Sunday 15 October 2017

WHAT IS A GOOD PRIEST



THIS BLOG CARRIES A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT PRIESTS THAT DO NOT MEASURE UP.

WE DO THEREFORE NEED TO REALISE THAT THERE ARE MANY GOOD PRIESTS OUT THERE.

WHAT IS A "GOOD PRIEST"/


A good priest is a priest who has a relationship with God and who nourishes that relationship with Mass, prayer, scripture reading and spiritual reading.

A good priest is a priest who sees himself as the friend and brother of everyone in his parish - especially those in most need.

A good priest is NOT a dictator in his parish but one who sees himself as the friend and facilitator of ALL his parishioners and who involves them in all parish decisions - great and small.

A good priest is a priest whose house has an OPEN DOOR POLICY and who is available to his parishioners 24/7 - allowing of course for a day off and his own social life.

A good priest does not have "SURGERY HOURS".

A good priest is a priest who tries to visit all the homes and families in his parish and not only the homes of the wealthy upper middle and upper classes.

A good priest is a priest who is NOT a dictator in his parish schools and who allows the principals and teachers full freedom - and who does appoint clerical cronies to teacher posts.

A good priest is not ALWAYS talking about, and asking for, money from the pulpit.

A good priest gets involved in the various activities in his area/parish as an individual and does not always have to be the chairman of everything.

A good priest is a supporter of widespread involvement of lay men and women in every aspect of parish life.

A good priest is someone who answers his doorbell or telephone when he is at home.

A good priest is not an arrogant bully at his door when someone calls.

A good priest is a priest who does not talk to callers on his doorstep but invited them inside for the business being conducted.

A good priest is a priest who takes a day or so off every week and is not missing from his parish for 3, 4, 5, 6 days a week.

I would be interested to learn what Blog readers think a good priest Is???



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FALSE GRINDR PROFILE


At present, there is a FALSE PROFILE on GRINDR that claims to be my profile. I do not know who has placed it there. I did NOT.

I have notified Grindr and the PSNI who tell me that the profile would be regarded in law as FALSE REPRESENTATION.

I suspect it has been placed there by some priest. seminarian or other, who is not happy about this Blog publishing material on Grindr vis a vie Maynooth and parish clergy etc.

I have passed screenshots of that profile to the police.

I have nothing against Grindr or indeed about the many thousands of gay men who use it - that is men who are privately/secretly being themselves are not living double lives as clergy of the RC Church who have taken a public promise/vow of chastity/celibacy.

While the profile in question does not suggest I am on Grindr looking for sex it is a false profile and carries a photograph of me that is freely available on the Internet/Google Images.

It says that I am a chaplain to the gay community - which is inaccurate - although I have and do regularly minister to members of that community - but my ministry is NOT confined to any gender/orientation.

I am not upset about the false profile. I just don't think that anyone has the right to publish false profiles.

I would ask the person who put it there to remove it. It can be traced to your IP address.


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51 comments:

  1. Consecrated Life: Religious priests are good priests in my opinion +Pat. They take three evangelical counsels or counsels of perfection. Secular priests are usually just doing a day job. You would notice that there is no 'surgery hours' at the community house. They live closer to the teaching of Jesus. If people want 'secular' jobs then they should stay within the secular environment and get real jobs. Religious priests also tend to be better educated than diocesan/secular clergy. Religious priests definitely are in a higher state of perfection. Best wishes.

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    1. Oh dear, someone doesn't really know many religious priests!

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    2. I was seduced and sexually used by a "religious priest" over a 5 year period. At the time he was also having sex with a nun and a widow. Eventually on Pats advice I arranged a meeting with his Provincial. He is still "at it" as is his superior. Fermanagh.

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    3. Where in Fermanagh is all this sex taking place???

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  2. I’m referring to the post at 15:18.

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  3. I would like to explore the term Priest. I have met many women and men in my lifetime who cultivate a great relationship with God and who are ordinary folk bringing other ordinary folk closer to God. I suppose this is the vital function of priesthood; bringing others into relationship or communion with God. John the Baptist blessed Jesus and I like this encounter because all of us can be close to the Lord and function as good priest and priestesses as the living body of Christ. On a sideline, Personally I don't call myself a catholic anymore because the Irish church hurt me deeply so a priest to me is my brother and sister in everyone. Keep up the good work btw Pat!

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  4. I am going to the funeral of our parish priest tomorrow. He was an Augustinian friar. A man of deep prayer, humility and compassion... loved by all. Before he came people made remarks..'a good man'..'a real people person'.. 'one of the good guys'. He will leave an enormous gap and we will not see his like again.

