Sunday 5 February 2017

KING PUCK'S PP

KING PUCK'S PP - FR KEVIN MC NAMARA

Father Kevin McNamara is King Puck's parish priest in Moyvane in Co. Kerry. He is an interesting, occasionally controversial man - BUT WITH VERY STRONG IDEAS ABOUT HOW CHRISTIANS AND PRIESTS SHOULD BEHAVE.

In a recent parish newsletter he said:

"I believe He wants us simply to practise our Christianity not just in Church but out there in the real world in whatever situation we happen to find ourselves in.  All the more so if by reason of our position we happen to be situated on some ‘hilltop’ where all can see us and where people look to us for light and not for darkness.

He then went on to say what is EXPECTED OF A PRIEST:

"IF I’M A PRIEST, WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME? 

That I would practise what I preach and I am guided by Church teaching.   And so the list can go on and on as how best to practise our Christianity.  How we can be ‘salt’ and how we can be ‘light’ among those we come in contact with daily.  The Gospel is about quality of life or goodness.  But my goodness must not be a put-on thing in which I seek to bring glory to myself.  Every Parish in Ireland needs Christians who remain Christians".

From those comments I imagine we can imagine what he thinks of:

Gaynooth
Jock Straps
Grindr, Growlr, Scruff, 
etc

He also quite honestly published in a recent parish newsletter his yearly salary which he announced as being Euro 28,000

Last month Father McNamara lodged a complaint with RTE over a comedian on the LATE LATE SHOW who described the Eucharist as "HAUNTED BREAD".

He said he was deeply hurt by that expression. 

During last Lent he greeted his parishioners arriving for Mass with the greeting below:



Father McNamara is a senior member of the Kerry Presbyterate into which it is proposed to ordain King Puck.

If he wants to be consistent in his Christian witness he must speak out about things that are wrong in his own Diocese as well as things that might be wrong in RTE.

Surely any priest who is in a gay sauna from 10 pm Saturday night until 4 am Sunday morning and then stands up and celebrates Mass at 10 am on the same Sunday is disrespecting the Eucharist even more than the comedian on the Late Late calling it haunted bread?

You would expect little else from Ryan Tubridy & Co.

But from a priest?

I am emailing Father McNamara a copy of this Blog and will ask him for a response to it.

Will Father McNamara put his money where his mouth is or will he be another who is "sixpence each way"

- one rule for priests and one for the Catholic in the pew?

I really hope Fr McNama is different.

75 comments:

  1. Hasn't a PP a role in an ordinand's ordination? Isn't he asked a question by the bishop during the ceremony? Isn't it something along the line of, 'Do you judge him to be worthy?'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is sometimes the PP and sometimes a seminary staff member.

      I wonder what Fr McNamara thinks of Puck?

      Delete
  2. Rasharkin Priest goes awol again...

    Sadly, parishioners in Rasharkin have been left gobsmacked by the news that their stand-in missionary priest, Fr Brian Kane, has been "recalled" by his SMA order and will not be returning to Rasharkin.

    Fr Brian took a 3 week break at the beginning of January 2017 to re-visit his Zambia missionary area. He took with him lots of money recently raised in the parish for the missions. He was expected back on 31 January, however, at the Wednesday novena mass on 1 February, the stand-in priest , Fr McNally, stated that Fr Kane had been "delayed".

    Rasharkin parishioners were gobsmacked at mass on sat 4 Feb to be told that fr kane had been recalled to SMA.

    Is it common for a priest in his 70's who had come home from the missions to be recalled?

    Bishop Treanor will have to get his finger out and get the parish a new permanent pp. Shouldn't be too difficult as the small parish has a weekly collection of well over £1000.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Something sounds "not right" about the manner and timing of Fr Kane's recall.

      1. Why did it happen so suddenly?

      2. Why did it not happen as part of the summer clerical changes?

      Personally I smell a rat!

      Delete
    2. I smell a rat too about Rasharkin. Something definitely not right there. The people of that parish need an explanation - and fast!

