Thursday 8 June 2017

CATHOLIC PROBLEMS IN WEST OF IRELAND

FOR A LONG TIME NOW various blog readers have been urging us to look at the scandals in Catholic dioceses in the West of Ireland.

People appear to be speaking about the dioceses of Tuam, Galway, Kilalla, Achonry, Elphin, Clonfert and perhaps Kilaloo and Raphoe.

I have been telling people that they need to be specific about the people involved and the situations involved. 

We have had one high profile happening in the past week with the Tuam deacon Aidan Gallagher cancelling his ordination five days before it was due to take place.

Aidan Gallagher and Archbishop Neary of Tuam

That matter now seems to be the subject of a Gardai investigation and Tuam has taken all mention and photographs of Aidan Gallagher off their website.


Someone did tell the blog that Aidan Gallagher was accepted for the priesthood by Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe who was a Tuam priest at the time and the Tuam vocations director.



Of course as we do not yet know the issue causing the Gallagher ordination cancellation we cannot say that  Fintan Monahan could have picked up on any issue.

Also of course Maynooth Seminary would have sent Aidan Gallagher for psychological assessment.

We are told that since 2008 Maynooth has been sending their seminarians to the St Luke's Centre in Manchester for assessment.


It's website says:

St. Luke’s Centre participates in the healing ministry of Christ by promoting the health and well being of Roman Catholic clergy, women and men religious, and candidates for ministry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

We work closely with dioceses and religious congregations to provide individual assessment and evaluation, candidate assessments, outpatient therapy, tailored education and wellness programmes, and conduct research.

We use our professional training and working relationships with national bodies to offer off-site diocesan/religious community-based consultation and specialized risk assessments.

The Centre is an independent facility formed at the request of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and operating in close association with Saint Luke Institute. The Centre is a registered charity, with its own board of Trustees.

We conduct our ministry in accordance with best clinical practice and in harmony with the teachings of the Gospel and the Roman Catholic Church. Our staff operates in compliance with national and international standards for specialized risk assessment and other psychological assessments.

Fr Gerard Fieldhouse - Byrne

Rev Dr. Gerard Fieldhouse-Byrne D.Min., MSW is a priest of Salford diocese. He has a Masters in Spirituality from the Angelicum University in Rome, a Masters in Clinical Social Work and a Doctorate in Counselling from Boston University, USA.  After completing his doctorate in Boston he spent two years on the staff at the Saint Luke Institute in Maryland.  He has worked in clergy support, counselling and the promotion of clergy wellbeing since 2000.  He was appointed executive director of St Luke’s Centre Manchester in 2005. 


Did Gorgeous, King Puck and Deacon Gallagher go to St Luke's for assessment?

It would be interesting to see copies of their written reports. Of course we never will. They are firmly locked away in the bishop's palaces in Dublin, Tuam and Kerry.


KILLALOE DIOCESE FINANCES:

Image result for killaloe diocese

A priest of Killaoe diocese contacted us yesterday to say that Fintan Monahan has launched an full investigation into the finances of all the parishes of the diocese after receiving some reports of irregularities.

Apparently this new financial project is not pleasing all the priests of Killaloe? 


WESTERN DIOCESES - SEXUAL ISSUES:

Reports have come in about a priest of one western diocese with a steady girlfriend and the speculation by priests and people that the priest might be the father of one of her children. I am, of course, without evidence, not publishing names.

Another report of a priest who is held in high esteem and even mentioned for a mitre being actively gay. Again not appropriate to publish names.

Another report from a former seminarian from the West who went to his bishop and told him he was gay.

The bishop answered:

"Keep your head down and don't cause any problems. If I don't get negative reports I'll forget what you told me".

So it looks as if all these issues arise in every diocese and are not just confined to Dublin, Tuam and Kerry.



READERS:

KEEP THE REPORTS COMING.

I AM COMPILING A REGISTER OF REPORTS.




Image result for keep your head down

Image result for father alan mc guckian

The new Bishop of Raphoe was appointed by Pope Francis and replaces Bishop Philip Boyce OCD.

“On the feast of Saint Columba I want to offer my sincere and prayerful congratulations to Father Alan McGuckian SJ whom Pope Francis has appointed as the new Bishop of Raphoe.

"Father McGuckian’s background in education and communications, as well as his recent immersion in pastoral planning and development with the Diocese of Down and Connor, indicate just some of the rich experiences and gifts that he will bring to his new ministry. I pray that Saint Columba and Saint Eunan will intercede for him as he takes up his new duties as bishop.
“I also want to pay warm tribute to Bishop Boyce. Bishop Philip has been a hugely supportive and dedicated member of the Episcopal Conference since his ordination as Bishop of Raphoe in October 1995. His fidelity to his roles at the Bishops’ Conference, in particular to his contributions at the Council for Clergy and the Council for Liturgy, reflected depth of thought, wisdom and selflessness.
On a personal level I have found Bishop Philip to be a prayerful and caring companion, especially when I was taking up my own episcopal responsibilities. I have always sensed his Carmelite charisms of service, contemplation and fraternity. For this generosity I wish to thank him and wish him every blessing in his new role as Bishop Emeritus.”

