Tuesday 19 April 2016

DOWN AND CONNOR CRISIS



DOWN AND CONNOR CRISIS

IS THERE A CRISIS is the very simple and plain question that must be asked - and is being asked - in relation to the Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor.




The word CRISIS is of Greek origin and is defined as:

"A time of intense difficulty and danger......a time when difficult or important decisions need to be made......the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place,indicating either recovery or death".

Why do many of us believe that there is a huge crisis in D&C? We believe it for the following reasons:

1. A priest can impregnate a woman who becomes pregnant and then loses the child and within less than 12 months the bishop wants to return that priest to active ministry - putting other vulnerable women in danger!




2. A gay priest can conduct a Civil Partnership Ceremony with his boyfriend and still remain in ministry in a priesthood that DEMANDS that all priests be celibate.!

3. A priest can live in the parochial house with his girlfriend scandalising his parishioners and no one does anything about it!




4. A gay priest can openly have a sexual relationship with a married man.

5. A priest can father children and still be invited to celebrate his ordination anniversary in the bishop's house!
Priest who fathered two denies Sunday World made him quit.




FATHER Gordon McKinstry has resigned from the priesthood in the Catholic Church. The Sunday World can reveal the shamed cleric has hung up his dog collar one year after this newspaper exposed his seedy sex life. McKinstry quit his Randalstown parish last month yet amazingly claims his early retirement has no connection to the explosive revelations made by his former mistress and secret love child. Last year Maureen Leathem sensationally revealed how she conducted a lust-filled affair with the sex-obsessed priest. It was also revealed that the randy Catholic curate had fathered two children by two different women. 


6. A priest can have sexual relations with several women and when the parishioners go and tell the bishop about it the priest is simply moved to a new parish!

7. Priests can live openly with their mistresses - sometimes pretending they are their "housekeepers"!

8. A gay priest can be involved in a scandal while being in charge of a group of young people and be recommended for ministry in another diocese!

9. A gay priest counselling a young man about his sexuality can stand up. turn off the light and proceed to "de-brief" the young man!




10. A priest with an severe alcohol / psycho-sexual problem remains in place causing havoc and scandal! 

11. A gay priest can show his face and other parts of his body on an internet site!




12. A bishop can spend between £1 million and £4 million on his home and not have to account for that to the priests and laity of the diocese or to the Vatican and the Pope!


13. A bishop can publicly criticise the head of the national Church's child protection programme and solve the problem with a simply apology!




14. A bishop can join forces with a "protestant" and unionist political party to try and prevent LGBT citizens gain human and civil rights! 




Its not a question as to who supports Bishop Treanor and who does not.

Its not a question about who is a loyal Catholic and who is not.

Its simply a question of a diocese - a local church - descending into anarchy and chaos - a situation where everything and anything goes - and no one is doing anything about it.

Its also a question about each of these scandals emerging out into the public arena drip by drip and destroying the Church's reputation and alienating more and more Catholics from the Church of their birth.

Its also a question of the severe undermining of the morale of the good and faithful priests as they stand helplessly by - like observers on the deck of the Titanic.

My question is: DOES ANYONE CARE ? and IS ANYONE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

Will the Papal Nuncio? Will the Vatican? Will Pope Francis? 



79 comments:

  1. BUCKLEY ! You have an axe to grind. Why should anyone believe you?

    Priest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may or may not have an axe to grind - depending on your perspective.

      There are TWO vital questions:

      1. Is there truth in what I say?

      2. Is there truth in what priests and lay people talk to me about?

      Its the truth that matters - not my real or imagined axes.

      Delete
    2. There are many of us with an axe to grind. All tellers of the truth. You may be eating your self righteous words someday along with many other arrogant many who hide behind their collars.

      Delete
    3. perhaps priest if you had a family member who suffered greatly at the hands of a so called anointed one, you would realise why so many turn in this life to this blog.

