Monday 30 June 2014

WHY I SUSPENDED TERRY BRADY FROM PRIESTHOOD

WHY I SUSPENDED TERRY BRADY FROM PRIESTHOOD
Terry Brady


Five years ago I ordained Terry Brady of Belfast to the priesthood after he convinced me that he had been unfairly dismissed from The Irish College in Rome by it's rector - currently Bishop John Flemming the Bishop of Killala in Mayo.
John Flemming

This weekend I suspended him as a priest and from The Oratory Society. The three reasons I gave him were:

1. His lack of committment to the Society and the congregation that meets at Larne.

2. His psychological instability and immaturity.

3. His continuing and unsubstantiated allegations of being sexually harrassed by Catholic priests.

His story from the beginning was that a number of the then seminarians at The Irish College in Rome had formed a homosexual ring called "The Crochet Club" that met in the college. He said that several of his fellow seminarians had sexually propositioned him and that when he refused to be part of the gay cabal he suffered severe sexual harrasment at the hands of those he had said "no" to. According to Terry they started pushing obscene notes under his door at night; telephoned him with obscene calls in the early hours of the morning and stole his underwear from the college's laundry.

In fairness to Terry a recent Vatican investigation into The Irish College did confirm that a homosexual culture had prevailed there.

Irish College Rome

Furthermore he says he was aware that many of his fellow seminarians were engaging in homosexual sexual practices with each other, with priests who were doing post ordination studies in  Rome and with gay lay men in Rome's gay clubs and saunas. He told me the name of one seminarian, now a priest in an Irish diocese, whom he saw engaging in anal sex in an alleyway near Rome's main railway station. Furthermore he says that this same seminarian was accessing gay pornography on Irish College computers and that some of the "men" he was looking at seemed extremely young?

Before going to Rome Terry had studied at St peter's seminary in Wexford and he says that gay sex was extremely common there both among seminarians and staff and seminarians. To this date Terry says he continues to be propositioned by at least two priests of the Ferns Diocese?
St Peter's Wexford

Terry says that he brought all these matters to the attention of Bishop John Flemming who was the rector of the Irish College. The outcome, says Terry was that he was expelled from the seminary and the alleged offenders were kept on and ordained. I did put these matters to Bishop Flemming in a letter several years ago and he never replied to me. I also made Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh and Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel aware of these allegations. At the time Archbishop Clifford was supervising the Diocese of Cloyne after the resignation of Bishop John Magee.

Terry claims that he also sexually abused by Father Marcial Maciel, the now disgraced founder of the Legionaries of Christ and is waiting to be paid compensation by the Legionaries.
Marcial Maciel

Of late Terry came to me with allegations against a priest academic in his 70's whom Terry claims was sexually harrassing him. I have spoken to that priest this weekend and he completely denies Terry's claims.

Before ordaining Terry I had a police clearance certificate for him. I had a certificate of his good standing in his teacher's body as a secondary school teacher. I also had a copy of psychological report that he had presented to the Wexford seminary.


But in recent times both I and some members of The Oratory at Larne have come to believe that we made a mistake in ordaining him and in allowing him to minister to and with us. We feel that he has not being showing sufficient committment to his priesthood and the congregation here. We feel that Terry is psychologically and sexually immature. And we feel uncomfortable with the continuing and growing number of accusations of sexual harrassment Terry is making against priests.

Please do not get me wrong. Terry and everyone else - be they man or woman - be they priest or lay person - should not have to tolerate any form of harrassment from anyone and should report such behaviour immediately to the proper civil and church authorities.  

Most people never experience sexual harrassment even once during their lives. Some people do have that experience and maybe have it more than once. Maybe there are some people who are so attractive or desirable out there that they experience it a lot? 

But is there not also the worry of the Lady Bracknell situation - and to paraphrase - "to be sexually harrassed once is a misfortune - but to be sexually harrassed twice sounds like carelessness"?
Lady Bracknell

In any event Terry is no longer with The Oratory Society and we have no responsability for him or his actions - nor does he minister with our approval. As I do not know where Terry intends to go from here I felt it necessary to make that fact publicly known.

+Pat Buckley
30.6.2014. 








40 comments:

  1. I was in The Irish College as a seminarian at the same time as Terry Brady. I am now ordained and working in a parish in a diocese in Ireland. I also happen to be a gay man who is faithful to celibacy and I find that a great and sometimes painful challenge.