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  5. Pat you omitted a vital descriptor of a good priest.
    A good priest is one who doesn't act in a maverick fashion discarding the teaching authority of the church from which he accepted ordination in the first place.

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    1. Or - a good priest is one who is not put out of the Church for saying NO to power(Cackle Daly)?

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    2. I think Anon 09.01 fails to draw the distinction between what the church purports to be and what the church is.

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  6. It's very interesting that many of the priests that have been annihilated on this website in recent years actually fit your description of "Good"

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    1. Who do you mean? FatherRory Coyle? Father Ciaran Dallat? Father McCamley. Please tell us?

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    2. Nobody is either all good or all bad. People struggle in all walks of life.

      I accept that a priest who makes a vow or promise of celibacy may struggle with chastity, but I like +Pat, do not think it acceptable for a priest to openly disregard those vows and promises and turn to casual 'meets'. This is not a game.

      Lead by example; struggle by example - that is the calling.

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    3. A good priest is a priest who doesn't abuse children.

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    4. Good priests do not masturbate to an audience on the internet.

      Good priests do not seek 'hook ups' on Grindr, etc.

      Good priests do not send pictures of their genitalia to young men.

      Good priests do not ask young men when their mammies are out so they can call around for sex.

      Good priests do not ask for young lads mobile phone numbers, telling them not to tell their folks.

      You see where this is going, 09:11? Or do you need it spelt out for you further?

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    5. Are you human? Do you live a life free of temptation? Are you able to resist temptation? If you are then you and Pat are above the angels. And then you are free to criticize others for weakness. This life is a trial but not a court, we fall, get up and try again. Pray for those that unlike you fall, but realise unlike you they ate prone to weakness. Pat, Our Lady of La Salatte has a message for you. Read.

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    6. Would that be the same message that Our Lady of Lourdes, Knock, Fatima etc has for me?

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    7. @19.30 are you a total numpty?

      There is a difference between the man who is tempted and the man who seeks temptation. One is weak, the other exploits his weakness.

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  7. A good priest is not forever whinging about how badly he's been treated. He knew what to expect and just gets on with it, cheerful to be given a share in the sufferings of his Saviour.

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  8. There are many answers to what is a good priest. Someone who does a good job falls short of answering the question. Priesthood like all christian callings is rooted in christian community and Baptism. A priest is not a functionary who does things but a member of a believing community who journeys in faith with those they are called to serve. A model of priesthood where there is tension between priest and bishop does not help. Neither does it help that priests can be moved from parish to parish without rhyme or reason

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  9. 'Good priest'? Surely an oxymoron. (I'll wait until these 'good' priests have dipped into their dictionaries, online or otherwise.)

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  10. Oh God.. what a blog day.... at least we have hurricane Ophelia..

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  11. Aye Ophelia is just the same as the current priesthood full of wind which will gladly blow out when they die as will I.
    Even the so called good priest suffers from that fateful problem which brings him down.

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  12. Magna at 14.08. A typical, smarmy remark. Thankfully I need only witness the commitment and dedication of my local priest to know he is a genuinely goid person. Probably a good, authentic human being first and foremost who seems well balanced, understanding and caring. All age groups trust him. He quietly inspires all of us. Next time you wtite treatises on issues would you leave Wikipedia aside and use your own insights!! We can all find the information you print in Wikipedia, as I've discovered.....

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    1. My information and insights on topics about which I've commented here came from my own scholarly background.

      But you wouldn't understand.

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    2. Pomposity is not an attractive trait..

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    3. Not entirely Magna. I've read much of your long lectures elsewhere. Use your ability to learn respect for others. Otherwise be quiet.

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    4. Then don't display it, 17:42.

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    5. Magna Carta: not 'oxy' at all.

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  13. You should be thankful Ophelia is passing over fairly calmly so far
    14.14
    TBH I’ve no interest whether a priest is good or not, most of them are only interested in money and eating out at ordinary peeps expense.
    There are a few who pray, but as I stated here many times :: it’s how we live our lives, not how often we go to communion or to mass.

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    1. Three people have died as a result of the hurricane... and thousands of people are suffering with no power.. Quiet enough for you?

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  14. A so-called 'good' priest and a good person are not necessarily the same.

    I'd much rather have a good person than a 'good' priest.

    A person may not be good, but may still be described as a 'good' priest.

    Pat Buckley, in my opinion, is a good person, but he probably would not have been called a 'good' priest by the like of Cahal B. Daly.

    See the difference?

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    1. Typical and predictable MagnaCarta-ism. You cannot be a good priest if you are not a good person. Good person = Good priest. Bad person = bad priest. Vice versa and versa vice.