      Delete
    4. They should because you all give away with murder and the church protect you!

      Delete
  2. According to the first 4 chapters of 1 Samuel the way to restore the Glory of God to His people is first of all through Elkanah (worship) and out of worship comes Hannah (intercession) and out of intercession comes Samuel (an ear to hear the voice of God) and out of Samuel comes David (prepared for spiritual warfare) and out of David comes Solomon (the one who built the temple). So that is the prophetic procedure from (1 Sam 4:21) Ichabod when (the Glory departed) until the Glory returned in the temple and no one could minister. (2 Ch 5:14) Worship is the birthplace for God’s word and out of worship comes ‘the ministry of intercession’. All other ministries come out of worship. Intercession is the womb through which God is giving birth to fulfil all His eternal purposes on earth. God has only one way of doing His work. Everything that God does is through birth. If there is no intercession, then no work of God can be brought into existence. It has to be birthed. God is looking for a womb that will consecrate itself unto Him and be the birthplace of the Word of God in any generation. God’s work has never been done through any Church organisations, programmes or committees. Jesus was not organised from Heaven he was born. The person who is born again is totally unprogrammed. New wine needs to be put into new wineskins. If you want to work for the Lord then by all means organise a committee. If on the other hand you want work with the Lord, then make an intercessory group. Intercession goes through labour-pain-tears-groanings, because it is a birth experience (Rm 8:26). Intercession is a work of the Holy Spirit. It’s not something that we can take on ourselves; it’s when the Holy Spirit moves within us in such a way that we have a burden upon us. We take on the condition of the person or people that we are praying for. Paul carried whole churches in his heart. ‘My children! I must go through the pain of giving birth to you all over again, until Christ is formed in you’. (Gal 4: 19-20) Where are the Pauls of today? Where are the intercessors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not arguing against anything you have said.

      But what about the old adage: "God helps those who help themselves".

      For those of us who believe all situations benefit from prayer.

      But sometimes it must be PRAYER IN ACTION.

      Delete
  3. As I was reading this post I was thinking that Bishop Buckley's detractors would do just that, and lo and behold the very first comment attributes his views to axe-grinding.
    The only thing I would say is that what is being described here is not that dissimilar to the situation in all dioceses and orders of the RC church, and I feel Pat acknowledges this periodically while focusing on his local area. The crisis is therefore in the church, it is one of sexuality and celibacy, of warring factions and the complete collapse of the safe Catholic world previous generations knew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that what is happening in D&C is also happening in many other diocese in the world. In fact one of the pictures on the Blog shows Pope Francis ordering an investigation into an Italian diocese.

      But because of my local knowledge - and my work with local victims and a few clergy - I am of the opinion that things are particularly bad in D&C just now.

      As Catholics we all have concerns about the Universal Church - but concern, as well as charity, begins at home.

      Once again can I point out - that I am simply telling the truth - as it is known among priests and people.

      But for some reason those who are charged with sorting out this situation are adopting the Ostrich stance.

      Delete
  4. When I was a child I asked for help from a priest because of pain being caused in our childhood by another priest...he refused, saying priests can't tell on each other. This man is now hiding behind his arrogance in his church in Downpatrick probably thanking God he was not dragged in to give evidence many years later in the priest he protected's court case. Shame on him. He will answer for his sin one day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so sorry that you were hurt by one priest and failed by another. You are not alone - you are in the same boat as others. If I can do anything to help please contact me.

      Delete
    2. I certainly won't be asking ciaran for help...a lesson learned..once again I gave up trying but thank you for your kind offer.

      Delete
    3. I understand. But as the Yanks say you have a rain cheque :-)

      Delete
    4. Would it be Fr. John Murray.? Always thought he was freakin' morally gutless!

      Delete
    5. So how would I contact you in private for help?

