Tuesday 16 September 2014

BISHOPS MILLIONAIRE HOUSE

BISHOPS MILLIONAIRE HOUSE


The Belfast based newspaper The Irish News has today confirmed that Bishop Noel Treanor Down & Connor (Belfast) has spent a seven figure sum on renovation his 15,000 square palace in a leafy suburb of Belfast.

In recent weeks this Blog has received a large number of complaints and comments from both priests and lay people objecting in the strongest possible terms to the cost of renovation the bishop's house.

Today Bishop Treanor was unable to tell The Irish News how much he had spent and was spending on the house called Lisbreen. He said that he had no final figure on the project.

However workers on the project did tell this Blog some time ago that the door handles on the house were costing £350 each and that the wall paper was costing £100 a roll.

The Irish News also revealed today that the tax payer is giving Bishop Treanor £303,550.00 towards the revamp. This means that the catholics of the diocese are contributing in two ways to the renovation - by giving money to the church drectly and by money that comes out of the taxes they pay.

In the newly renovated house Bishop Treanor will have the personal use of a bedroom, a sitting room, a study, a bathroom and presumably a kitchen and will have several other rooms in which he can entertain his guests.

One of the workers at the property told this Blog that the new kitchen - which had not yet been completed - had already cost more than any other kitchen he had ever fitted in his lifetime. 

It is also believed that Bishop Treanor - a collector of antiques - has furnished the property with antiques. 

Because Bishop Treanor has not shared how much the renovation is costing the rumours among the priests and the Catholic laity vary from £1.5 million to £4 million.

Either way its an awful lot of money to provide a house for one man. 

Many people think that Bishop Treanor should have moved into one of the many empty presbyteries in the diocese. Many others believe that he should live at his cathedral. When I worked at the cathedral there were 5 priests living there and there still were a goodly number of spare rooms. Nowadays there is only 1 priest living in the cathedral presbytery that could easily accomodate 5 or 6 people. 

Bishop Treanor has also come under severe criticism from Margaret McGuckin who is a campaigne for abuse victims and survivers. Ms McGuckin said that Bishop Treanor's spending on his home was "a disgrace". 
Margaret McGuckin

She said the money he is spending on an extravagant home should have been spent on more important things like victims of abuse.

She claimed that other bishops in other diocese had deliberately spent money on property renovation so that they would not have to pay compensation to victims.

Bishop Treanor has tried to defend the project by saying that he was creating employment in the employment black spot of North Belfast. But a priest of the diocese told this Blog that the contractor and workers were from County Tyrone - 60 miles away.

To make matter worse Bishop Treanor has been living "temporarily" in a church owned 6 bedroomed house across the road from Lisbreen called "Tieve Tara". Bishop Treanor sold Tieve Tara last week for £500,000.

Tieve Tara which the bishop just left.



Tieve Tara used to accomodate 4 priests - including Fr Timothy Bartlett - Bishop Treanors vicar for SOCIAL AFFAIRS!
Tieve Tara sitting room
Bishop Treanor has also come under criticism for being distant and difficult to talk to.

Other have complained that he is pulling out of confirmation ceremonies and getting the retired bishop Patrick Walsh who is in his 80's and the auxiliary bishop Tony Farquhar who is in his 70s to fill in for him.
Ian Elliott

Recently Bishop Treanor also got himself into an unseemly row with the church's former head of child safeguarding - the highly regarded Ian Elliott. Last we heard Mr Elliott said he was going to take legal action against Bishop Treanor.

BLOG OPINION:

Far too little care and consultation takes place in the appointment of bishops. Noel Treanor, by all accounts, was well suited to his role as secretary to the European Bishops Council.

He does not have the personality and skills to be a pastor - a shepherd to the priests and a shepherd to the laity.

He would have been very suitable in the Roman Curia or indeed in the Church's diplomatic corps.

The problems we are now experiencing in Down and Connor comes from placing square pegs in round holes.

As a result everone suffers.

Bishop Treanor's spend on his house goes completely against the wishes of Pope Francis himself.

Who is being disobedient now?

+Pat Buckley
16.9.2014

34 comments:

  1. Oh dear the cat has finally got out of the bag! Bishop of Bling eat your heart out. You are not alone! Well done for exposing this Pat.

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    1. I only did so after been approached by diocesan priests who were very unhappy.

      Sadly they had no voice within :-(

      Pat

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    2. Money is obviously not an issue in the Diocese and yet apparently in his own parish of Holy Family he permitted two of the priests to get rid of long serving members of staff on the grounds of the parish being in a bad way financially. Come on!!

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  2. Your a liar Pat no cleric would not go near you! You are deluded.

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    1. I am a priest of D&C. I totally disagreed with the way Pat was treated by Daly in the mid 80's.

      I was a friend of Pat's before then, during his rough time and have remained friends since.

      I have visited Pat for over 30 years.

      Of course I have not that known to my so called "clerical colleagues" because - I admit it - I would be afraid of how I would be treated.

      Pat has also been there for me in my difficult times and has never betrayed my confidence.