      They have already suffered enough at the hands of the previous incumbent. Fr Kane was getting on very well with the people in Rasharkin. Something very fishy afoot.

      I tell you another "rat" I smell, Pat.

      Someone posting on your blog yesterday about "such a story", in regard to a priest they named - a PP in Down and Connor and asking if they could email you and no further word from he/she/it.

      A very smelly rat - a vindictive and malicious person making mischief for an innocent priest methinks!

      You shouldn't have published the name, Pat, without being sure that there is a problem about which people need to know. To have done so is dangerous, very unwise and potentially damaging to an innocent priest - and also to you. You need to correct urgently such abuses on your blog.

      Delete
    3. Thank you for your insight and advice.

      I have NEVER ONCE heard a negative story about the priest mentioed yesterday.

      Delete
  3. You'll have a long wait for any response

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  4. Out there in the real world...I hate that phrase sometimes used by priests. The indication is that the priests are in there in their own world I suppose some are. As for Ryan Tubridy. How does he fit into all of this? Haunted Bread-I agree totally inappropriate. Muslims would beat the door down for much less and they would be right most of the time. Does Dublin 4 think it's cool to laugh at Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Such expressions as 'Haunted Bread' are best ignored, not least because they make absolutely no logical sense. What is it supposed to mean?

      If this was some third-rate comedian's best effort at raising a laugh, then we now know why he or she is third rate.

      As for falling into a fit of pique over use of the phrase on national television, stop being so immature and giving the phrase and that comedian the 'oxygen of publicity'. Do you really think Jesus is all worked up about its use? Then go and do likewise.

      Delete
    2. Sean, are you really proposing that Catholics react with violence when others disagree with or ridicule their beliefs? I think you take offence too readily.

      Delete
    3. 10.40 Are you interpreting that all Muslims would react violently to every challenge? Really! Beware the stereotype.

      Delete
  5. For this man to be taken seriously and have any credibility he must speak out on the subject of Deacon Jones and make a statement.

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    Replies
    1. Jesus was laughed at and mocked while on the earth. The fact that it still goes on is simply a continuation. Comedians are not the greatest enemy Christianity has. Maybe the "enemies within" are the greater danger?

      Delete
    2. Sean
      Actually, you created the stereotype: "Muslims would beat the door down for much less and they would be right most of the time"#My question was whether you believed Catholics should respond to challenges in the same way.

      Delete
  6. PRIEST: Most Reverend Father, Holy Mother Church asks you to ordain Sean, our brother, to the order of Priesthood

    BISHOP: Do you know him to be worthy?

    PRIEST: After inquiry among the Christian people and upon the recommendation of those responsible for his training, I testify that although he was having relationships with other men and while he deceived and manipulated us all,he has been found worthy

    BISHOP: Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ (and the requirement of a few people to keep quiet), we choose Sean, our brother, for the Order of the Priesthood

    CONGREGATION: God help us all. no really, God help us all!

    ReplyDelete
  7. and that will be the cringe moment at ordination. that question 'has he been found worthy' and the priest will say yes. I pity the man whose forced to conform his worthiness.

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  8. Thats a really horrible font you have used for that post Pat. It makes the post look frivolous and not serious. Please change back to Times New Roman as soon as you can. Its also beret difficult to read. Thanks Pat.

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  9. Perhaps he has already made his view known, but I think it is highly unlikely that he will be doing so by way of reply to your email. Which basically sounds like a threat - if you don't protest against this Deacon in the way that I like, then I shall judge you to be an unworthy parish priest and shall condemn you on my blog. The PP might well have decided to protest in other ways, and that is entirely his choice - he is under no obligation to reply to a public forum nor is he obliged to respond to peremptory demands from someone who is not a member of the same Church. Can you imagine a Church of Ireland minister making such a demand?

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    Replies
    1. The question is: "Is Fr McNamara consistent on those who bring the Eucharist into disrepute".

      Delete
  10. I'm not sure I could contain my laughter at this point of the liturgy. all eyes to the floor.