      Delete
    6. 07900 287283 or bishoppatbuckley@hotmail.com

      Delete
  5. Dear Priest @16:11
    Buckley may well have an axe to grind. So what. But at least he's honest, courageous ( stood up to Daly and Walsh when all the goodie two shoe brigade and yes men sat on their hands) and tells the truth with nothing to fear. Who would I trust. Buckley or many of the priests in our diocese?
    Buckley by a country mile!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The question has been posed is this diocese in crisis? As a priest of more than 30 years good standing in this presbyterate may I give you my view. It is this. The great and historic diocese of Down and Connor is mired in shite !
    Fed up cleric.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An honest and intelligent Roman Catholic cleric. What a rarity! What a pleasant surprise!

      Delete
  7. As I said on another blog (but which +Pat shrewdly blocked), whore Roman Catholic priests! They are moral filth.

    Why do ordinary Catholics bother with these Christ-betrayers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sorry I blocked your first comment. It was pretty rough :-)

      Delete
  8. Not all priests in D&C are feckless rascals with no morals or standards. I have a good friend who is a priest and I know him to be a good man who has never behaved in a way that would compromise his position in the Church even though I would have liked to have a different kind of relationship with him. I also know that his life is a lonely one. He has given everything to the Church and he like many other good men who are priests is cautious and avoidant of having even the most innocent contact with a female friend. I worry about him. I think priests are public figures but even public figures are entitled to a private life and provided that it is a private life that is respectful of others and non-abusive they should be left alone to get on with it.

    I am full of admiration for my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that there are good priests in D&C like your friend.

      I have a small number of good priest friends too.

      Its sad that they are overshadowed by the others.

      Delete
    2. I totally share your view as I have a similar friendship with a priest. A very good man who was and is very tempted to take things further but doesn't. He too is lonely. He is very conflicted between a loyalty to his vocation but his needs as a man to be loved and to love. So we remain close friends and it will have to do but even in that we have to keep it hidden because someone, somewhere will judge it to be more and try and create trouble. Yet if he goes out with one of the male parishioners nobody bats an eyelid...

      Delete
  9. Sadly it's no wonder there are people out there who think all priests are filth . I am no fan of priests the most of them are trash . There are some good priests out there who are decent people but the vast majority of the good guys know who and where the rotten lot are but they sit on ther hands and do nothing . I know they have there livelihoods to think of ect . When a good priest sits back and says nothing is he really a good priest ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When a "good" priest sits back and does nothing he cannot be a good priest.

      "For evil to succeed all that is necessary is that good people do nothing".

      Delete
  10. Perhaps many good priests do attempt to do something but are ignored. This is entirely understandable when you consider that the evidence to date suggests that the Bishop will not act on complaints. On the other hand the Bishop may be doing plenty but we just can't know about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the case of Ciaran Dallat is a very recent example of how Bishop Treanor deals with complaints and errant priests.

      Dallat had been to Treanor and told him that he had an affair. But Dallat did not tell Bishop Treanor about the pregnancy and loss of the baby. When "Linda" told Bishop Treanor about the baby and miscarriage he said he was shocked and told her that Dallat had not told him of the pregnancy.

      Yet in spite of lying (or with holding) such vital information Bishop Treanor wants to reinstate Dallat after 12 months - when there is no indication that Dallat has changed his ways at all!

      Bishop Treanor does not seem to take such serious complaints seriously and is obviously more concerned about keeping priests than how they behave,

      Would he not be better with FEWER priests who he could trust?

      He also has many of the other cases mentioned above on his desk and has had representations and delagations from parishes.

      His answer to date is to do what the bishops of abusers did in the past - move them to a new parish - where they begin their activities all over again!

      Has Noel Treanor being asleep as this scandal sweeps the Catholic world?

      Delete
    2. When Father Dallat told Bishop Treanor - a year before the scandal broke - that he had an affair with a woman why did the bishop not contact the woman to see if she was allright or needed help?

      Would a good bishop - with the care of all the souls in his diocese - not have done that?

