Saturday 22 July 2017

APPROPRIATE TOUCHING AND SAFEGUARDING



THE ABOVE PICTURE SHOWS THE RC BISHOP OF KILDARE HAVING A PICTURE TAKEN IN LOURDES WITH A YOUNG PILGRIM.

It was sent to me by an Irish priest who has been trained in safeguarding and the priest in question said that he was asure that Denis Nulty was doing nothing wrong but still thought that he was straying very near to the borders of what strict safeguarding people might call inappropriate touching - or touching that could be misconstrued or misrepresented by third parties.

The priest included a second, zoomed picture of the encounter.



Denis Nulty is one of those new  (some would say uber trendy) breed of Irish bishops that like to be "one of the lads".

Like Amy in Armagh he likes to wear a base ball cap and he also likes to dress in coloured shirts and even khaki shorts.

He he is with our friend Gorgeous at a recent World Youth Day event:


Unfortunately because of the recent history of the Catholic Church, the scandals, the claims and counter claims, good safeguarding procedures suggest that bishops and priests not only do no wrong but need to be very careful not to leave themselves and their actions open to suspicion.

In the old days it was called "admiratio" - the causing of "speculation" or "wonder".

Of course we do not want to go back to the old days of John Charles McQuaid &Co when bishops were feared and were so aloof as to be totally unreal.

But do we really need to get to the days of the base ball cap, the khaki shorts and the "one of the lads" bishops. 

Denis has something about hats:



XXXXXXXXXXX


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We will not win people - and young people - over by becoming Bishop Trendy or Father Trendy.

People are impressed by SUBSTANCE and not by GIMMICKERY.

And there is always safeguarding.

"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion". 


DIOCESE OF MEATH

I spent two days in the Diocese of Meath this week at the invitation of some of the people and two priests who wanted to talk about Meath.



I had one meeting in Trim and another one in Navan.




People's concerns were with regard to Maynooth and a small number of priests with Maynooth "connections".

They also felt that their diocese was very money orientated.

I am a native of Meath diocese - from Tullamore in Co. Offaly and I was always aware of the money thing.

But nothing prepared me for the Parochial House in Navan - its size and grandeur.



There are four priests living in the house.


Frs Robert, Louis, Kevin & Declan



59 comments:

  1. An excellent blog today, Pat and I agree with every word. People in authority have to be careful not only to be correct in their dealings with others-- particularly the young - - but also have to be SEEN to be correct. Misunderstandings can easily happen if you forget this sage advice!

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  2. What's with the flowers on the windowsills?

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  3. That's some Parochial House. From Maynooth I remember Fr Declan Hurley (who as a young priest got himself a soft job as chaplain at the Irish College, Paris). He was musical.

    Fr Robert ("Bullfrog") McCabe was, I thought, a chaplain in the Irish Army so he may not even live in that mansion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Madam so are so out of touch. mc'cabe was rushed out of gormanstown army base. after his " friend" in the air corps was cashiered out of service. so much for separation of church and state

      Delete
    2. I honestly thought you were bullshitting Pat over Meath. I kept asking you about Meath. I have to give you 100% for following it through. I doubted you, glad to see you and your security man.



      Delete
    3. They all look musically inclined.

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    4. Let's visit the Junior Infirmary22 July 2017 at 10:23

      Revs McCabe and Hurley were stalwarts of the College Chapel Choir, under the skilled direction of Eamon Martin, who was Director of Sacred Music (ad tem). Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive. But to be young was very heaven.

      Delete
  4. How much does your security cost? I wouldn't want to pick a fight with him whoever he his.



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  5. Pat, I was very sad about todays blog.I didn't know you needed security. I understand you need protection, his he issued with a weapon?

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  6. Innuendo and suggestion are easy and in a climate such as ours, soft targets can be picked off without difficulty. One has to ask about the itentions of the person who sent the pic to you and about your own in setting it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Innuendo is the leading Italian suppository brand.

      Delete
  7. Honi soit qui mal y pense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And he who dismisses it as categorically innocent is a fool.

      To make such a gesture after the torrent of sexual scandal in the Church is highly irresponsible and showing impaired judgement.

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  8. There is one priest I know who is 'touchy-feely' with young people, and it always makes me cringe. I don't think there is any sexual motive for his gestures, but it does, to me, look borderline inappropriate.

    My hands when dealing with young people? Strictly by my sides. (I'm not 'touchy-feely' anyhow: too miserable.)

    Nulty's gesture looks awful! I wouldn't place my hand like that even on my young nephews, and I love them 'to bits'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is because you are a very strange creature.

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    2. I agree totally with Magna at 08.46

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  9. I know people in Navan and they dearly love their four priests. Whoever you've been talking to in Meath are clearly not regular Mass-goers.

