FATHER CIARAN DALLAT - THE PROTEST
ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS SOME 30 - 60 WOMEN AND CHILDREN GATHERED OUTSIDE ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL IN BELFAST THE OTHER EVENING IN A "BRING FATHER DALLAT BACK" PROTEST.
This "protest" followed revelations at the weekend that Father Dallat had a 2 year relationship with a female parishioner who also miscarried their baby.
Father Dallat had visited the woman at least 4 nights a week and also had sex with the woman while on pilgrimages to Lourdes and Medjugorje.
The relationship continued until Father Dallat heard God's voice telling him to: "GIVE UP SEX FOR LENT".
When his girlfriend miscarried his baby - instead of going to her aid - he instead went out for a meal with friends and called by the lady's house after the wining and dining was over.
The lady's mother was dying of cancer and Father Dallat abruptly ended the relationship 2 weeks after her mothers death. When she told him how broken she was he replied:
"Well - at least if you are that low you can't feel any lower" !
How would these women protesters feel if Father Dallat had done that to them - or to their daughter or granddaughter? I imagine they would be on the warpath!
Is that a GOOD and a MORAL stance to take - to be on the side of the predator and against the victim?
Or is it about goodness or morals at all?
Even if, as a Catholic, you believe that the celibacy rule is wrong - is it still okay for a priest to break his vow of celibacy?
Is it okay for a priest to be preaching about purity and chastity and be having sex on the side?
Is it okay for a priest to be giving lectures on MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE and living a double life with a girlfriend?
Is it okay for a man to ignore the woman who had a miscarriage for him and go out and have dinner with his friends.
Would we accept that kind of behaviour from a husband? A fiancee? A boyfriend?
Are all these things in line with Catholic and Christian morals and ethics?
Did they get their moral compass from a Church that says that the only commandment that priests should not break is the 11th Commandment - THOU SHALT NOT BE CAUGHT ?
Did they get their moral compass from the Church that has spent decades covering up for priests who sexually abused children?
Did they get their moral compass from people like Cardinal Keith O'Brien who publicly opposed gay marriage but who seduced and tried to seduce at least 40 young seminarians and priests in the privacy of Archbishop's House, Edinburgh between 1985 and 2010 ?
The Father Ciaran Dallat protesters have very obviously not really thought out on what moral and ethical basis their campaign is based.
Will their campaign motto be - "FREE THE ST PETER'S ONE"?
In the meantime the real victims of the Catholic Church and its hierarchy and priesthood have no one to march and protest for them.
Were Jesus on earth today would he be inside St Peter's Cathedral Presbytery - which cost £1.9 to renovate comforting Fathers Dallat and Kennedy?
Or would he be in the home of the woman who lives alone and was targeted and seduced by Father Dallat?
Were Jesus on earth today would he be inside St Peter's Cathedral Presbytery - which cost £1.9 to renovate comforting Fathers Dallat and Kennedy?
Or would he be in the home of the woman who lives alone and was targeted and seduced by Father Dallat?
I know where he would be - where HE IS in fact.
As the Belfast granny would have said: "JESUS WEPT".
"Good forever on the scaffold;
Evil always on the throne.
But God stands within the shadows;
Keeping watch upon his own".
As the Belfast granny would have said: "JESUS WEPT".
"Good forever on the scaffold;
Evil always on the throne.
But God stands within the shadows;
Keeping watch upon his own".
Well said Bishop Pat. Priest D&C
ReplyDeleteSo, Father, will you be at the Chrism Mass in St Peter's on Holy Thursday to renew your promise of celibacy knowing that you have about you colleagues who are enjoying themselves three or four times a week with their girlfriends/boyfriends?
DeleteThe reaction of the women, in holding a rally in support of Fr Dallat is astonishing. How they are able to conveniently forget about Fr Dallat's actions is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteGod help their wit !
Catholic, BELFAST.