      Or did Bishop Treanor just hope that it would not come back to bite him and Dallat?

      Belfast Counsellor.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous at 13.21. Yup. You pretty much have it in your final sentence...

      Delete
  11. I can honestly say, as a priest, I know absolutely NOTHING about the cases outlined above - except for the few that were reported in the press.

    I am not "filth" or "trash" and I do my best to live a good life and serve the people. Anytime I have encountered badness among clergy (not often) I have reported it to the bishop and other authorities.

    I am not going to annoy the bishop, however, over hearsay and tittle tattle.

    God bless Bishop Noel. He has my total support and I have always found him to be a very honourable and decent man.

    If the above cases listed in his article by Fr Buckley are true then God help us. These men who are behaving in such a flagrantly immoral way must think themselves untouchable. They are not. They will be found out. Hopefully soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Father, I must accept what you say as true - that you know NOTHING.

      However the whole Down and Connor presbyterate is alive with talk of most of these situations.

      You are either a genuine "innocent abroad" or your fellow priests think that you are too innocent and fragile to share their news and thoughts with.

      I would never use the word "filth" or "trash" myself - but it just shows the anger some are feeling that they resort to such horrible words.

      I hope you agree that the situations above - to which I can put names and the evidence of victims - are not "hearsay" or "tittle tattle"?

      Its not a question of them being found out very soon. Bishop Treanor ALREADY knows about them and has even met their victims and scandalised parishioners.

      How do you explain that?

      Delete
    2. I'm finding myself rather torn, here, at the thought of people claiming not to know anything at all about the mire of wrongdoing engulfing religious institutions. I think because so many clerics have *claimed* not to know that anything was going on, it is difficult to conceive that any adult could be in the position of not seeing or being protected, but of course it does seem to happen. The danger, of course, is that these innocents are vulnerable to having the wool pulled over their eyes by the devious or even organised paedophile rings.
      Perhaps mandatory pre-seminary training should include work in prison, hospitals, pubs and so on?

      Delete
    3. Well - Father James Donaghy of HM Maghaberry pulled the wool over the eyes of many for years.

      In a different way Father Ciaran Dallat pulls wool over eyes. He seems to have knitted Bishop Treanor a jumper with no hole for the head in it!

      Delete
    4. Pat, I have no explanation for what you have highlighted and I accept the information you have posted in good faith.

      I have no idea if my fellow clergy consider me an "innocent abroad" or "fragile". I simply know absolutely nothing about priests posting on gay websites, a priest assaulting a young man he is supposed to be counselling, a priest having a gay affair with a married man, etc. These things are SHOCKING!

      Does our bishop not realise this is all going to explode and it will be the priests who are trying to be faithful to the Lord who will suffer the most? To say nothing of the victims of these offences and the good, faithful Catholic people who will, yet again, be scandalised!

      There are sure to be journalists taking a keen interest on what is unfolding on your website and it is only a matter of time until there is another exposé in the Sunday World or Sunday Life. I am at a loss.

      Pastor Ignotus

      Delete
    5. Dear Pastor Ignotus, I promise you faithfully that I have only posted items that I can back up by listening to victims and some small number of priests.

      Bishop Treanor knows from the explosion about Father Dallay in SUNDAY LIFE that these others situations will explode in due course. But he seems, for some inexplicable reason, to be prepared to sit nursing the bombs until the go off?

      I can assure you that all these situations, and others, are known to journalists, who, as we speak, are making their enquiries so that when they publish they can back up what they will say with facts, evidence and witnesses.

      Each time one of these things explode damage is done to the Church.

      And more damage is done when people discover the bishop knew and did nothing except move the offending priest to a new playground.

      I can also tell you that the Vatican IS aware of the state of things in D&C.

      Delete
  12. Bishop,
    Do you believe as I do - that some of your contributors are in need of serious - probably - psychiatric aid???
    Pip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pip, some out there think that I am in need of serious psychiatric aid :-)

      But I see what you are getting at - how can intelligent people convince themselves that these problems do not exist.