57 comments:

  1. A priest in diocese of Cork & Ross recently announced to his parishioners he was living with his BF! http://corkandross.org/priests/very-rev-gerard-galvin-pp/ He was appointed PP of Durrus having spent some time of reflection in San Francisco! We'll known.........

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  2. Jesus Christ! That Manchester psychological assessment centre 'conducts itself with best clinical practice and with the teachings of the Gospel and in harmony with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church'? Pardon me please while I laugh very out loud.

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  3. MournemanMichael9 June 2017 at 01:00

    Well may you laugh Magna and with justification. Exactly how best psychological and psychiatric clinical practice aligns itself with teachings of the Gospel and RC church is way beyond my comprehension.
    The cossetted cloud cuckoo world of the RC church is indeed laughable.
    MMM

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  4. New Bishop of Raphoe to be announced this morning.

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    1. Yes. A jesuit . Who would have thought that now?

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  5. I would love to know what the true attitude to the RC Church is in rural Ireland. From my experience people tended to be quiet but nobody is or was an idiot. There was a certain amount of behavior that was tolerated or ignored along with some incidents that made it into the public domain. Just wondering where things are up to now. I've been out of the country for the best part of 20 years

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    1. If you're a SilverDaddy you'll be fine with the priests and seminarians

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  6. St Luke's is not without input at Gaynooth - no surprises to find Rev Dr Fieldhouse hyphen Byrne did a workshop on human formation there:
    http://maynoothcollege.ie/seminary/2015/02/05/january-formation-workshop-facilitated-by-rev-dr-gerhard-fieldhouse-byrne-of-st-lukes/
    Incidentally it's also no surprise that the Maynooth website can't even spell Pastores Dabo Vobis. Just as a matter of interest - any Maynooth seminarians reading this, can you decline that without looking it up?

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    1. And who misspelled Pastores Dabo Vobis? Michael Collins - Director of Formation!

      If only misspellings were all seminarians had to endure under his "formation".

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    2. Sentences, clauses and phrases are not declined. You mean parse.

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    3. @ 10:52
      Wonderful thank you :-)
      Are you a seminarian?
      10:21

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    4. 'Gerard' has been made German as well. It's a bit slapdash.

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  7. ALAN MC GUCKIAN SJ NEW BISHOP OF RAPHOE.

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    1. (Sadie on the sofa) New bishop of Raphoe? - It's all a bit much on the mornin' of the election results.. You couldn't keep up with it all..

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  8. @Pat
    1. It just goes to show how stupid Amy is. The Donegal papers published the new bishop's name and Archbishop Martin's statement BEFORE Bishop Boyce made his announcement after 10am mass. Has Archbishop Martin's communications office never heard of the word 'embargo'. the press release ought to have been embargoed until after Bishop Boyce made the announcement as planned.
    2. The fake news that was mentioned on here yesterday is amusing. Someone said it is a prayerful man in his 40s who will be made bishop and they had it from the horses mouth. I wouldn't like to have been left in the sun since Alan McGuckian was in his 40s.
    3. This is obviously the first real appointment by the new regime of Pope Francis. It is without any input by the former Nuncio (and Pope Benedict appointee) Archbishop Brown.
    4. There is a dearth of suitable candidates among the diocesan clergy and going forward there will obviously be more appointments from religious orders.

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    1. Alan is 64. He will serve 11 years.

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    2. There are several excellent diocesian candidates who will be the perfect age in 11 years.

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    3. Nonetheless in the UK it's interesting the increase in religious bishops even from some of the more unusual orders like St Paul the First Hermit. There hasn't been an Oratorian bishop appointed in England for 140 years (yes I know Oratorians don't consider themselves religious - I suppose I'm broadening it to non-diocesan clergy). And bishop Hugh Gilbert was abbot of a monastery with no external apostolate.
      The other thing I think is telling is that while religious can be seen by seculars as a bit maverick, once they become bishops they're made over to look the same as the others - even at his consecration in the oratory Robert Byrne looked exactly like a sui generis bishop with none of the baroquery the oratory favours.
      Sadly long gone are the days when a religious prelate would wear the choir dress of his rank but in the colour of his order's habit. If actions speak louder than words this sameness suggests company men treading the party line. And if anyone is going to say that the pope is a breath of fresh air I won't believe you.