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    2. MourneManMichael16 October 2017 at 19:47

      Magna: To continue our discussion if I may.
      I've 'slept' on my last night's initial intention to reply on a paragraph by parag. basis, but now comment as follows.
      I think that your reply to my request for specific examples of actions taken by Pope Francis, (as opposed to his alleged perceived failures to act) falls well short of a satisfactory response. Other than referring to the appointment of Bishop Barros, I read most of your response as virtually a lecture based entirely on your beliefs and obviously strongly held opinions. While I agree with deploring homophobia and abuse of any sort, I think that your reply falls far short of the evidence of Francis's 'misdeeds' I had sought to validate your criticisms of him.

      It's very clear that you think he should have done more. And you're absolutely entitled to having that opinion respected, ... but as an opinion rather than a statement of incontrovertible validity. Similarly, others will have opinions deserving similar respect.

      Concerning opinions, and going back to the Juan Barros appointment: online info shows he had already been a bishop of the armed forces for a considerable time before his appointment to the controversial pastoral episcopacy of Osorno. The controversy appears to link to contested opinions concerning his alleged knowledge of and support of an abusing Fr Karadima. Barros contended he had no prior knowledge of the abuse.
      Whatever the actual truth is, and neither you or I possess the full facts, the weight of informed opinion does indeed suggest that Barros's appointment in the circumstances was indeed misguided.
      But the whole matter of this appointment seems essentially linked to strong opinions as to the extent of his knowledge as opposed to incontrovertible evidence, and online information indicates that those advising the Pope did not find such evidence.Nevertheless, with such opposition to his appointment,one would have thought that the Pope and his advisors certainly ought to have 'played safe' by not appointing him
      I have picked this appointment issue out, initially since you raised it, but, significantly to highlight that the whole controversy surrounding the issue was highly dependent on subjective opinions as opposed to absolute facts.
      So too Magna, in the absence of incontrovertible evidence of fact appears to be your broad and sweeping criticisms of Pope Francis. And again, I say,that as a subjective opinion you are perfectly entitled to hold such an opinion, but please do not expect other contributors to the blog to agree simply because you say so. Moreover, do not denigrate opinions different to your own.
      Magna, you have said that you care not for others' opinions. Fellow contributors, in my view, rightly object to your behaviour when you personally berate those you disagree with, or who fail to come up to your own exacting standards, knowledge and expectations. To be blunt, while I can respect your personal beliefs and opinions, I do not accept your right to make personalised derogatory comments seemingly designed to intimidate or belittle other genuinely held beliefs, their information or knowledge, however faulty these may appear to be in your eyes. Bear in mind, "De gustibus non disputandum est".
      While in your hostile retorts you appear to adopt the "nemo me impune lacessit" perogative, other readers here may think rather that "Vasa vana plurimum sonant". I don't think that always applies to you, for when you choose, you offer much that is worth considering, and I would prefer to see much more of that side.
      In the end it comes down to your motivation when posting: to provoke for the sake of it; to inform the debate that others may reflect and learn from you; exasperation at others not sharing your viewpoint and, as was suggested, to vent frustration at your talents going unrecognised?
      MMM

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    3. A very good analysis and response, MMM. Not prepare yourself for the backlash lol

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    4. MMM, we are going in circles here. I have already, more than once, provided you with actual and contrasting examples of conduct by Pope Francis that expose him as deeply hypocritical, homophobic, dogmatically ignorant, and extremely and gratuitously offensive; these are biographical facts about the man, not my speculative beliefs.

      As for Juan Barros, I was aware that he had been a bishop before the beginning of Pope Francis' pontificate; I did not say otherwise. However, Francis did approve and support this man's remaining in episcopal office, despite allegations against him of both ennabling and committing sexual abuse of children. He wasn't required even to stand down (like Cardinal George Pell) pending an investigation. This was extremely poor judgement on Francis' part, not to mention deeply unjust, especially since he had made clear his intention to deal effectively with such matters. All he succeeded in achieving here was undermining public confidence in his pontificate and in him personally.

      Quite frankly, I'm surprised to find you so obtuse. As it isn't (at least, in my experience of you) characteristic, I'm hard pressed to believe anything other than that you are simply making mischief.

      I suggest that you re-read my relevant previous comments and 'sleep' on them, because the answers you sought are already there.

