I can only assume this is not the only case where a Priest has been falsely accused and his Bishop did nothing or actually betrayed Him. I sure hope Pope Francis has plans to deal with this. How can this continue??? 2 YEARS!!!! No justice?? I am so horrified. I need to educate myself more about this. I live in Canada. I wonder now why I didn’t see it. Why I keep getting anti-Catholic rants against Priests from people. Our own Bishops have betrayed innocent Priests. How awful and I am a very liberal Catholic. God Bless

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just like to say thank you ,for being you, may god continue to bless you always. A true witness to the cross of christ and may the blessed virgin surround you with all the angels of god x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Grateful for this website. This case is so horrible on so many levels–our Church will not recover unless it confronts this case. Fr. Hugh You are in my prayers – God has a plan for all of this and I pray that someday we will understand what is the reason for the suffering you have had to endure.
    Anne - France

    ReplyDelete
  30. Priests are sitting ducks and I can only pray young seminarians know what they signing up for. “Accusation” is the new weapon of torture. Peace in Christ….JO

    ReplyDelete
  31. May God Bless you, Father. We will pray for you.
    Kathryn

    ReplyDelete
  32. So, once long ago I too suffered a comparatively minor injustice… When I redressed the wrong doing, the advocate said because you said nothing at the time, we assumed it was ok…

    Every time we assent to wrong doing trough our silence, we support that wrong doing… We are part of it… Everyone who hears of injustice, and does nothing, is part of it…

    Every Bishop, and every Priest and Deacon, and every member of the body of Christ who assents to injustice is accountable at the judgment, not only for their wrong doing, but also what they should have done – and did not do…

    All Catholics would do well to carefully study the New Testament, the life of Christ… Listen carefully to his words… Notice his personality… Observe his attitudes… Reflect on his parables… What is he saying, to you?

    Does he ever placate secular authority? Does he ever pay an out of court settlement to avoid publicity? Does he ever compromise his values, ever? Does he willingly die for his principles?

    In the end many will say Lord, Lord… Then He will say, “I never knew you”… Bishops, Priest, Deacons to whom much is given, the Faithful to whom much is given: please listen carefully and reflect deeply on the Master… Repent today…

    Father you are in good company, the company of Saint Paul, and many others… God has richly blessed you…

    Francis

    ReplyDelete
  33. Just wanted to express my support. I’m keeping you in my prayers. Reading your story and blog reminded me of St. Paul’s letters from prison, the clarity and inspiration. Your blog is a blessed voice of sanity in a too often insane world. May the Lord watch over and bless you always. Steve

    ReplyDelete
  34. In the first part of our discussion of false sexual-abuse accusations leveled against Catholic priests, we saw that canon law provides—and has always provided—a set procedure that is to be followed whenever any cleric is accused of a crime. The bishop or religious superior must conduct an investigation, to determine whether the allegations have any merit; and if they obviously don’t, the case should end right there. In the meantime, he now is also required immediately to inform the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) about what is going on, and to follow their directives.

    Bishop Noel has a job to do also!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. A lot of priests feel that we are expendable when it comes to these matters = Is Lisbreen listening, can't believe that McKeown isn't standing up for us!!!!

    Dicky wake up.

    ReplyDelete
  36. So our big day of Congress draws near. Will any priest have the courage to get up and tell the bishop what he needs to hear- not what he would like to hear! Priests living in fear of the false accusation and then being ABANDONED by the loving shepherds of the flock. Or will everyone sit in fear that either to raise the issue or even to be seen in the company of any priest who has the balls to raise it may lead to their card being marked for a future humiliatingly crap appointment based on vindictiveness and wicked revenge. Is there a priest in this diocese (D&C) who is not afraid of being that tall poppy.
    Are there teachers out there who can tell the boys with the pointy hats and their education hangers-on where it's all at without feeling that they too may become the subject of unwarranted and unwanted attention from an episcopal ass licker of a head.
    Are there enough good people out there to say enough chaps! Are there folks with the bottle to tell Noel that he should get rid of some of the clique in Lisbreen and employ good competent professionally skilled people who have the right abilities and skillset to do what needs doing.
    As Elvis said "It's now or never" Go for it!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Noel's adoption of zero-tolerance and his desire to restore D&C's image have put the Lisbreen brigade in an untenable position, one that forces them to protect the institution at the expense of the accused.

    We are left in limbo - even primary schools children suspect us, what a feeling on a Monday morning!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Dealing with Lisbreen feels like being in a dark room, and you're reaching out and you don't know what you're reaching for!

    ReplyDelete
  39. The diocese's suspensions and of these priests and the release of their names to the media have violated their rights to due process and privacy, and the right to residence in their own presbytery's - all as guaranteed by canon law.

    Noel is a heartless dick.

    ReplyDelete
  40. esus was misjudged because he ate with sinners. That is because the pharisees could not fathom - His loving a sinner.