    When I was in The Irish College no one, priest or seminarian, every propositioned me and while I am not God's gift I was not an ugly young man.

    Nor do I believe that things were always or indeed still are perfect in Rome.

    And even in the Church ever allows priests to marry it will not allow two "gay" priests to be "husband and wife".

    We all need to get on with saying our prayers and serving the People of God.

    Fr J

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  2. Pat,

    I have no desire to see Terry hurt even though I have thought for a long time that he is a Walter Mitty..

    I feel deeply that after what we in D&C either did to you - or stood by and allowed it to be done to you - that the last thing you need is one of your own priests being disloyal to you.

    And for what's it worth I would have more respect for Lisbreen if you lived there - but if that were the case I think you would return to live in the big house behind the cathedral from where you served the joyriders and brushed the streets in the early 80's.

    PP D&C

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  3. Buckley, I'm delighted to see that "Mr" Brady gave you the kick in the balls that some of the rest of us would like to give you

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    1. Anonymous-the gobshite-is back again! In recent times I have responded in blogs emphasising the need to have a mechanism in place to deal with the eventuality of things going wrong. You have acted in a way the Oratory agrees to be appropriate. Terry Brady was not in Rome in my time but John Fleming was. I think he may have been Spiritual Director for a time but I dont remember ever visiting him as a student. He was a semi invisible man in my memory. Like Fr J I can confirm that I never saw any overt sign of active homosexuality in or about the college nor would my normal wanderings take me round the back alleys near Termini Station. Terry Brady I suppose is abit like myself now? Validly ordained but with his "driving liscense" revoked. If his "psychology" is flawed it would lead me to question his rationalle in being able to teach R E in an appropriate manner. Having the knowledge is one thing but being able to disseminate it in an appropriate manner is another. Keep the Faith! Sean

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  4. As a priest of Ferns diocese I am aware of Terence Brady's comments about fellow priests here and also his alleged closeness to our former bishop. He made very misleading comments in my presence on one occasion about his time in Wexford and it took just a small bit of research to find out that the real facts and Terence's reports did not at all tally. I think he should devote himself to his vocation as a teacher and stop pursuing his fantasy of being a priest. I do not wish this comment to be unkind in any way but to be realistic. He has been trying unsucessfully to be a priest for over 20 years now. If our "dreams" are not coming true then maybe they are not realistic?

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  5. One night in a presbytery in Ferns Terry told us that Bishop Brendan Comiskey fancied him. To be quite honest I think at the time poor Bishop Brendan fancied a 750 ml bottle more than poor Terry. Fr A. Wexford

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    Replies
    1. Given the choice, I think I would as well.

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  6. You have probably done the right thing Pat in expelling this man from The Oratory Society, painful though this must have been for you who has done so much to reach out to the lost and the rejected. I hope that your actions will not mean that this man pursues a vendetta against you and the Society.

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  7. How can Terry Brady square being an RE teacher in a Roman Catholic school in Belfast and a priest ordained outside the canon law of the Roman Catholic church?

    Why does his school and the diocese of Down and Connor put up with this contradiction?

    Catholic Teacher Belfast

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  8. Your Lady Bracknell paraphrase sounds like trivialising the situation.

    What is the difference between Terry Brady and Matthew Despard? I wonder.

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  9. Would it be that Fr Despard made his claims public himself and that they were verified?

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  10. Terry has been very disloyal to Pat. Pat gave him the priesthood he was refused elsewhere. I know Terry quite welll. He is all TAKE and little GIVE. When it comes to life Terry asks "What's in this for me"? Terry does not know how lucky he was to have Pats love and support. Priest of D&C

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  11. Terry needs to come out of his closet! Staff Room Colleague, Twinbrook

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  12. Thankfully there is one less "Buckleyite" in Larne tonight :-)

    We in the diocese look forward to the day when Buckley himself is rotting in his Larne grave.

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    1. How appropriately Christian? "There is something rotten in the state of D & C And it is not Pat Buckley. Sean

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  13. Why is everyone anonymous if you are all true to your word's let it be known who you are.

    See if you All have balls !!

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  14. Where is Terry Brady himself? Has he gone into hiding?

    Why is he not responding to this blog?