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    Replies
    1. It would be a neglect of episcopal duty not to report any strange goings-on, if any, in Meath on this blog.

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    2. Navan is only a small part of Meath. Whether they are mass goers or not is irrelevant.

      Delete
  10. Storm in an espresso cup

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  11. Surely there is more to this than Nultys hand. Safeguarding is extremely important but where is this story leading up to.

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  12. I work in diocesan safeguarding, the actions by this Bishop I would deem totally inappropriate. Just have the photograph taken, no need for touching.

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  13. Why was Nulty pictured squeezing young lads but not squeezing young girls, old girls or Nuns? Dirty bugger.

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  14. Who is this Nulty? The picture tells many stories! I'm shocked that a Bishop allows himself to touch anyone like that in this day and age. I wouldn't touch my own Sons or nephews in that way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two OTT reactions.
      Get a sense of proportion, madam.

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    2. I wouldn't agree such reactions are OTT. What is OTT is a Bishop pulling a young man closer to him and having his arm around his waist - that's OTT and your condoning such behaviour.

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    3. It's obvious a tall young man has been introduced to a tall cleric. Both are posing for the camera for the record in good spirits.

      How anyone can read anything else into this is merely a reflection of their own warped perspectives.

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    4. @18.48
      "..you're condoning.."

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  15. He was all over gorgeous in Krakow, couldn't get enough of him.Even put his pectoral away for him, let's pretend I'm not a Bishop, Jack, just one of the lads. Pathetic behaviour.

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  16. Is that your body guard with the Irish independent over his face
    He has a big belly, needs to address that pdq
    I only like fit looking men, me being a woman!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You only like fit looking men, do you realise how shallow and ignorant you sound? I'd rather someone that can engage with their brain unlike you.

      Delete
  17. It's not the flowers on the widow sills that bother me it's the pansie in the picture.

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    Replies
    1. You seem to be the only one on here who keeps referring to pansies. It's an outdated term that perhaps reflects your age. We don't call men pansies anymore or shirtlifters you ignorant moron.

      Delete
  18. Ment to say that you are looking good Pat. X
    But it doesn't hurt to smile and be happy
    We only live once, might as well enjoy the ride.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.

      I hate my picture being taken and always look too serious.

      Be reassured that I am very well and very happy :-)

      Delete
  19. I remember being at a concert once
    About 4 teen girls hung around the pp' s chair where he was sitting.
    Thought nothing of it, of course that was b4 the scandal.
    Times have changed, so I suppose the bishop should too.

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  20. I observed Nulty closely at Krakow World Youth Day. He seemed to like the company of the younger men. Word was that he was not nice to hotel staff?

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    Replies
    1. Presumably, they were older men.

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  21. 15 .28
    Lighten up, yes I do prefer a man who keeps himself fit.
    I have and I'm 78, that's why I'm dating a man of similar age.
    Yes yes I know obesity can be a medical prob, but if I needed a B/ g
    He would need to be fit.
    Pat, getting your photo taken is real easy...just smile and keep smiling
    Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's cocoa time for you me dearie. You should be in a nursing home, I can recommend a few that have no access to Wifi. The likes of you should be muzzled.

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    2. To poster 17.51
      How nasty and uncalled for! Shame, shame - - hang your head in shame..

      Delete
    3. Yes, those remarks, 17.51 are ageist and unacceptable. Let me tell you, they won't endear you to anyone here. We have had our fill of smart asses. Not in the least impressed...

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    4. 15.42 yesterday: laughable! You should be praying the rosary, dear great great granny! Who wants to know about you men? Go to your bed early.....

      Delete
  22. 15.28
    Forgot to say my thinking prowess is fair to middling still

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    Replies
    1. Aye lassie! - - an' you're still on the pull...!

      Delete
  23. 15 .24
    Try commenting with using derogatory words.
    I like pansys...agree not pc if referring to a person.

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  24. 16.08 I will reply as I see fit and don't need any advice from you.

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    Replies
    1. Ah! But you won't post as you see fit: Bishop Pat decides what is, and what isn't, fit for posting.

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  25. Calling any poster a moron is inappropriate

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  26. The picture was taken in a room where there were clearly other adults present as seen in the background + the photographer - to suggest/imply something inappropriate is going on is just plain wrong. That young person was in no danger. A big case oh whatabouterry!

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    Replies
    1. An youngfag or an oldfag, he should keep his hands to himself, lest there be the appearance of scandal.

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    2. Perhaps he should be handcuffed and placed in a cage lest there be an appearance of scandal. Your homophobic slurs are unworthy of you madame.

      Delete
  27. Youth 2000 'replaced' their last chaplain. Concerns of appropriateness.

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  28. That 'replacement' case merits a little research, Pat.

    ReplyDelete