      Priest D&C

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    2. Hi Pat.
      That illiterate correspondent who can't spell or understand grammar didn't take up my offer to be put in touch with my English teacher son in law. I see you're still getting nasty comment from him in your blogs Do you think he might not even realise his mistakes 'cos he's so busy criticising yours?MournemanMichael

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    3. Nasty comment !!!! Grammar?? Speak to your son in law.

      Illiterate but faithful. Read over your own comment whoever you are, Pat!!!

      Delete
  3. I regard it as my obligation to publish comments on this Blog that are critical - even highly critical - of me and my views.

    I will NOT publish other comments that are outrageously rude, homophobic, racist, foul mouthed and highly personalised.

    Whats more those type of comments do not upset me in the least - as they say more about the mind of the commentator than they do about me.

    Pat

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  4. Dear Pat,

    I am glad that Bishop Treanor's 'house' story is finally exposed to the general public. Could I suggest a future title for his memoirs ?
    "Defending the indefensible ;my life in the church."

    +NT must think the people & priests of this diocese are fools.

    How I wish we had a spiritual pastor as our Bishop, instead of an ecclesiastical bureaucrat, who has a liking for fine antiques.

    Noel, where did it all go wrong ?

    Priest of D&C.



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  5. Pat,

    One of the main issues causing the crisis in D&C, is a lack of accountability !

    Who is Bishop Treanor accountable to ?

    LUX.

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  6. All bishops are accountable. He, like any bishop, is accountable to the Pope via the Prefect for the Congregation for Bishops, who at this time is Cardinal Marc Oulett. It was Cardinal Oulett that intervened upon the bishop (of Bling) in Germany. The way to report concerns about any bishops behaviour is to contact the Papal Nuncio in that country (in Ireland that is Archbishop Charles Brown) who would then forward that to Cardinal Ouletts office. Or it can be reported to the Cardinal himself, or even by writing to the Pope. He does read letters that are sent to him. A Friend in the Vatican

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  7. Who is Buckley accountable to? So you write to an unaccountable priest to ask; who is a Catholic Bishop accountable to?? Are you serious?

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    1. I think you will find that is spelt "too"!

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  8. Are you still around? I thought you had your wings clipped!

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  9. Pat,

    Should the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, not be informed that the Bishop of Down & Connor is through his actions at Lisbreen, (excessive expense) acting contrary to the clear teaching of the Supreme Pontiff, Francis, Bishop of Rome, who has shown by example , in his simplicity of life, how we are to live as a christian ?

    Dr Treanor promised obedience to the Pope & his successors, as a Bishop ? Is this an empty promise by + Noel ?

    Quo Vadis.

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  10. The Bishop of Kilaloe (Clare) has called off ordaining men only to the diaconate after the people of the diocese (especially women) protested. He is obviously a listening bishop.

    Will +Noel Treanor respond at all to people's feelings about his new millionaire pad?

    Or will he give us all a two finger blessing?

    PP D&C

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    1. My Friend - you are being unfaithful to your bishop. In any event the work at Lisbreen has been completed. It cannot be undone at this stage. What do you expect the bishop to do - swop with a family in a Housing Executive house? Or let the homeless live in it and destroy quality work?

      Faithful Priest.

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  11. Dear "faithful priest"

    I think you should be concerned at the counter witness to Christ's gospel, that the Lisbreen project represents. Your lazy comment of "the work at Lisbreen has been completed" speaks eloquently of the 'clerical disease' of "don't rock the boat".
    Have you ever challenged your Bishop about anything or are so " institutionalised " that you can no longer think for yourself.

    Your comment saddened me; the people deserve better.

    Priest of Down & Connor.

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    1. Priest,

      My vocation is NOT to challenge my bishop but to obey him as I would The Lord.

      He is a successor of the Apostles and in that sense he shares the infallibity of the Church.

      You are the one who should be sad as you have lapsed into disodedience - if not actually then at least in your heart.

      "The voice of the bishop is the voice of God" - St Ignatius of Antioch.

      Faithful Priest

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  12. Faithful priest,

    Please answer me one question. When Bishops in Ireland for decades were moving child rapists (clergy paedophiles) from parish to parish, were they sharing in the " infallibility of the church" then ? !

    Priest of Down & Connor.

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    1. Jesus told Peter and the Apostles: "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven".

      Canon Law is the teaching of the Church alongside Scripture.

      Canon Law imposes the obligation on Bishop Noel to preserve church property.

      In doing so he is doing God's will.

      Faithful Priest

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  13. Dear faithful priest,

    I don't know where you studied theology, but could I suggest you need a refresher course.
    Firstly I notice you did not answer my question that I posed to you earlier today. In both the canonical and theological spheres the bishops who moved child abusing clergy were guilty of both serious sin and a grave lack of judgement.

    Is spending tens of thousands of pounds from diocesan resources, on antiques to furnish "Lisbreen" pleasing to God or helpful in the furtherance of the kingdom of God ?

    You don't wish to see the obvious because it might disturb your black & white world, and you might have to examine the actions of the Bishop in a new light.

    Open your eyes to what is going on in Down & Connor, and risk being made to feel a little uncomfortable with the status quo. Who knows, it might invigorate you.

