FATHER PAUL PRIOR
We are expecting the former Dean of Maynooth Father Paul Prior to feature soon in this years clerical appointments in the Diocese of Kilmore in Cavan.
In the meantime Father Prior has been busy asking Google to take down some of my blogs about him, Maynooth and The Irish College in Rome.
Prior spent about 20 years between Maynooth and Rome in a position of authority over seminarians.
Many of those seminarians complained about his intrusive questions about their sexuality.
He was also played his part in deciding who was to be ordained and who was not.
Seminarians claim that he had operated as a "faux psychologist" and they felt very intimidated by his questions and interviewing style.
He left Maynooth a year ago and has been benefiting from that famous clerical all expenses holiday called a "sabbatical".
It is now likely, though not certain, that he will become the PP of some Cavan parish.
Although, strangely, he is not listed on the diocesan website among its list of clergy?
Kilmore has some 70 "active" priests spread across 30+ parishes.
I'm quite sure that the astute Cavan farmers will not be submitting themselves to their new PP for counselling or interviews about their sex lives.
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ARMOY PARISH
DOWN AND CONNOR
All is not well in the rural parish of Armoy in County Antrim and the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Parishioners there tell me that there are certain "difficulties" with regard their PP Father Chris Nellis.
The Armoy people have always been very good to their priests and have no personalised issues with Father Nellis.
But they are worried about their PP and very unhappy with the bishop, Noel Treanor, for not addressing the problem and get Fr. Nellis the assistance he needs.
But under Treanor Down and Connor has become totally inpersonal and all about keeping a distance between the bishops £4 million palace and the people and priests.
Treanor operates in a very "autistic manner.
He has as much personality and emotions as a steel lightpost.
He is behaving very irresponsibly and negligent in the Armoy case.
The Armoy people have always been very good to their priests and have no personalised issues with Father Nellis.
But they are worried about their PP and very unhappy with the bishop, Noel Treanor, for not addressing the problem and get Fr. Nellis the assistance he needs.
But under Treanor Down and Connor has become totally inpersonal and all about keeping a distance between the bishops £4 million palace and the people and priests.
Treanor operates in a very "autistic manner.
He has as much personality and emotions as a steel lightpost.
He is behaving very irresponsibly and negligent in the Armoy case.
Undisclosed “difficulties” are usually followed by someone suddenly going away or disappearing. Am I right, +Pat?
ReplyDeleteYou are right.
DeleteIn this case the individual needs help and if that help is successful a return is quite ok.
What if help comes too late, or is unsuccessful in this very sad case? What then, +Pat.
DeleteI believe you did a blog piece about a motorbike priest recently who was ill and many bikers came to wish him well in his parish. He has issues just like the PP in Armoy and his problem is known by many in the area. What gets me is that when this problem becomes totally out of hand people will act too late when something could have been done before. People will only be quick to condemn when the issue goes too far. It will be a case of too little too late instead of nipping it in the bud.
DeleteThat's sad news as the poor man also had/has cancer :-(
DeletePaul Prior is an attractive looking man. I can see how seminarians were interested in him.
ReplyDeleteImmature seminarians need to realise that they are there to learn to wise up!
DeletePrior writing about himself again @ 10:06.
DeleteHere we go again. Pat spreads gossip about a priest without actually saying anything but just plants a seed about Fr Nellis. You really are a spreader of poison!
ReplyDeleteCan the truth ever be poisonous?
DeleteAnon@ 10:18: I think you are right to reprimand Pat's reference to Fr Nellis. I too was inclined to criticise it late last night, but decided to sleep on it.At best, I think it's unkind to refer to a person in the public domain in this way without due cause and placing it in perspective. And referring to Treanor behaving in an 'autistic' manner might, in one sense, be correct inasmuch as he may well see the world in a fashion different from everybody else and behave accordingly. But I think it's an inappropriate term to use in the circumstances. MMM
DeleteIn the situation in Armoy, which parishioners want sorted, Fr. Nellis is not seen as a "baddie". Rather it is a human situation that needs addressed. It is Treanor's responsabiity and duty to address it. But, as is his habit, he is failing to and that is leading to the suffering of many. The issue is more about Treanor than anyone else.