    We would do well to do the same. Hate the sin -- love the sinner. And always be ready to forgive.

    All of us have our sin Noel!!!! Why do you go to Europe alot?

    ReplyDelete
  41. I knew a priest, who I believe was falsely accused, who died from a broken heart because of the accusation and that he couldn't function as a priest. He didn't have the same rights that others have of being innocent until proven guilty. It was as if the church he loved deserted him. Because he died the case was forgotten, apparently. People who knew him and the kind of person he was have left the church because of the way he was treated and deserted.

    Do you recall the man of St Mary's on the Hill. We recall and we prayer for you Frank!

    God love you parents!

    ReplyDelete
  42. And many more true facts like these will never be solved due to heart breaks and break downs ... so sad. Let's pray for each other, huh ?

    ReplyDelete
  43. THE Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland has hit out at the lack of financial and legal support for priests falsely accused of child sexual abuse. The conservatives among us condemn they, nuts!

    I wan the Oratory Priets in my Parish please, I need you open minded help and my people need real concrete pastoral help.

    God Bless you work.

    ReplyDelete
  44. It’s too easy for women to accuse men of rape/ sexual assault etc.The problem with this type of accusation is that it never even has to be proven but everyone immediately starts baying for blood without looking for the evidence and unfortunately mud sticks. So many good men(priests included)have been accused in the wrong and had their reputations tarnished for life. To take someone’s good name is a terrible thing!Granted some women/men who were actually abused have a long battle to get justice where it’s a genuine case but people should look for the evidence first. Gossip,hysteria and attention seeking are very dangerous things……any of us could accuse anyone of sexual abuse and the seeds of doubt are automatically sown even without a shred of evidence due to the secretive nature of abuse!

    Berny

    ReplyDelete
  45. I doubt his nightmare is over. His reputation will always be questioned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may well be right. These scars run deep Arseholes rejoice in the problems because it gives them a false sense of invincability.

      Delete
  46. A false accusation, a reputation destroyed – people will assume assume guilt and say ah well no smoke without fire etc etc.

    There has to be a deterrent for this!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I am a Catholic. Pardon hole priests and their protectors – whoever they are – must be jailed and punished. Equally, people like this (who make it harder for the genuinely abused) must receive the same treatment.

    ReplyDelete
  48. There should be severe penalties for those who make false claims such as these regardless of who the recipient is! It’s despicable behaviour! A man only has his reputation!
    Marty

    ReplyDelete
  49. Never heard such claptrap and codswallop. Fr Hugh Kennedy brought all this on himself - his own crazy behaviour and stupity. He lost the run of himself. The drunken parties and other shall we say "antics" in St Peter's and elsewhere with his consort(s). Everubody about here knows rightly the goings on in there. Talk of the place for years. Shameful. The people about here are sick of being ignored by the bishop and landed with a man who looks down on the community and doesn't act like a true priest towards. Only for Fr McGlinn and the wee priests out of Clonard we would have been lost. Fr Kennedy has destyroyed this parish. All he thinks about is that choir of wee lads and arsing about. the situation here is scandalous between him and a certain individual and it is shocking that iy going to back to 'normal'. Maybe Fr kennedy will learn his lesson and stop feeling sorry for himself and start acting like a proper priest but I doubt it. The people here are sick to their stomachs. Good God, when I think of all the good priests we had here in St peter's all down the years. Priests who knew their people and who were always there for them. God help us now we are back stuck with Fr Kennedy. I'll be going to clonard! disgusted parisher, Lower falls's.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dont know Fr Hugh personaly. I do know what it is like when rumour spreads that a male or female has a fixation on the padre. Are you prepared to put your face where your mouth is. There is alot of anger in this contribution. Unchecked & unchanneled appropriately it is a ticking time bomb. Sean

      Delete
    2. There is a lot of anger in our community. Many people have written to the bishop and spoken to him. We don't need to put our names on here. The 'ticking bomb' is in St Peter's Presbery.

      Delete
    3. Fantastic someone talking sense at last! Irrespective of what the charge was against Fr Kennedy we only have to look at his previous behaviour. The dogs on the street know what has gone on in St Peters and Treanor chose to ignore it. I'm not suggesting to do with kids but as the previous writer says he has a very friendly sidekick there and we all know who he is. Feel sorry for the priests having to work with him. But sure its only a working class area what rites do we have?

      Delete
    4. I dissagre. Names ARE necessary. Without substantion allegations become dangerous roumers. Too many ould farts go hiding behind the priests cassock so their bitching toungs can be heard & not seen. Then look at Jesus & ask where did righteous confrontation get him....in the end. But the question I believe you need to address-with respect, ia "Is it worth it"?

      Delete
  50. False allegations in any context are wrong – end of – irrespective of whether you’re a priest or a pauper. So far as is possible every effort should be made to restore that mans good name and the fact he is a priest should have no bearing on it.

