Friday 20 March 2015

FATHER DALLAT - WHY RUN AWAY?

FATHER DALLAT - WHY RUN AWAY


Ciaran, there is one thing I do not understand about the current "scandal" that is surrounding you - why have you run away and gone into hiding?




If you are completely innocent of the allegations that have been made about you by "Linda" why did you not stay and challenge those allegations?

In fact why did you not go straight to a lawyer and issue proceedings against Linda, myself and any newspaper that has accused you?

But even if the allegations are true - or partly true - that was still not a good reason to run away and go into hiding.

You could have called a press conference and held up your hands and said: "Guilty". You could have admitted that you have weakness for the fairer sex. Being a heterosexual man is not exactly the worst thing you could have been called. 

You could have announced that you were:

1. Going to leave the priesthood and find happiness in a new way of life - and marry a woman and have a family.

2. You could have said that you wanted to remain the the priesthood; have offered Bishop Treanor to go on a renewal course and engage in counselling and spiritual direction; renew your broken celibacy problems and started out all over again.

Either way people would have admired and applauded your honesty and courage. 

But instead you ran away in the middle of the night like a guilty man. That is sad Ciaran! Men don't do that. I hope that the Dallats do not do that? 

Like they say in Alcoholics Anonymous: "When the going gets tough - the tough get going".



And if you ran away because Bishop Treanor wanted you to run away that is even more sad.

You should have said: "No Bishop. I have done wrong. I have been found wanting and like a courageous Christian man I want to stand and face the music and throw myself on the mercy of the People of God".

Its not even too late to do that at this stage Ciaran. Come out of hiding. Be a man. Face the music. Get your life back on track in whatever way you think you want to.

I'm sure you must know that when people run away the message it sends out is that people are admitting that they have done wrong and they are ashamed and afraid to face the consequences of their actions.

This whole thing has also brought Bishop Noel Treanor into disrepute before the public, the people of the diocese and your fellow priests.

Bishop Treanor


It suggests that Noel Treanor is weak and not a good leader and not capable of taking difficult decisions in the interests of the people and the Church.

Its as if Bishop Treanor has run away with you and that you are both in hiding together somewhere.

Fr Eddie McGee (Photo: Fr Brian Waters)


It has also made the Diocesan Press Officer Father Eddie McGee look foolish by issuing meaningless statements on behalf of the bishop and the diocese which people see as meaningless and an attempt to not face up to the truth.



Ciaran. Reconsider your position - even at this late hour and come back and tell your side of the story.

We WILL listen.

+Pat Buckley
20.3.2015.





66 comments:

  1. It's not your business to ask these questions. Someone should give you a very large wooden spoon. This is not very Christian of you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry. The woman he exploited came to me for help. That made it my business.

      It is also a public matter.

      Delete
    2. I don't know a smart businesswoman would be easily "exploited".
      If she is able to run a lucrative business, which it is, I would imagine she would be able to run other areas of her life with a bit of savvy.

      Delete
    3. I presume you do realise that the "affairs of the heart" are run on a very different dynamic that business and economic affairs?

      We have all lost our heads when we become prey to the desires of our heart.

      Delete
    4. Oh yes affairs of the heart.....we have all had our hearts broken in our time but that did it mean we ran to the Irish news and broadcasted it to the world. If only someone would pay for counselling for all of us every time we had our hearts broken and I'm sure every woman out there wishes she cld claim back every penny she spent on a man when it didn't work out. Sorry just to clarify.... "Linda" did enjoy these holidays as well???

      Delete
  2. He is not answerable to you, Pat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. Ciaran Dallat is not answerable to me.

      But he is answerable to the people of St Peter's Parish - and any other parish he served in in which he did not behave.

      Be careful about who and what you defend.

      This case is not over yet.

      Delete
    2. If Pat Buckley was not brave enough to challenge this system and these people we would have no where to go!

      Priest of D&C

      Delete
    3. I can't believe that you might know something about how the case is not over yet - and shock horror- haven't published the details!
      Or maybe you don't know........?

      Delete
    4. We defend someone who has done more good than harm.
      Maybe that's not something you're familiar with, Pat?

      Delete
    5. I am aware that other information exists and will make its way soon into the public arena.

      Its publication will not be done by me.

      Delete
    6. No- you'll wait for a special occasion and bring it to The Irish News.

      Delete
    7. The Irish News is no friend of mine.

      They have continuously criticised me.

      But that is their right.

      Delete
  3. Why are you only posting comments in support of your own agenda, Pat?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My own agenda?

      My agenda is very public - the reform of the Roman Catholic Church - with regards issues such as celibacy, contraception, homosexuality, women in the priesthood etc.

      Cases such as this show clearly the case for reform.