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  11. even 28,000 seems a lot for a single man with no wife, kids or mortgage. There are people living on a lot less, i.e pensioners. so much for sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. More. keep all you have, accumulate the the wealth and look after number 1.

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  12. Pat, whats the story about "the stories" raised on yesterday's blog about a PP at 14:19?

    Did the anonymous person email you to substantiate raising the man's name?

    Should his parishioners be concerned?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, you have published that priest's name with an anonymous and unsubstantiated allegation that there are "stories" and "such a story" about him.

      Normally, on your blog, a "story" about a priest is not to his credit. There has never been any suspicion about the priest who was named. He is a conscientious and good priest. How can you justify this slurring his character and reputation?

      It is totally unacceptable and unworthy of a Christian. You really must intervene when it comes to anonymous persons naming names of priests, seminarians, or others. Otherwise, your blog will lose all credibility, as it will become a place where every crank and malcontent can name whomsoever they like, for any reason whatsoever, with a view to casting suspicion on them.

      This hurts innocent people. How can you stand over this and allow it to happen? Someone is going to sue you, if you keep permitting this and that will be the end of you and this blog.

      Seriously Pat. You need to address this. These comments are considered by you for publication. You must stop people naming names and tell them to contact you privately if there is a concern about an individual. Otherwise, anything goes and slander is perpetrated.

      Delete
  13. It is unutterably vile, despicable, and extremely malicious to post such a comment as this.
    If some sicko takes a dislike to someone - priest or otherwise - what is there to prevent him/her to ask '... Have you heard stories about....???' Thus sowing seeds of suspicion among those who go ga-ga to hear some potential scandal?
    Bishop, wise up on this stuff!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At 12:19, I 100% agree. Totally wrong and unacceptable.

      The priest named is an exemplary person. Bishop Buckley needs to exercise a bit of sense, otherwise any headcase out there can say whatever the hell they like, about anyone they want, just for the craic! Disgraceful.

      Pat, you should apologise to Fr Sheehan.

      Delete
    2. What's to stop every head-the-ball in the country coming on to this blog and saying "did you hear the story about Fr xxxx?" and just leaving it there without further comment??

      A decent priest's good name and reputation has been impugned on this blog by an anonymous, vague and unsubstantiated comment yesterday. Comments are published with Pat's "approval". How can you justify this, Pat?

      Delete
    3. Pat, I am very disappointed that you published that anonymous slanderous remark about Fr Pat. You have gone down in my estimation. You are damaging the good work you are doing by allowing nuts and gossips to say what they like without any prospect of them being held to account. You need to censor comments with a view to charity, justice and truth.

      Delete
    4. Somebody on the Blog said are the stories about Fr Xxxx true.

      Thats all.

      The stories that he going to be the new auxiliary bishop of Down and Connor?

      The stories that he is being moved to Raskarkin?.

      The stories that he won the lotto?

      The stories that he is tge best priests in the diocese?

      NOBODY has said ANYTHING NEGATIVE against him.

      Delete
    5. Come off it, Pat. When someone writes on your blog, "have you heard the stories about Fr Xxxx?", its usually not "stories" about the long hours he spends on his knees in front of the Tabernacle, or his legendary devotion to Our Lady!!!

      I am glad you removed the comment but the damage is done. Please learn from this and stop recklessly publishing names and/or indiscriminately approving and publishing anonymous posts such as the one you have just removed.

      It is a grave injustice and very destructive of innocent people. It also undermines your proper pursuit of those who DO have cases to answer.

      Delete
    6. Very much agree with 14:47.
      Bishop, anyone with a minimum of wit will realise that your comments at 14:07 are a very poor attempt at an excuse for this atrocious blunder.
      We are not so naive - and you most certainly are not so naive!

      Delete
  14. Can anyone explain why priests in the South (where from what I hear congregations are smaller that in the North) get paid so much more than in the North? A PP in many Northern dioceses gets about £9000-£10000 a year plus accommodation. Car comes out of that money. It seems like a huge discrepancy. I've heard a lot of people on this blog talking about priests going after the money but honestly in the North, generally speaking, they don't get that much.