Oh ffs Buckley! Will you give the man a break? He only snogged the bake of a woman...... maybe you should try it??
ReplyDelete:-( Your ignorance speaks for itself!
DeleteI should confess - "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of another man's wife".
DeleteAye, yer ma! :)
DeleteYep :-) She would have been 86 today :-(
Delete✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
DeleteIgnorance yes. A priests KISS can make a woman pregnant :-) D. Lisburn.
ReplyDeleteLike many another cleric who has "failed" the celibacy test, Fr Dallat is about to find himself in the clerical equivalent of Siberia. Whilst the Church knows these situations go on, they will ignore them as long as they do not become public. Fr Dallat has committed the unpardonable sin ie getting caught ! He'll now have to pay the consequences.
ReplyDeleteClerical Observer D & C.
And what about Bishop Treanor who has totally mishandled this crisis?
DeleteDo you get paid the day pat??
ReplyDeleteI presume you meant: "by the day"?
DeleteI get absolutely no income from Church or media.
I am self employed and get paid for work I do.
I agree that Bishop Treanor has completely mishandled the situation, but the question is : Who will hold the Bishop to account ? Answer - probably no one. He seems to think that silence is the way to " kill the story", hence we hear nothing from either him or his spokesman. ( Fr E McGee) The people of this Diocese and their clergy should not let Noel Treanor treat us all with such contempt, but then that's how it has always been, so why should he change his behaviour.
ReplyDeleteClerical Observer D & C.
Does " Dean" Kennedy not feel a little offended, at the fact that no rallies at St Peter's were organised in his support, when he was sent to the "sin bin" a few years ago ?
ReplyDeleteI hope those women on the rally are not homophobic !
Belfast Catholic.
In fairness some women did rally for St Joe McGuigan - the patron saint of homeless men who was gay - until he later dropped his kacks in the homeless centre.
DeleteInteresting that Pat's blog says that it was women and children at the rally in support of Ciaran Dallat. I'm wondering if any men attended.
ReplyDeleteBut perhaps it's not surprising if only women were at the rally. It seems Dallat made a practice of charming the ladies.
But on a serious note, I have to ask that if there was a substantial effort, of either or both sex, to 'seek Dallat's return', despite all the evidence and information, what does it tell us about the inherent power of the RC church institution in Ireland to maintain its hold over a naive constituency indoctrinated from birth with unquestioning faith in, and inordinate respect for the clergy.
I sincerely hope that this misguided group represents nothing more that the last vestiges of an older acquiescent generation.
MourneManMichael
MMM, the mindlessness and blindness is deeper than you suspect. I'm sure there are still Catholics around that would hand over their child or grandchild to a pedophile priest if "Father" asked !!!!!!
DeleteI agree, people still view you with a little credibility! God bless their blindness.
DeletePerhaps they are willing to forgive him - something that Christ might do?
ReplyDeleteForgiveness is attracted by certain dispositions on the part off he who has sinned - acknowledgment of failure, genuine sorrow for failure, confession, restitution a
Deletefirm purpose of amendment and suitable penance.
Have we seen any of these dispositions from HE WHO RAN AWAY ?????
Retired Priest.
I agree with MMM at 18.26, and I share his concern.
ReplyDeleteI am sickened by the clericalism of the Catholic Church, which has lay people put
clerics at the centre of their faith and worship rather than Christ, his justice, mercy
and compassion; hence the rally in support of Fr Dallat.
We Catholics are raised to idolize clerics rather than Christ, to hang on their every word as if Christ himself had spoken it. Will we ever grow up spiritually and free ourselves from the yoke of Roman Catholic clericalism?
Just back from the candle vigil and just to put your mind at rest their was plenty of men there tonite ❤️
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that some men are joining CD's hareem :-)
DeleteThere ya go Mourne Man Mickey! There were men there tonight. Maybe if you attend the next vigil you'll get yourself a nice West Belfast fella to go for nice drives in the Mournes with ya in yer combine harrrrrr-vester.<3
DeleteI must indeed thank you "Anonymous @ 23:15" for your intelligent, perspicacious and insightful comment. Its lucidity and inherent depth of thought truly brings a great benefit to this blogsite, and I'm grateful for your benevolent suggestion.