      Plus my agenda in this particular case was to help and support the woman who suffered exploitation and a miscarriage.

      Delete
    2. How do you know she definatly had a miscarriage? At her age she was more likely going through the menopause??

      Delete
    3. Unlike you I am privy to the lady's medical history and information.

      I will not however be sharing that information on this Blog.

      Delete
    4. Of course you won't be dearest. You are only interested in sharing every little dirty secret "Linda" tells you about ciaran

      Delete
    5. Thank you for the "dearest".

      Affection is so hard to find these days.

      Delete
    6. Before 12 weeks of pregnancy a loss is know as a spontaneous abortion not a misscarriage and at five weeks most women don't even know they are pregnant it is just like having a period the only way of knowing is testing blood and urine for presence of specific hormones (i am from a medical background and a mother of 6 + 1 late stage misscage at 18weeks) no doctor would be testing for a miscarriage at 5 weeks think your facts are wrong

      Delete
  4. He probably is deciding whether to take option one or two. This takes time. His decision to be a priest took years after all. So whether it's reform or get out will probably take period of reflection I would imagine. And I don't think he'll share that process here.
    But the Church institution needs to make provision for the sheep and stand him down from public ministry officially - and, in some regards more urgently, the bearded Dean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course he must take time to reflect.

      This can be done by Bishop Treanor announcing a "Leave of Absence".

      Then Ciaran can decide what way he wishes to go forward.

      I agree with you that the BEARDED DEAN is a long term scandal that also has to be addressed.

      Its unfortunate that they were both in the one parish!

      Delete
  5. Pat you must be jumping up and down and rubbing your hands with glee that your little "victim" came to you for help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No I am not jumping up and down with glee. I am sad and upset that this has happened and also the ham fisted way it has been handled.

      My "victim" is well on her way to being a "survivor" - thanks to her taking affirmative action.

      She no longer feels powerless and alone.

      Delete
    2. She definitely seems in quite a powerful position right now.

      Delete
    3. I'm not sure? But maybe she is beginning to experience that "power" that comes from putting aside your "victim" status and embracing a "survivor" status.

      Delete
    4. Of course you are and that is why you have tried to help her anonymously and discreetly without having yourself in the media spotlight ��

      Delete
    5. When Linda approach me I sent her immediately and confidentially to Bishop Treanor.

      When she met Bishop Treanor he asked me not to accompany her. I agreed.

      We left the matter with Bishop Treanor for over two weeks.

      Nothing happened - and nothing was going to happen.

      Hence another route.

      "If you do not provide a man with a laundry room do not be surprised if he washed his dirty clothes at the public river bank"

      Delete
    6. And at the public river bank seems to be your preferred method pat

      Delete
    7. Could that come from being deprived of a laundry room 30 years ago - and ever since?

      There are only 2 things the R C Hierarch fear:

      1. Publicity.

      2. The loss of money and finances.

      Delete
  6. No pat he is not answerable to the people of St. Peter's or any other parish. Like you me and everyone else the only person ciaran is answerable to is God.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have just repeated the mantra that priests and bishops have been mouthing for years - in every scandal, including the child abuse scandal:

      "WE ARE ONLY ANSWERABLE TO GOD".

      Not true anymore!

      They are now responsible to the people who pay them their monies.

      They are also responsible to the public and to the law of the land.

      Delete
    2. And you pat?? Who are you answerable to??

      Delete
    3. I am responsible to you - who challenged me on this Blog. What other bishop of priest runs a Blog where people like you can challenge him?

      I am responsible to the congregation that meets here at The Oratory.

      I am responsible to the law of the land - as recent events in my live proved.

      And in my heart and soul I am responsible to God who will judge me, my motives and my "agenda" when I meet him.

      Delete
  7. I think Linda's anonymity is unravelling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That may or may not be the case.

      If it is it shows how brave she is.

      She is willing and able to stand over her statement in any tribunal.

      Delete
    2. It wasn't exactly rocket science to work out since she published dates and times

      Delete
  8. You are so full of your own self importance! You are in NO position to be asking such moral or ethical questions. In fact I now feel that you are confused as to who you really are, public perception about you and to your true moral state!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are entitled to your views - and even to express them on my Blog!

      Over 90% of those who judge me have never met me.

      I am willing to go ANYWHERE and at ANY TIME to be questioned and challenged by ANYONE.

      Delete
    2. As long as there is a camera close by. Eh pat ��

      Delete
    3. Camera?

      Was my picture in The Irish News on St Patrick's Day when it published the story? No.

      Where is my picture side by side with Linda as her hero? Nowhere.

      I am not camera shy.

      But neith are I camera fearful or hungry.