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  9. No one asked me his name. O silly me

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  10. Do you know the new Bishop Pat ? And what is your opinion of him. I'm sure you have one !!

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    Replies
    1. I have met him.

      I have an opinion about him.

      I will blog about it.

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  11. Paddy Powers have slashed odds from 66/1 to 8/1 that Pat Buckley will find some dirt on the new Raphoe man.

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  12. Is he's prod or a product of mixed marriage ?

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  13. Alan McGuckian is as fine a priest as there can be. He is a keen intellect with superb people skills, these combined with his rootedness in faith and prayer make him an excellent choice for Raphoe. He will be a big hit with the people, and is known to be somewhat conservative but innovative and not slow to take risks. Under his leadership the Jesuit communications Institute blossomed.
    Ad multos annos.

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    1. Are you not just saying, in another way, that he is a "company man" and "a safe man"?

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    2. Pat if by "company man" you mean a priest in loyal service to the church. Yes he is 100% if you had been so you wouldn't be excommunicate today.

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    3. Should a Christian be a "loyal servant" to a thoroughly corrupt institution?

      I would never want to be.

      We should never sell our soul to any "devil"

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    4. Well Pat, you often compare other clergy less favourably about their not believing and not praying. Well here you have a solid man with a firm life of prayer, sharp intellect, humble and very talented and competent in many areas. I'd claim this is the best appointment in a generation. May the Lord bless him!

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  14. Company man all the way for sure.

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    1. Big Hank - you are doubly certain in your view 'all the way' and 'for sure'; how do you know this? Saying as you are so sure, you would of course have chapter and verse evidence, so let's be having you, as Delia Smith would say.

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    2. Hank what faith do you practice? Pass the child protection buck?

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    3. Company of Jesus, as it was known.

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  15. Raphoe needed a change.

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    1. Yep. But they got another religious, another conservative, another faithful servant of Mother Church.

      Is that such a change?

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    2. Listen dude! Maybe you shouldn't try to fix what ain't broken! Get me?

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  16. 20 years plus is way too long for a Bishop in a diocese. The most should be 7 to 10 years then move on.

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  17. God Bless the new Bishop. He has a very difficult role ahead. As for being a company man and safe hands - thank God! Great day for the Church in Ireland.

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  18. Pat you will remember that a nun joined maynooth last year - Sr. Cait O’Dwyer RSM after all the fun. Sr Cait came from St Lukes manchester so there is another link. Have you seen the price of the evaluation Pat?

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  19. £1900 for a seminarian assessment

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    1. Plus the air fare, accommodation and other expenses x by the number of seminarians.

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    2. not to mention the questions they asked on the questionnaire. 'how do you understand homosexuality'?

      oh I dunno, I suppose when a man loves another man, they hug in a special way?

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    3. How many days do they keep you? That sounds absolute hell!

      In my time, all the seminarians were subject to different entry criteria depending on the Diocese. Some had full evaluations like mentioned, I had a 20 minute talk with a counselor one evening and others had none as their diocese wanted to wait until the candidate progressed into Theology. When the diocese decided to send me to Maynooth, I remember having to fill out all the application material again because it didn’t match what Maynooth required and had to get a full medical.

      In regards to the police check, the Diocese did their own and Maynooth did one after a few weeks in.

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    4. You could have said:"When a man puts where he goes to the toilet where another man goes to the toilet" :-)

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  20. Do the research on the place, they have been sued by men who have attended there, they were subject to an investigation

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  21. Jesus, it's not even near £1900. Cop yourself on and behave yourself.

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  22. The new Bishop taught at Clongowes for many years, the most exclusive school in the country. It costs €20k per year. Yes, I'm sure he has plenty of experience administering to the upper middle classes.
    The archbishop of Armagh was a school teacher as well. They're all teachers.
    Those who can do, those who can't teach.

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  23. @Pat the BBC report that Pope Francis made the announcement at 11am Irish time. What do you make of Archbishop Martin allowing his statement be broadcast a few hours before? Do you think he thinks he's the Pope?

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    1. Amy just loves to tweet and can't help himself :-)

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  24. Is Pope Francis going to appoint Jesuits to future diocese. Once a Jesuit always a Jesuit. Find it hard to believe this new bishop is the first Jesuit bishop in Ireland. Of course Francis is also a Jesuit.

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    1. You know Jesuits have a 4th vow of obedience to the pope?

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  25. Pat just got reading the blogs for the last couple of days. I remember Eamon Murray from Thurles, do you know the reason why he left thurles?

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    1. No. Was his seminary not in England?

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    2. What's the story with Éamon Murray?

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  26. No, ex Thurles

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  27. Killala? Pat, Pat, Pat. you could fill a summer of blogs with this diocese. I'll supply you with some info via email later.

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