      I do not know what the cure for DENIAL is.

      "There are none so blind as those WHO DO NO WISH to see"

      Delete
    2. Its like the old parish priest in the days it was a sin to eat meat on a Friday frying a steak on a pan and repeating the words: "Its a fish....Its a fish....Its a fish.....

      Delete
  13. Bishop
    'Moral filth - Christ betrayer - this is the mentality I refer to.
    What have you to say to these illogical, irrational and CONDEMN everyone types without basis?
    Pip

    ReplyDelete
  14. I do think those words are extreme and lack charity. You will see I blocked a previous comment from them.

    However I also understand that people's hurt, anger and disappointment is so great that they sometimes resort to tough words.

    People handle anger differently.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thus he/she needs help!
    Thus a soul-destroying, tortuous, permanently damaging condition!
    I have, of course, no way of knowing what caused this condition!
    This person is in a seriously critical condition.
    Pip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well there is such a thing as JUSTIFIED ANGER - Christ beating the money changers out of the temple.

      Of course if one's anger is consuming their life then perhaps some kind of counselling might be helpful.

      I don't think that psychiatry today lists anger as a mental illness in its handbook the DSM V.

      Although I would imagine that some forms of anger could lead to other problems.

      Delete
    2. Dear Bishop,
      Chronic anger - prolonged - can impact on the immune system and be the cause of mental problems!
      At the moment I am a long way from my books - but please check out psychguide on your computer.
      Inconsiderate is person to be in a critical condition - possibly if not probably suicidal!'
      He/she needs urgent an immediate help!
      This person obviously trusts you. Please invite him/her to come and talk to you. You could possibly save a life and prevent further trauma!!!!!
      Pip

      Delete
    3. Pardon me, Bishop,
      79 years old - not used this tech stuff.
      Line 5 should read - I consider this person to be .....
      Apologies

      Delete
    4. Don't worry. I make plenty of typos myself :-)

      Delete
  16. Not all anger is sinful. Justifiable anger is part of the makeup that we receive from God. If God didn’t exhibit anger, then He would not be able to correct the heart of man. It is when we don’t examine ourselves and deny that we are living in sin that God then steps in and judges us. If I get angry because someone has broken down or violated my boundaries and I want to get even. That is unrighteous anger; it is when we want to punish the person for what they have done to us. The way to dissipate it is to hand the right of judgement of it over to the Lord. I have no right to judge anybody. If I hold on to and keep fuelling my anger it will affect me emotionally, physically and relationally and I will then end up with deep depression and even contemplate murder or suicide.
    There is a difference between punishment and discipline. If I get angry and get my own back on someone verbally or physically for what they have done that is punishment, but if I hit you verbally or physically when I am not angry nor upset emotionally, then that is discipline. Discipline will never wound you, but punishment will. If you have been abused by someone you have a right to hand that over to a court to do the punishment, but you do not have the right to punish the person because that would be taking the law into your own hands and that would be unrighteous anger.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How about - "Turn the other cheek." - doesn't look like God appreciates anger of any sort!
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We only have 4 cheeks :-)

      What do you do the FIFTH time someone hurts you?

      Delete
    2. Kick them in the nuts and run :-)

      Delete
    3. Actually, the bible tells us to get angry, but don't sin or else you will give the Devil a foothold. This quote came from a man who was an atheist. He had been on this ship and he saw in the life of a crew member, something that he couldn't account for and his final comment was this. "I would never have opened a bible, but I could not help reading the life of this man. His life eventually convinced me that there must be a God".
      What was the bible that convinced him? Not a bible printed with black marks on white paper, but a bible of flesh and blood in the life of a man who lived out his faith in just being good.
      A final thought: - your life may be the only bible that someone will ever read. What will they read on the pages of your life if they were to read it today?