      Delete
  9. Oh yes "your blog" where you pick and choose what comments you print. Your blog which you use as a platform to singlehandedly try and bring down the catholic church. I actually pity you pat. And I pray for you. I pray that when you do face God to be judged as you have stated he shows great mercy to you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - my Blog. That is the way Blogs work - for the bloggers to express their views and opinions on matters they want.

      I have no illusions about singlehandedly bringing down the Roman Catholic Institution.

      Only the Holy Spirit will do that in His own way and at His own time.

      Thank you for the prayers. I need them all.

      And when I do meet God - I will be asking for MERCY and not JUSTICE. For if God were to give any of us what we deserve we would be in deep trouble.

      Delete
    2. I would love to see Bishop Treanor launch a blog on which we could all question and challenge him.

      But don't hold your breath!

      PP D&C

      Delete
  10. Too too funny. Bloggers to express their opinions?? U mean to express their opinions you deem suitable to your needs �� I must hold my hands up and give you that one pat. You do make me laugh ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most of this comment section today is critical of me.

      How does that serve my needs.

      I'm glad I make you laugh.

      Some other priests make people cry!

      Delete
  11. I am a Priest of Down & Connor Diocese, and I would NOT describe myself as a natural ally of Fr Buckley. Theologically we would be on most issues poles apart, however decades in Ministry have given me an opportunity to view the celibacy issue from "inside the ring" so to speak, and in relation to that issue Fr Buckley makes a very valid point: namely that Mandatory Celibacy for Clergy NEEDS URGENTLY to be addressed by the Church.
    To point it bluntly "celibacy is not working" for the majority of Priests.
    4 Big issues I see manifested in this Diocese, but they are not exclusive to D&C.
    1) Growing numbers of Clergy who are gay.
    2) A sizeable minority of clergy who are in relationships gay or straight.
    3) The very obvious compensatory behaviour which many priests engage in to deflect from the pain of loneliness; these include use of pornography, excessive comfort in relation to dwellings, very expensive holidays, abuse of alcohol.( I have fallen foul of some of these myself)
    Very few men are natural celibates, and I have struggled greatly in this area.
    4) Fewer and fewer men seeing Priesthood as a legitimate option, in particular because of celibacy, and therefore the very real prospect of Diocesan Clergy 'dying out'.
    Could I recommend what I believe is a very honest reflective book in this area ?
    "Freeing Celibacy" by Fr Donald Cozzens.(Seminary Rector in the USA), published in 2006, by Order of St Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.
    Things simply cannot go on as they are, either in Down & Connor or beyond.
    I think we are in danger of turning celibacy into an idol. God is the only one worthy of worship, and we all would benefit from remembering that fact.

    Priest of D&C diocese.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don't know why you feel that Fr Dallat needs to issue any sort of statement. His name has already been dragged through the mud without adding fuel to the fire by issuing a statement for people to dissect and lay blame.
    Both Fr Dallat and the woman concerned are at fault in this sorry situation yet she has opted to remain anonymous, while people are getting their pitch forks ready for Ciaran Dallat. They both entered in to a relationship knowing that it was wrong, they are both at fault and no statements, apologies or admissions of guilt will change that fact. It is equally as wrong for a priest to enter into a relationship with a woman as it is for a woman to knowingly enter a relationship with a priest.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Pat, I am stunned and dismayed at the level of hostility you are facing on this blog today. Is like this regularly?

    I'm a relative newcomer to your blog, and I'm left wondering from where on earth you get your strength to continue exposing injustice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - this is the "norm" :-)

      Any strength I have I get it from a passion for justice embedded in my by mr Dad who was an old socialist and Dublin trade unionist.

      And without being stupid or pious - I seem to have a strong faith in God.

      Delete
  14. Reading this afternoon's blogs has given me the impression that several individuals of like mind, have either met or communicated, and agreed a concerted personal attack on Pat Buckley and his blogsite. There is a similarity of content in the blogs.
    Furthermore, it seems to me those individuals are of the mentality I referred to when I posted at 15:04 on the previous blog, and indicated therein the typical traits of instinctively negatively inclined individuals who resent any alteration to the cocoon of their myopic opinions and beliefs. Perhaps their agenda is simply to preserve the status quo of their privileges.
    The Titanic was full of highly privileged people!

    For what it's worth, having followed Pat's blogsite for about a year.
    I do not agree with everything Pat Buckley says or does. Indeed sometimes i think he's a little too 'over the top'. I do not believe or share any of his beliefs in god, Jesus as god, nor the validity of Christianity. I was reared a catholic, trained for six years as a priest in an Irish major seminary, leaving before ordination, and over the following 10/20 years 'drifted away' from those childhood beliefs, and now, over 70, regard myself as a committed Humanist.
    But I think there probably was a highly charismatic, enigmatic powerful personality, a human individual called Jesus, who demonstrated remarkable qualities of care, love and compassion, so much so that he left a core of followers who subsequently elevated his status to that of the Messiah much longed for by the Jews.