DeleteMMM
What do these women want dallat back for? Is it a roundabout way of saying no to celibacy? By all means bring him back to face his accusors and the consequences-might be a humbler man at the end of it
ReplyDeleteMaybe they hope that one of them will get Linda's old position :-)
DeleteI hope they all realise that Dallat does not like having ONE PA :-) Are the "virgins" of the lower Falls willing to job share with at least 2 others?
DeleteThe only thing more complex than a female mind is that of a cleric. the more senior the cleric the stranger the mind
DeleteI am astonished at the lack of intellectual on this site, who gives you the right to judge the people of the lower falls and insult what they believe to be a cause worth fighting for, I was one of those women calling for the return of father dallat, I am a highly educated professional women saving the lives of our most vulnerable members of society, I am a mother of 6 children with my husband of 21 years. We are not blinded by father dallat nor to the wrong doings he has been apart off. Two people entered into this relationship, both full well knowning the consequences of it. Cairans support comes from the good that he has done in this community, the help and support that he has given to all within it, the work he has done in rising a parish off its knees and bringing it back to the heart of west Belfast society like it was of old and should be, like when you were the pat, I'm sure you remember..... We are not blinkered we do not worship the cleric we seek to find a path back to Christ our Lord and if ciaran can manage to do this then yes we will support him. Father pat you are no more than a modern day Pontius Pilate seeking a modern day crucifixion, stiring up the crowd and inserting hatered into their minds how do you live with yourself and your minion followers who profess to being Christians, yours is not to judge only to be judged by your maker. Speak to the people of st Peter's before you throw out your insults.
DeleteWell said.
DeleteIn recent times both Fr Dallat & Fr Kennedy have brought the Priesthood into serious disrepute. Quite honestly I and I believe many other D&C clergy, would be glad to see the back of them. They use the collar for their own selfish purposes, and are of little if any use in a pastoral context.
ReplyDeletePriest of the Diocese.
I see Mr Toad has returned with his adjective rich tripe! Aka MMM! This blog is a joke, you all have NOTHING to offer behind a keyboard. Wasting your time as well as your life.
ReplyDeleteWhy visit then ????.
DeleteSorry, but have I missed something? Was there something positive, supportive, or constructive in the anonymous post @ 23:09? Maybe I've missed an insightful contribution, and just picked it up as a hostile negative personalised vitriolic attack.
DeleteMMM
I don't know. I am totally confused. For people who stand at a pulpit every Sunday and preach forgiveness I don't see much evidence of practising what you preach from Ciaran Dallat's fellow priests. The message does however appear to have got through to the ordinary people of west and north belfast who are worried about Ciaran and how he is coping with this sad situation and can find it in their hearts to forgive him and acknowledge his human weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteAny thought or compassion for the woman that was used????
DeleteAs I said in a previous post that you chose not to post. We are not talking about a you ng 20 year old here. We are talking about a 49.year old business woman who made a decision to go into a relationship with a priest and was happy to continue with it for as long as he would let it. Yes I feel compassion for her because relationship breakdown is painful, because she has lost the support of her family which she could be doing with right now, and because I think this woman needs help and not just because of father Dallat. But you know what she chose to go public,chose to go down this road. Yes I do feel compassion but for both of them not just the scorned woman she has you and the papers in her corner who does he have.There has been much talk about priests and celibacy and that debate should happen but first let's make sure that both people in this sad situation are ok.
ReplyDeleteDoes Father Dallat not have Bishop Treanor and the might of the Church in his "corner"?
DeleteWhat a pity that most of the "protestors" at the Candle Lit Vigil for Fr D were themselves "Belfast Grannies". The Church has no credibility among the young, the upwardly mobile, the professional classes. Look at the photos on the news sites, all old women and a few younger women who probably have the hots for Fr D. What a farce.