      Delete
    4. And how about - seventy times seven times????
      Armagh Sam

      Delete
    5. Of course. How could I disagree.

      Delete
    6. Armagh Sam, are you an incorrigible idiot? I am the commenter to whom some posts have addressed advice.

      How can one forgive when forgiveness has not been asked? (Believe me when I tell you that I am exercising monumental self-restraint when addressing self-righteous fuckerz like you.)

      Delete
    7. Jesus's words - seventy times seven times - not mine!
      Was he crucified by people just like you?
      The question was - how often must I forgive my enemy - seven times?
      It would help ��as MMM suggests that you give some sort some sort of monicker - who are we dealing with?
      Sam

      Delete
    8. Would like to know what I have said that offends you???
      Would help!
      Sam

      Delete
    9. Bishop,
      If I were in charge of this blog I would bar any contribution containing coarse, crude and very unnecessary obscenities

      Delete
    10. I would never be so arrogant as to offer advice to anyone - even if they asked I would be careful!
      If they didn't ask I would stay clear!
      Sam

      Delete
    11. Even Bishop Buckley - and I assume you trust him agrees with me - above 19.43.
      Sam

      Delete
    12. Sam, How could I even want to disagree with you when you quote Jesus.

      But I'm sure you will agree that dealing with an abusing priest is not just about forgiveness.

      Delete
    13. I have no problem with forgiveness - to forget - for me and I regret it is a very different matter!
      I endeavour to be reasonably polite with such people - but stay clear of them as much as possible! They will never again get into my confidence!
      I do agree with your contributor - please block anyone who stoops to obscenities.
      And can you, perhaps, enlighten me - what does the foul language person find offensive in what I wrote!
      I am reasonably intelligent - his attitude is beyond me!
      Best wishes to you both!!!!

      Delete
    14. Can someone out there, Bishop or the bad language user enlighten me?
      Sam!

      Delete
    15. STILL NO ANSWER??!!
      Seem to me that if you reject the words of Jesus you do have a unique problem!!!
      Sam

      Delete
    16. Still no answer from this most strange creature. Why? Has he/she eventually attained a basic degree of intelligence?
      Samples

      Delete
  18. I could right a book on the hurt done to me by priests past and present. Am sick of arrogant clergy on here taking offence at people like me having the cheek to speak out against them. We have no one to talk to because these men have left us with no one to trust.

    ReplyDelete
  19. The case is clear so what happens next apart from talk

    ReplyDelete
  20. I could right a book on the hurt done to me by priests past and present. Am sick of arrogant clergy on here taking offence at people like me having the cheek to speak out against them. We have no one to talk to because these men have left us with no one to trust.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Pat, the priests listed above in your article "Down and Connor Crisis", on account of their offences, are "dead men walking":

    a priest who uses his position of trust in a counselling situation to sexually assault a young man;
    an alcoholic, psych-sexually dysfunctional man allowed to wreak havoc;

    a gay priest having an affair with a married man, etc. etc.

    These situations are inexcusable and, when (not if) they explode, there will be a devastating rain of debris upon the Church.

    Bishop Treanor, due to his incompetence and ineptitude, his inability to take decisive action, may be a "dead man walking" too. If Rome is watching this situation as you have indicated, Pat, then Bishop Treanor could soon find himself in early retirement.

    Pope Francis has shown he is not afraid to remove incompetent bishops from office. Bishops Nienstedt, Finn and Piché in the USA, for example. Pope Benedict was not slow to resign Bishops Moriarty and Murray after the Dublin Inquiry.

    Bishop Treanor needs a strong reality check and, if he seriously thinks these cases will blow over, then he is unfit for purpose. These repeated "explosions" are destroying morale and demolishing credibility. His position could very quickly become untenable.

    A pity - because he is a good man. You are left wondering, however, who is advising him? Does he take heed of advise? Is he in receipt of the same type of "advice" Sean Brady received in Armagh?