    I do believe that what Pat says and does is deeply motivated by compassion and respect for indivduals, especially those disadvantaged and disempowered. I think he strongly identifies with the underdogs marginalised by powerful institutions. I believe he follows his understanding of the core Christian principles as taught by Jesus and the early Christian church, and is very disenheartened by the way those benign teachings have been corrupted by the institutionalised vested interests of the powermongers of the RC church.

    I share his views of the lack of integrity in much of the institution of the RC church's clerical hierarchy, but I equally recognise the honesty and committment of many, probably the majority of ordinary RC priests who follow their consciences and church's benign teachings, and faithfully serve their parishoners.
    So I wish Pat well in every respect in exposing the duplicity and arrogance of the RC hierarchy and in particular those who take advantage of their position as ministers to feed on rather than nourish their flock.
    So for those who wish to preserve the status quo, consider the huge changes to your church in past 50 years alone, and the words of Ecclesiastes:
    "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,
    ......a time to be born, and a time to die;
    .......a time to break down and a time to build up;
    ........a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted."
    Keep shaking the tree Pat.
    MourneManMichael

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MMM, you are as perverse as Buckley, although I would add that you are a little more intellectually arrogant, the Mr Toad of the Buckley blog! As for the shaking of the tree,, eemm, what do you mean by this? I am an ex Catholic, I have no great love for my ex Church, but neither do I harbour pleasure in fault. Have you ever heard the sating, it is not WHAT you say it is HOW you say it! My objection to this kind of keyboard warrior behaviour levels there.

      Delete
    2. The abrupt non grammatical end of this post, misspelling in penultimate line, and failure to understand the parallel of the basic concept of the organic need to uproot before renewal suggests C2H5OH derived influences.
      MourneManMichael

      Delete
    3. As long as you get the point Mr Toad MMM. I just yawned whilst typing, apols to your arrogance. I hope I haven't insulted you OCD or is it undiagnosed EBD? Go on you keyboard Buckley blog warrior! Change the world. LMAO

      Delete
    4. You have more time than most to read over your typing or predictive text. Do you know what predictive text is? As for your derived influences, I suggest that the imagery of Mr Toad is very apt. Well done contributor, spot on friend.

      Delete
  15. How wise he is to remain silent. In the Bible, St Joseph never uttered one word. And when Jesus was faced with condemnation he did not defen himself.
    Sometime silence is a sign of true strength.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or SHAME. Or GUILT ?

      Delete
    2. How utterly disgusting comparing CD with St Joseph and Our Lord!! What an idiot you are!!

      Delete
  16. I would welcome fellow Priests of Down & Connor to reply to my blog entry of 18:23, regardless of whether you are in agreement with my views or not. Discussion is healthy.

    Priest of D&C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One response, FOOK Off PP. Lay and faithful lay woman!

      Delete
    2. Just another incomprehensible inarticulate comment from someone with limited articulatation capacity. Maybe that ties in to limitations in certain other capacities?
      MMM

      Delete
    3. Well done dear blogger, these PP and pretend clerics need to clear off. If you do not want to serve us as our priests and within the rules of our church, fine! Clear off and fook off, stop all this fraudulent behaviour please. Join Buckley or something.

      Delete
  17. I am a catholic parishioner of a parish that ciaran Dallat served in. I am deeply saddened by the recent revelations and did'nt want to believe the story .there is no shame in making a mistake as God is forgiving but cannot understand why Ciaran didn't take the time out to make the decisions he obviously needed to make. Both parties knew they were wrong and whilst they were consenting adults this not excuse Ciaran of the deception he was living on a day to day basis in his ministry. I really question the trust that parishioners place in their priests and feel that it will be a long time before I will trust the priests that are part of our parish. The rule of celibacy needs to be changed but in many professions there are rules that don't make sense but as employees you abide by them or stand up to the consequences. The woman involved in this case did have the choice to say no. There are no winners in this situation. I only hope that all parties get the healing they so obviously need..

    ReplyDelete
  18. Who are Siobhan, Deirdre and Liz?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Had the woman been sexually assaulted or robbed whilst asleep, that would be exploitation. However, she was happy to fund and maintain a relationship. If you call a spade a spade, she was willingly sleeping with a priest. She is at least on a par with a 'home wrecker'.

    The only exploitation I can see if of Buckley and the media - in order for 'Linda' to get her pound of flesh.

    There are two equally guilty parties in this sad affair. Along with an ex-priest with a penchant for website hits.

    ReplyDelete