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  15. King Puck looks way better in his jock strap than fully dressed. He's not the fittest looking deacon in the seminary and could lose a few pounds but he has a sexy body. Love the body hair. I'd love to see him model that jock for me!!!

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  16. I think you'll find it's alot more than 10k it closer to 18 to 20k for a PP and 15 for a CC but its all under public declaration or at least some of the gifts and tokens are declared.

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    Replies
    1. My understanding id 24k for pp and 22 k for curate with other benefits?

      Delete
    2. £1350 for a PP and £1250 for a CC - per month - in D&C.

      Delete
    3. Pat, I really think any mention of salaries/stipends for clergy is very misleading as to what they live on, which is the endless gifts in cash or kind from the faithful, the majority of which will never be declared in any way.
      Apart from cash gifts, literally every time a parishioner buys a meal, drink, or other gift for a priest, that represents something they don't have to buy for thrmselves.

      Delete
    4. I agree. Many priests get many gifts from people. I did.

      Delete
  17. Pat do you get any pension from the church? or financial help. didn't the Diocese update your entire house?

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    Replies
    1. I have received NOTHING from the Church since July 1986 - over 31 years ago.

      The Church did renovate the property in which I live - a property that belongs to it. Apart from any unusual circumstances - and there were some - canon law requires bishops to keep church assets in good order.

      Delete
    2. In response to some readers concerns I have removed yesterdays one line question / comment about a pp and stories.

      For the record let me say that I have never heard any negative stories about the person in question. In fact a Catholic teacher told me that he is the best priest in that area of the diocese.

      Delete
  18. Out of curiosity was it was ratzinger who dealt with your case.

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    Replies
    1. I have NEVER had any communication about what you.call my "case" with ANYONE in Rome.

      Delete
    2. Don't think dealing with headers was Ratzinger's department!

      Delete
  19. So no one ever officially told you that your excommunicated?

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    1. Excommunication in pats case was automatic. He chose to be excommunicated.

      Delete
    2. Excommunication means absolutely nothing to Pat.

      Pat sees the Church / World as the Family of God and God is not in the business of putting people out of his family.

      We are not even free to put ourselves out of it.

      If anything being rejected by one of the most corrupt institutions in history must surely be a compliment?

      Delete
    3. Why are you concerned with it then? Why don't you just forget it and move on to pastures new, and let those who choose to remain worry about it. It really isn't your business anymore, or that of anyone else outside the Church, unless of course criminal matters are involved.

      Delete
    4. Er, 18:44, that's what corruption usually means...criminal matters.

      Delete
    5. Where is excommunicated to be found in Scripture? If you have the chapter and verse please enlighten me. Divis Deirdre

      Delete
    6. Division Deirdre, Excommunication is found in Matthew 18:15-18. The Lord advises how to deal with sin and discipline in the Church. If a person persistly refuses to accept correction, he/she is to be cut off from the community and treated "like a pagan".

      Delete
  20. +pat you come across as very angry and abrupt in your replies on this blog :(

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    Replies
    1. Sorry. Just keeping answers to the point. Dont mean to be short. Certainly not angry or abrupt.

      Am in bed with the flu though :-)

      Delete
    2. Hope you feel better soon.
      Glad you did the right thing and removed that name.
      Something some readers of this blog don't understand is that the way the church treats people screws them up. Anger and bitterness are to be expected. Obviously I'm not referring to you Pat, but some of these people should try living with the nightmares and flashbacks. And before anyone says people should toughen up, it is just as damaging to be told that your experience wasn't that bad and you should just snap out of it.

      Delete
    3. I still have nightmares about how I was treated in two parishes.

      Delete
  21. £1350 for a PP and £1250 for a CC - per month - in D&C.

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    Replies
    1. Are there any extras - Mass stipends, sacrament stipends, house, housekeeper, car, car loan, Christmas / Easter dues etc?

      Just wondering.

      In my time there was no set £1250.