    Clergy Observer, Belfast.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I imagine the booze got Treanor long ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Booze or arrogance.

      Delete
    2. I'm told his daily wine is c £57 a bottle - ordered by the case from JN Wines in Crossgar ???

      Delete
    3. Awe the poor critter imagine £57 for a bottle of plonk . And there's us slaggin him off . We should be ashamed of ourselves . Poor noel ur welcome to have a drink with me anytime Ile go halfers with ye with a bottle of laser but since it's you Ile push the boat out and get diamond white I know you like the good stuff . You can even bring your myra hindley wig with ye

      Delete
  23. I recently had an experience involving a parish priest of relatively young age take what I and many would consider the most narrow and divisive position in relation to young people who do not attend mass that I have come across in many years. I thought we had reached a point where priests would want to embrace opportunities to involve young people who felt distant from the church and who were questioning their faith. Rather than look at ways of engaging with them he has taken the view that they don't matter if they don't go to mass. His arrogance and self importance is shocking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry that you met one of the young dinosaurs.

      But stick to your own integrity and honesty and discover that spirituality is more important than religion and priests :-)

      Delete
    2. To the post at 10.13, I'm sorry too that you had the misfortune to meet one of the several (one is too many!)arch conservative younger priests. As a man of 50 ordained 20 years I really despair when I see what type of priest is now being ordained in Ireland. They exist in every diocese and they think that only they are right in everything they say or do. Pope Benedict XVI had a huge influence on the church in a fairly short papacy - so much so that most of the men being ordained today follow his model of church. They preach sexual morality to those who care to listen, they wear the traditional Roman collar always, they barely tolerate those of us who don't subscribe to their narrow view of faith, religion & church. I feel that we have lost a whole generation of priests who are more concerned with their clerical dress! than they are with any pastoral situation they may encounter. It is deeply worrying for the future if this is the model of priesthood in the ascendency. As a church we are f*****!

      Ordinary Priest

      Delete
    3. Ordinary Priest, you are so right.

      The following is a report on Pope Francis' address on the 50th anniversary of Presbyterorum Ordinis:

      “Be careful of who you admit to the seminary,” because there could be people with mental deficiencies among the candidates to the priesthood".

      Speaking off the cuff, Francis told a story about when he taught the novices of the Society of Jesus. A “good” boy didn’t pass the psychiatrist’s test and she said to Bergoglio: “These boys are fine until they have settled, until they feel completely secure. Then the problems start".

      "Father, have you ever asked yourself why there are policemen who are torturers,” the doctor apparently asked Francis.

      The Pope told clergy that they must think twice when a young man “is too confident, rigid and fundamentalist”.

      Hence, his invitation to them to beware when admitting candidates to the seminary: “There are mentally ill boys who seek strong structures that can protect them”, such as “the police, the army and the clergy”. http://www.catholicireland.net/priesthood-treated-job-pope/

      Too confident, rigid, fundamentalist, mentally ill - are there seminarians for D&C who fit those categories?

      How good is the screening process? How qualified are those in formation in St Malachy's Seminary?

      Looking at the way some seminarians and young priests are preoccupied with their appearances - along with their rigid attitudes - is a recipe for disaster in the future.

      One thing is certain - these mincing little queens will be performing to empty churches. But it will spell disaster for the Church's mission and work. Concerned Lay woman.

      Delete
    4. That's typical of a recently ordained priest up here in the north coast . He preaches like it was the victorian times and if jesus met him in the street he wouldn't speak to him . He thinks he's better than most dusnt like to speak to the unwashed . If he passed the chippy as fast as he passes the ordinary people he would be better off

      Delete
  24. Seems to me that Down and Connor is in melt down. In these circumstances, an apostolic visitation of the diocese should be undertaken by Rome.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Post 21 April 10.13am - the irony is that the same priest has regular visits from his boyfriend.

    ReplyDelete