ReplyDeleteThere were people there from "professional" classes. Young and old. Men and women. A mixed crowd. People who know that when you hope for mercy and forgiveness, you must offer mercy and forgiveness. A blessed crowd and I hope, a crowd who will bless the whole situation.
DeleteThe woman was hardly used. She went into this relationship in her late forties (well into adulthood) and knew what she was doing for a period of 'two years'. She needs to stop playing the role of victim and face up to her own guilt as well as Fr. Dallatt instead of running away. Both parties need to seek forgiveness and make amends before God for their sins. What happened was scandalous and tragic but not beyond redemption. Both of them need alot of prayer but I don't agree that Fr. Dallat should return to the Parish and it is not a celibacy problem that leads to affairs as many married men also have affairs. So that is not the issue. The formation in Seminaries is pretty bad I think and I think that needs to be seriously looked at. Also Priests need to know their boundaries with women and vice versa. They are being tempted at every step and they need to be men of prayer and holiness (something that seems to be forgotten in this conversation). They will as all of us will have to answer to God for our own sins, not the sins of others.
ReplyDeleteSome priests are tempted. Some priests are the temptors.
DeleteThere is a lot more to the Father Dallat story that has yet to come out !
So when's part 2 of the 50 Shades of Dallat trilogy coming out? :/
DeleteWill part 2 of the story be in the Sunday Life tomorrow??
DeleteAll those 'aul' dolls' can hold candlelight vigils til the cows come home, Dallat won't be back. If it was a matter of a priest GENUINELY falling in love with a woman, he would deserve sympathy. He would also have done the honourable thing by her.
ReplyDeleteBut CD is a philanderer, a user, a 'Jack the Lad', a delusional narcissist who hears God 'talking to him'!!! His only sorrow is - not for his sin - but that he was CAUGHT!
Away with him! He needs to repent but let him do it sincerely - and far away from St Peter's and vulnerable women.Like Kennedy, Dallat is the agent of his own misfortune. But they will both blame everyone else rather than take responsibility for the mess they have created.
God help St Peter's Parish! What a catalogue of disasters! McGuigan, Kennedy and Dallat. When will they get a true priest again??
It's well for him he can walk away from his post while here in Ardoyne we lost a good priest with nothing but bettering the area for the local young and old , We are only now seeing our family centre being build , and as for that sight at Twaddell were looking at everyday , At least he would have tried to help , We didn't even have the rector at the kids confirmation , So bring back decent priests who want to work for their flock not lover boy's who prefer to be wined and dined Grrrrrrrrrr :(
ReplyDeleteThere was plenty of men at the vigil as well as young and old. Including myself and child who is to making first communion in May in the catherdral. I'm must say that I don't agree with what has happened and do believe it actually did happen but that Alot of it is been exaggerated. I feel that CD should make up his mind if he wants to be a priest and should be forgiven as we are all forgiven OUR sins as we are all sinners at some time in our lives. I for 1 as a member of his parish would love to see him back as would my child. It would be difficult for us all to Carry on as if it never happened but think he needs to come back to face every1. I hope to see him on the day of the children communion either as a priest or member of the congregation.
ReplyDeleteWell said, that is how a lot of us feel.
DeleteNot being familiar with the relevance of the 'Chrism Mass' being referred to in this blogsite, I looked it up
ReplyDeleteWhat Fr Wm Saunders says in Catholic Exchange was very interesting in the light of current events. Paraphrasing his description: "The Chrism Mass refers to the blessing of the oils by the bishop of the diocese, joined by his priests. This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their bishop".
In present circumstances it will be interesting to evaluate this demonstration of unity. Perhaps one of you who attends could keep us informed.
MourneManMichael
Goodnight blog heads, sleep well. :)
ReplyDeleteNite John Boy..
Delete