DeleteBut of course MMM you are entitled to disagree with me and seek to reprimand me.
The piece today is an attempt at getting something done.
Sounds like the guy just needs dried out.
DeletePaul Prior writes to google, God love him. If only the people he messed up could write off to have the pain taken away. His actions in the National Seminary are of public interest.
ReplyDeleteThere are indeed matters of public interest.
DeleteAnd all those who were involved in Maynooth deformation should be held accountable.
Autistic manner? Seriously?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Meath appointments will be delayed this year due to the handover?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the latest with Clerical changes in Armagh or was it a dream up account from you Pat?
ReplyDeleteNothing but a parish dodged.
ReplyDeleteHonduran Bishop Pineda has been removed from office
ReplyDeleteFor sexually abusing seminarians/
DeleteNathan Carter (Englishman who makes money from the Irish pretending He is an Irishman), singing for the Pope at WMOF. How much is he being paid from the national collections for WMOF. A lot of gathered clergy will be ogling him rather than Francis.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wiki, Nathan is single and looking for love.
Deletehttp://www.irishnews.com/picturesarchive/irishnews/irishnews/2018/07/19/193209750-e14b821c-9211-4216-bc8b-8fc81e8f63e5.jpg
Nathan said he's too busy for a girlfriend. Lol.
DeleteI agree .. There are plenty of more professional singers than Nathan Carter.. Who on earth made the decisions? Nathan Carter is OK for a country get-together but it is more that he has made a name for himself than having any musical technique.. . But that's the way of the world...
DeleteI had to google Nathan Carter, I'd never heard of him! I can't understand how they want to impose country singer's and dancers on an eighty year old.
DeletePoor auld Franny will be bored to death!
@21:59, Coddle and Timo think Nathan’s the bestest singer and dancer ever! ��
DeleteGlad I'll be at Croke Park when Nathan sings, I fancy the arse of him. Doesn't matter how much he's paid. If things get boring that day at least he will be good eye candy. Bring it on.
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain to me how the catholic bishops decide on where and when to move priests in their annual clergy appointments?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be always around this time of year, so I assume it is to do with the academic year?
Do bishops sit down in May or June, look at how long priests have been serving in parishes, looking at favourites who need promotion, looking at troublesome ones who need to be sent away or into the back of beyond?
I am interested in what goes into the clergy changes each year, and how much notice do the priests moving involved get? A month, a week?
In the Church of England the moving of clergy does not happen on a regular annual basis. The positions are usually advertised on the diocesan websites, and any vicar who wants to can apply.
Yes, Church of England bishops can move clergy if they want to, but there does seem to be a long tenure. One local vicar I know has been the vicar of the parish since 2002, and was told by his bishop that he will continue in the position until 2022 at least, as along as he wishes to continue and the congregation are happy with him.
I think because Church of England clergy most have wives and children, that moving them each year would cause a lot of upheaval.
If anyone can explain how they decide on changes, it would be good to know.
God Bless
The Truth is that there is no real system.
DeletePriests are literally at the mercy of their bishops who can move them at a whim.
Favourites get the plum jobs.
"Trouble makers get punished.
As a priest in Rome once told me: "The way to vet promoted in the Catholic Church is to do your superiors sexual favours"!
Really?! Sexual favours? Wow!
DeleteI remember my old parish curate who had been curate of our local church for 8 years was getting a bit tired of serving a very busy, inner city parish. He had a wife and three young children, and the inner city parish was rough. Violence, drugs, a very harsh parish in inner London.
He saw in a neighbouring diocesan website a vacancy for an assistant curate in a country parish, 25 miles outside of the city. A quiet area, with a population of just 4,000.
He applied, like a normal job application. Sent in a form. He got called in for an interview by that parish committee, who vet and interview prospective clergy, along with their Parish Vicar.
He got the position within two weeks, and he then informed the Bishop of London's office that he will be moving from the city parish to the country parish in 6 weeks time.
The Bishop's office wished him well, and then advertised his upcoming vacant position.