    I am sure Pat would allow him to give a full and uncensored response.

    Come on Terry

    Gerry. Ardglass

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    Replies
    1. Yes, of course I would give him a full right of reply.

      Pat

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  15. Are we to understand that Terry Brady's silence is an admission of guilt then?

    Michael

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  16. Pat, I am glad that you are offering Terry Brady a right of reply, but I am alarmed that you have chosen not to publish my blog reproaching you for belittling this man so publicly. I thought that you welcomed anyone to submit a blog for publication. Censorship is no good thing.

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    1. You do not have to thank me for giving Terry Brady the right of reply. He is entitled to that in natural justice.

      Plus, in my letter dismissing him I provided him with a very quick and easy method of having me decision overuled by The Oratory Society's chair person who happens to be a lay woman and a friend of Terry's. Terry has not contacted that chairperson to pursue this route.

      I did not receive a Blog from you reproaching me.

      I did not belittle him as you suggested. I publicised my reasons for dismissing him.

      On another point - I might think a little more of your intervention if you were not "anonymous". What is to stop you saying who you are either on your comment or privately to me in an email?

      I always put my name to everything I do.

      +Pat

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    2. Is that Terry Brady himself (above) reprimanding Bishop Pat for being open enough to tell us al the reasons for Terry's dismissal - unlike those in the RC episcopate who talk in riddles or get some PR people to say things for them?

      As this issue goes on Terry's absence from the debate is a damning aspect in itself.

      Religious Order Priest - Belfast

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  17. Maybe as an alumnus of The Pontifical College in Rome Terry has "left the country" until the storm dies down?

    Or maybe he is lying low under Ben Bulben?

    Or maybe he is still in Portstewart where he was spotted?

    Or maybe in that Wexford presbytery?

    HK

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  18. HK - did you see him yourself in Portstewart - or was that reported to you by a wandering organist?

    PP D&C

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  19. If Terry Brady is in Portstewart he would hardly be the first priest with "inclinations" to have found refuge and solace in those bracing parts. It seems to be an excellent place for a wounded shepherd to take the air. Far East - Belfast

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  20. Reading between the lines can we expect the Second Ferns Report?

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  21. Pat for goodness sake wake up and smell the coffee. Of course we cannot put our names to our interventions as to do so would be suicide. You have many admirers and many who follow you, but who, like Nicodemus, can only approach you by the "night" of anonymity. If you like I shall stop contributing all together, but that would be a shame as I think that this is a most valuable and safe forum for discussing any thing and ever thing, and in an envoirnment where there is openess and freedom. My comment in the blog that you didnt get was simply about how inappropraite I thought it was to quote TIOBE and Lady B. I cannot imagine anoy other bishop, even the most corrupt, doing such a thing in a letter to or about a de-frocked priest. I felt you belitteld yourself and lost credibility, a bit like that nonsense about the priest with the big willy. I know you are better than these cheap comments.

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    1. I understand your point but do not agree. Maybe I could have made my point differently. The point I was making was that too many unreported and unsubstantiated allegations can lead to loss of credability

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    2. Jesus put his name to the cross and got crucified. Then there is the concept of Resurrection. I got crusified with a small c. On reflection I walked myself into my own situatuion so I am not blaming anyone. I can now say I have experienced resurrection of a kind. I am fecked if I would want to relive my "death" but at least I can sleep soundly at night without drugs or alcohol. Sean

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  22. why are you not putting all them comments up why do you have to approve them

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    1. Because some people hide behind "anonymous" and make comments that are illegal, untrue and downright crazy.

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    2. Yet you allowed the 'out of the closet comment' that was in poor taste? - Former work friend.

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  23. Does Terry think that when we return to school in 7 weeks all this will be forgotten? Staff Room colleague, Twinbrook

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    1. dont be to quick to judge

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    2. Im amazed that Terry has any staff room colleagues left, I thought they were all out on maternity! Think at this time Mr Brady would need support and help from his co workers.

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  24. Sean you are a credit to the Pontifical Irish College, a priest, albeit one not in active ministry, that cannot even spell crucified!

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  25. Thank you for your comment Annonymous I take it in the spirit it was written. I can spell small words like it and large words like escathological. I'm off now to ask Teacher if I can play out for a bit. Sean

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  26. Pity you cant spell eschatological though. Enough said.

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