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    5. MMM @ 19.47: A brilliant, cogent and logical analysis re: Magna C. You articulate what many of us feel about Magna's contributions. He is delusional and misguided in believing that he is the only "learned" one on this blog. He uses his knowledge to condescend towards others, is repugnantly intolerant, emotionally cold and judges others all too easily as being of lesser worth. His words have been racist and unnecessarily derogatory and hurtful. You are insightful when using the latin phrases re: Magna's attitude - "no one attacks me with impunity" and of those who perceive him - "much noise in empty vessels". Magna all too frequently rewrites narratives to suit his contempt for both the Church and clerics. It's his prerogative to criticise but only when he has incontrovertible evidence. Magna undoubtedly has a particular flair and talent but sadly, because of his inner frustrations, bias and prejudices - all too often - truth, justice and fairness are lost. I appreciate your very insightful contribution. Thank you MMM yet again for elucidating so clearly and comprehensively the root of Magna's problems.

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  15. Yes, pat is a good person and probably a good priest too.
    He is very honest and listens to people

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  16. I believe what makes and defines a good priest is his authentic humanity. Many priests I encounter are very "priestly" in that they strive for true holiness in prayer, reverence at mass, dress clerically and do their work with dedication. A "good" priest to me is someone with these qualities combined with a warm humanity, someone who truly understands the human condition with its fragilities, vulnerabilities and also its potential. I know priests who are clerically good priests but not necessarily good at or with their humanity. None of us personifies true or total goodness. There is negative and positive, good and bad in all of us. However, I am inspired by Sr. Consilio and Br. Kevin as examples of "real human goodness" - all in imitation of Christ. They personify what true goodness is. It's tangible, touchable, genuine (not a pretence) and deeply enriches those whose lives they touch each day. Magna, there's no need to write a thesis on goodness - we all readily warm to people who are authentically human.

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    1. 16:50, 'authentically human'? You've been involved in enneagrams, haven't you? Or you're a throwback to the 1970s and the work of Henri Nouwen. Your jargon is a dead giveaway.

      Adolf Hitler was 'authentically human', too. There is no such thing as inauthentic humanity.

      Christians (I suppose the term includes Catholics, too) are often inauthentically authentically human through sheer self-interest, with only one eye on the here-and-now, the other on the hereafter. They are, in other words, 'trying to ensure salvation for themselves'...on the backs of needy humanity, of course. This is authentic do-goodery, and it characterises much (if not most) of Christian history. Tell Christianity's initiates, in a way that's credible, that Satan doesn't really exist and watch the inauthentically authentic humanity evaporate as quickly as water on burning desert sand.

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    2. Ah jaysus - sighs - eyes rolling heavenwards.

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    3. Magna at 17.47, now I understand why you are such a miserably, lonely, angry man. You complicate life. You take all things too seriously. All of us who are living normally and with some emotional intellect easily recognise goodness in people. It's not rocket science. Many of our priests are - genuinely full of goodness. From your many contributions it seems you have grave interpersonal challenges. And - not accustomed to boasting but since you referenced Henri Nouwen re: my 16.50 comments, I have given dissertations on Jung, Heidegger Descartes("Cogito, ergo sum!) and others, but I don't use my knowledge to insult, hurt, demean or belittle others! Life is quite simple at the end of the day and complicating it by long lectures, as in your case, is not conducive to inner contentment. And, yes, I have also completed resesrch on the writings of Henri Nouwen - too sensitive for your mind!!

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    4. 16.50
      Very well said. Succinct and spot-on.

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    5. I knew it! A man with Henri Nouwen in his closet. Congratulations on 'coming out'!😅

      'Long lectures' on my part? Oh, I think that, with the quasi-spiritual cant and bluster in which you, being a Nouwen fan, must engage, that you'd make my 'lectures' seem single-sentence paragraphs.

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  17. I imagine a lot of poovery still goes on whether they're religious or secular priests.

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    1. Don't worry, you can rest assured of that.

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  18. Pat

    So when you have a profile on Grindr its 'fake', yet you are quick to condemn people who may have also had 'fake' profiles set up?

    Double Standard

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    1. Name those fake profiles please ???

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    2. Priests and Religious need to meet people where they are at in their lives. Plain and Simple.

      Pat - any word on the email I sent to you regarding a financial situation in a particular Parish?

      Thanks,
      M

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  19. Thanks Pat, we don't often have a chance to discuss what a good priest is. I think his first duty is not to block people from getting to know Jesus. I have seen decent priests harm their work by trying to be too smart. A priest should be approachable and always trying to lighten the burdens of those he meets. He should be healed enough so that he is not working out of prejudice half the time. He should try to be positive, and a spoonful of honey is better than a barrel full of vinegar. Ideally he would go out of his way to meet all the different groups of people in society and bring something positive from each back to his people. He should really believe in prayer and challenge people indirectly by the way he lives.He should take a stand against the injustice on his doorstep rather than protecting his own comfort zone or keeping himself safe for the next perceived promotion. rjm

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