      Delete
    2. it is £650/700 a month for a CC in other parts of the north

      Delete
    3. This is a fairly recent development, Pat. No Christmas or Easter dues anymore. There are stipends, though these vary. Parish pays for housekeeper's wages. Car costs, food bills are your own responsibility. Everyone is paid the same amount now in D&C, from a common fund, so that guys in "wealthy" areas have no advantage over those in "poor" parishes.

      Delete
    4. Accurate information on this vexed question could be easily obtained.

      Today's £1250 would have been £600 in 1986 money.

      Every diocese has its own system but the bottom line is that priests get what their parishioners give them - through the stipend collections, as Mass offerings, at Baptisms, wedding and funerals.

      Priests in a diocese with large areas of urban poverty will not be nearly as well off as those in more advantaged rural dioceses. If there is a moral issue here it is surely about what we do with our money rather than how much we have coming in.

      Are there really priests who joined up for the money? They must be of less than average intelligence. I would never have made it as a brain surgeon or a nuclear physicist but had I passed my years as a mediocre teacher or a minor civil servant I would now be enjoying a comfortable retirement. I admit to a modest bank balance. If I escape the nursing home it will go to Trocaire.

      Delete
    5. Some priests join up and stay for God and others.

      Others join up for diverse reasons.

      Some join up for a bit of prestige, power and handy life.

      One thing is certain - the quality of candidates these days is very poor in comparison.

      There are people being ordained today that would not have been ordained before.

      Delete
    6. I am not sure the calibre of candidates was ever particularly high. When we look at the mess we are in, who caused it? The men who were in seminary in the 1960s, 70s and before. So today's candidates might not be up to much but the candidates of the past were not exactly Ireland's brightest and best either. And if the priests ordained in years gone by were so spiritual and such shining lights of faith, it is highly unlikely we would have seen the collapse of faith the way we have.

      It is simplistic to blame it all on the scandals -the reason for the collapse of the Church in Ireland isn't the scandals though they played a key part in undermining the moral authority of the Church. The real reason for the collapse is that people don't believe in God; or if they do believe in God, they don't believe in revealed religion; or if they believe in revealed religion, it is often syncretic, mixed and matched according to choice. And that lack of faith has been caused or at least assisted and accelerated by the almost complete absence of catechesis and evangelism by priests for close to 50 years.

      Delete
    7. In the more regimented days in many seminaries and noviciates you only had to have the learning ability (and of course many never got there because they couldn't manage Latin and more importantly, conform.
      You just had to do what you were told. It is striking how similar to the alleged current regime at Maynooth this is - if the seminary staff and others see the right things you're in.

      Delete
  22. As a matter of interest, when you ordained Mother Frances, what formation was she given that satisfied you that she was a suitable candidate for ordination? Did you request any kind of background checks or psychological assessments?

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    Replies
    1. Mother France was 68, had lived as a wife and mother, worked on the streets of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, had been an enclosed nun, was an expert on religious iconography, and at the time of her ordination was a
      official hermitess of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesborough in England. Furthermore he call was to be an enclosed hermit priest praying and celebrating Mass for what she called THE SUFFERING WORLD.

      How I wish modern candidates had a fraction of her spirituality and intellect.

      Next year she will be 20 years ordained and still lives her hermit priest life without a hint of scandal.

      I'm afraid you have picked on the wrong one here my friend.

      She is a trillion Light Miles from the Gorgeous's and King Puck's.

      Delete
    2. I dint ask the question but I have to say You didn't answer the question you were asked , now you sounding like a politician,

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    3. What's your agenda as it's pretty aggressive.

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    4. The background checks and psychological checks on Puck and Byrne have clearly worked and they haven't been ordained Priests yet.

      Delete
  23. It was my opinion that sufficient formation was in place for life as a HERMIT priest.

    Maybe you think I should have enlisted her on Grindr?

    As the ordaining bishop I was satisfied that she was worthy.

    In 20 years I have not been proven wrong.

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  24. God Bless Mother Francis-a credit to us all

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