    However if no priest ever molested a child or if the Catholic Church actually dealt properly with incidences of child abuse when they learned of them there would still be lots of justifiable reasons to criticise it as an institution.

    You can criticise a war without hating every soldier who served in it. You can rightfully detest the RCC without hating every single priest in a blanket fashion

    ReplyDelete
  51. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
    Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
    Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
    ‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
    But he that filches from me my good name
    Robs me of that which not enriches him,
    And makes me poor indeed.

    Shakespeare
    Othello Act 3, scene 3, 155–161

    ReplyDelete
  52. False allegations like this do more damage to real victims than anyone else. Catholic church are on a crusade at the moment to put themselves as the leaders of morality in this country, if you need the carrot of heaven or the stick of hell to be moral then you are a flawed human being

    ReplyDelete
  53. Pedophilia was so widespread in the church that the vast majority of the Priests knew it was going on and they did nothing to prevent it or stop it.
    To accuse a Priest wrongly of anything is wrong full stop. I know there are good decent people within that filthy organisation but we can only hope that they wake up and see it for what it is.

    ReplyDelete
  54. If a plumber commits rape does it make all plumbers rapists. The few bad apples have tarnished the reputations of many good men.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If the other plumbers try to cover up this abuse in full knowledge then yes they are guilty of aiding and abetting.

      Delete
    2. If as many plumbers had been accused as priests, we’d all learn to fix our own toilets lol

      Delete
  55. I do not like waht I hear about Fr Hugh and at the same time I have no very little sympathy! I am confused and I think the church has made us feel confused about this sort of thing - of course the innocent suffer as usual!

    George

    ReplyDelete
  56. I know little about priesthood because Im a businessman. I'm a problem solver and troubleshooter. I will not be at the Congess but perhaps someone reading this comment might like to make this suggestion. Many priests complain of feeling lonely, overworked and isolated. That's an easy one. Run parishes as groups. No need to upset the canonical setup relating to bounderies but base a number of priests in the one location. Each PP would retain his status as a PP but would be flexible. For example Toome, Ahohill, Portglenone, The Braid and Glenravel could all be served by a group of priests working out of a presbytery in Ballymena. Antrim based priests could serve the town itself, Randalstown, Ballyclare etc. Bangor, Donaghadee and the parishes of the Ards peninsula could be operated from the parochial house in Newtownards. That model could be replicated throughout the diocese. Priests then working in a team ministry situation could feel part of something, they could organise rotas so that the work in the parishes is covered, they would have variety in their tasks and they would each get appropriate rest days and holidays. There would be good banter among them and each house should be encouraged to have a retired priest in residence. Good company for him, feeling still needed if he gets a wee bit of supply and be available to share his valuable experience. Would uplift his spirits in his later years. I'm sure among them all they could be constantly coming up with fresh ideas that would be worthwhile and constructive. Modern IT communications, mobile phones etc. would aid this setup. The one administrative hub would serve all the parishes within the group as would one domestic assistant to do cooking etc. All of these ideas cut costs,( economies of scale) There is nothing as unstoppable as an idea whose time has come. F.D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah--at last a very thoughtful strategy to utilize in order to help move Parish organization and work along, give priests some comaraderie--and allow the parishoners to move forward to meet parish needs/their own needs/ and open up commuication and just community life in general. There are many people in a parish who need so much--and the priests would, themselves, prosper from better organization and fraternization. Good thinking, F.D.
      from America

      Delete
  57. Fr K is no wee innocent martyr peeps! As said above he is responsible for this mess he got into himself - nobody else. And it was never about 'kids'. Maybe indeed he will learn from his mistakes and be able to move on? And if so he should be allowed to do so. James.

    ReplyDelete
  58. The ideas put forward by the businessman were sound and on the face of it seem very sensible. However he does not know the clergy of this diocese. Simply put if I was asked to go to a parish where particular individuals were in residence I would point blank refuse to go. There are many of us of the same mind set. That said I suppose it would be worth a try in areas of Belfast as a test model because I think something needs to be done.
    As for Hugh Kennedy you will notice that not many priests have commented probably because they know Hugh has brought a lot of this upon himself. That said the diocese could have been a bit quicker with their investigation and reporting PP

    ReplyDelete
  59. I have read most of the comments on here. While the bishop bashing is amusing and not without some merit those who know the circumstances surrounding this whole business take a different view. Perhaps the good Rev Dr Kennedy will remember from history that not only must Caesar's wife be above reproach but she should also be seen to be above reproach. The good people of St Peters deserve better in their pastor.
    Son of the Loney

    ReplyDelete
  60. Merciful hour this thread has made fascinating reading. But I don't know who to believe after it all, or who's the worst in this sorry saga - Treanor, Kennedy, or some of the vitriolic commentators here.

    Lord save us from ourselves!

    ReplyDelete