So that is my family's experience of how the Anglican church does priest changes.
Would that be better for the Catholic church?
Pat & 14.42 What a totally far fetched notion that you get promoted in the Church by doing sexual favours for superiors. Have you seen certain church superiors lately? You wouldn't go near many of them with a barge pole.
Delete@ 14:36 and 17:03, heartiest congratulations on choosing such an utterly objective, totally unbiased, entirely unprejudiced and scrupulously truthful source as this blog, for your information about the Catholic Church and how priest appointments are made!
DeleteYou most surely are a person of astonishing discernment and intelligence. It’s a joy to read your comments and know what truly wise, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led people are inhabiting blogosphere.
God bless.
Hi, I am just looking for some explanation on clergy appointments in the catholic church, as I read this blog and saw clergy appointment lists, something which I never see in the Church of England, which I belong to.
DeleteSo, I take your tone here to be insulting to me. As I was only asking for information, and not debating your church.
I can across this blog from a catholic friend of mine, who said it would be interesting to read, and boy was she right.
Yes, “interesting to read” isn’t it, 22:20? Much of it is toxic and motivated by an extremely dysfunctional agenda. Water finds its own level doesn’t it?
DeleteClergy Changes.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed the Roman Catholic Bishops have advisors and consultants who assist in clergy change usually around Five to Eight years.
The clergy have a council of priests who are consulted.
Bishops take into consideration the needs of the priest and the parish.
Sadly clergy in Scotland only get 3K plus 2K for petrol.
Irish clergy are well paid.
http://www.sconews.co.uk/opinion/56017/just-how-much-does-a-priest-earn/
My local vicar has to publish his salary and expenses, and each April we see what he receives. His salary for 2017-2018 was £35,000. He was allocated £5,000 for travelling costs too. His wife works part time at a school, so their income is very good, especially as they have a vicarage to live in, rent free too.
DeleteHow do Catholic clergy do in salaries? Do they have to pay for living expenses, costs of their presbyteries etc?
Your Anglican Church is the Established Church in England.You do a lot and believe a lot different to us Cayholics. Our Bishops are not approved by the Prime Minister or their appointments announced in Parliament. Vicars tend to have the better halfs but Priests have the better Quarters.
DeleteAnon @ 22:42 What a strange comment!
DeleteCould you help us by explaining what you mean, especially your last sentence?
Thanks.
MMM
Reading about the Pineda case: that couldn’t happen in Holy Ireland, where seminarians were and are formed properly, by devout and orthodox priests like Fr Prior. And the only place our sainted bishops lay their hands on young men, is upon their heads when they are ordaining them. Buiochas le Dia!
ReplyDeleteI was in Paul Prior's capable hands in Maynooth.
DeleteAnd how did that work for you?
DeleteCo Cavan will seem very dull to Dr Prior after the joys of Rome and Maynooth.
ReplyDeleteCo. Cavan is dull full stop.
DeleteI doubt it.
DeleteI bet you there is "action" in Cavan :-)
Yip... there's action... Main St. a few doors down from the old Bridge Cafe ..!
Delete...
Deletehttp://www.derelictlondon.com/uploads/5/6/0/3/5603187/published/s-norwood-gents.jpg?1526411655
Pat do you know this. People don’t care anymore about the Mullaneys and the priors of this world. They can do what they like. People no longer give twopence. All this formation business and the claptrap surrounding the ontological change stuff is man made nonsense. If these people spent more time on REAL lifetime pursuits then the lot of this world and its citizens would be much enhanced.
ReplyDeleteI can understand your point.
DeleteThe problem is that people, adults, are being hurt and abused within seminaries, dioceses and orders.
We have to try and care about victims everywhere?
How sweet...
Delete20.32 It is a nasty secretive closed in sadistic world. It's the land of the playground bully. It is very twisted. God help the poor normal boy who enters it and what is worse ....We pay for it
DeletePat do you know how many students were in the Belfast seminary before it closed recently?
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Times reported today that St Malachy's seminary, Belfast had just three seminarians.
DeleteThree mo's in other words.
Delete