    Priest of Down &Connor.

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  14. Because the bishops who moved priests around were acting in good faith, in clear conscience, and to protect the good name of Jesus' Church - yes they were covered by the infallibility of the church.

    Faithful Priest

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  15. Dear People. Bishop Noel has made a very good case for the work that has been carried out at Lisbreen, especially as diocesan funds do not seem to have been used. Please remember that investment in refurbishment of listed buildings is always costly, but probably a lot more economic than a new build. As far as I am concerned the bishop has no case to answer. Vatican Official.

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    1. You're not Pope Francis are you - leaving secret messages?

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    2. It struck me just now, while gardening, actually shovelling manure: is that stirring sh*t?
      In view of several posts from D&C clerics criticising bishop NT as coming to the diocese from a bureaucratic/administrative background and in consequence having little experience (or apparent interest) in pastoral matters, it's hardly surprising to find posts in support of +NT originating from persons describing themselves as vatican clerics/officials etc. After all from what I observe, they too are of the same bureaucratic as opposed to pastoral mindset.
      I wonder what they thought of pope Francis's recent wedding ceremony which included divorced couples, couples already cohabiting and others previously rejected by many orthodox RC clergy. Probably being career minded bureaucrats they'll say nought. I say: good man Francis.
      MournemanMichael

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  16. Dear People, no I am not, but am close by Him. I can tell you that Bishop Trainer has very good reputation in the Holy See.

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    1. Pity The Vatican does not know his real name - Treanor

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  17. An ever present problem even discussing, let alone debating,contentious issues with persons of limited knowledge combined with limited intelligence, is that the latter limitation by its very nature, renders those persons largely incapable of realising this limitation to their perceptions, knowledge and understanding.
    When such limitations are combined with certain personality traits, such as a fairly dominant personality by nature, or cultivated experientially by deference from contemporaries, then such individuals are impervious to change, and unwilling to question their own assumptions let alone properly hear and examine other different views. Particularly if they are older there is a tendency to retreat into defensive mode, often expressed as angry defensive assertions even in the face of clear incontestable evidence contrary to their own position.
    Now who could I possibly be referring to? Surely not anybody who contributes to this blog site?
    MournemanMichael

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  18. What ever are you on mournemanmicheal? Whatever it is it should be classified as a danger to rational thought! You have replaced that UKIP voting fool in England for the idiocy and illogicality of your comments.

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    1. By asking "what are you on" indicates an inability to understand. Then, having failed to understand, to classify what is not understood as a danger to rational thought immediately betrays your limitations.
      I have to say that I have more useful things to do than attempt to enhance your understanding.
      "You can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear" springs to mind as an appropriate quotation.
      MMM

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  19. Dear "faithful priest" I despair of you,

    Bishops moving abusing priests were NOT doing it in "good conscience" as you put it, but rather they put the good name of the church above the protection of innocent vulnerable children. What nonsense you write.
    Jesus would be outraged by the behaviour of those Bishops. Have you ever heard of the story of the 'millstone' around the neck of the one who mistreated children ?!

    For goodness sake stop pretending that the church is this perfect institution. How can it be when sinful human beings such as ourselves lead it.

    Priest of Down & Connor.

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  20. Renovating a building the size of LIbreen is inevitably expensive. EC Harris is a build asset consultancy firm. According to its published data, 8 years ago the figures for a luxury residential refurbishment in NI were £74 to £153 per square foot. For a new build HQ building the figures for building costs were £116 to £145 per square foot. If Lisbreen is 15,000 square feet as per the Irish News, then even a refurbishment costing £2,000,000 would be well within these figures which are based on data that is 8 years old. If you allow for inflation in building costs over the past 8 years the mean figures will today be higher than those quoted. Because Lisbreen is both a residence and a HQ regard must be taken both of the typical building costs for refurbishing a high-end home and for constructing a new HQ building. By those measures a refurbishment costing £2,000,000 would not be an example of profligacy but rather what can typically be expected when renovating a building of this kind. Regrettably building costs are high but this cannot be laid at +Noel's door. They are determined by the market. For good quality heavy duty wall-paper £100 a roll would not be considered excessive. It may be a shock but even that cost is far below the price of luxury wall papers. Top quality door handles could well cost £350 or more. The dual function of Lisbreen should be kept in mind as it a place where people both live and work and it is a building that sees heavy traffic. If Lisbreen had not been seriously upgraded for 40 years, and if the current costs were in the order of £2,000,000 that would represent a cost of £50,000 pa for each of the past 40 years. The use of any building is not free because all buildings require regular maintenance and upgrading. If this work is not done annually then it may appear money has been saved. But it has not been saved. All that happens is that it creates a future liability for greater expense when refurbishment is eventually attempted. I have added these comments to illustrate some of the factors to be considered in debating whether the cost of refurbishment is reasonable and to try and place the costs into some kind of context.

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    1. At last some sanity and from someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Thank you for this excellent contribution which once and for all nails the nonsense about Lisbreen. Sadly it will not make a bit of difference to the bishop - hating jihadi's on here.

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