tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post4226019977037526642..comments2024-03-12T19:57:41.861+00:00Comments on THINKING CATHOLICISM: GROWING CRISIS IN DOWN AND CONNORThinking Catholicismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-33303093617319181932014-11-16T19:09:18.365+00:002014-11-16T19:09:18.365+00:00Dear "anonymous 16 Nov 10:46"
I wish I w...Dear "anonymous 16 Nov 10:46"<br />I wish I was as ignorant of church affairs in D&C as you obviously are. <br />I note you said 'we survived 16 yrs of Paddy Walsh'. We didn't ! I can tell you as a priest of this Diocese we're still dealing with the fallout from The "Walsh era". <br /><br />PP D&C.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-34964683177111217322014-11-16T18:32:55.650+00:002014-11-16T18:32:55.650+00:00I am inclined to agree that many D&C priests g...I am inclined to agree that many D&C priests get good holidays every year. I am told that they some of them are frequently to be seen enjoying their group holidays in specially selected venues in the general Ibiza area ?<br /><br />Of course there is no perfect bishop.<br /><br />But should we not expect our bishops to be men of prayer and pastoral passion?<br /><br />I heard on the grapevine yesterday that Veritas are publishing two books soon with D&C connections:<br /><br />1. How Green Was My Valet - C. B Daly.<br /><br />2. Sadomasochism And the Doctrine of Apostolic Succession - P. Walsh.<br /><br />A third book is in the pipeline:<br /><br />In the Steps of Blessed Michael Palin - N. Treanor.Thinking Catholicismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-41784838968944478372014-11-16T10:46:28.446+00:002014-11-16T10:46:28.446+00:00Don't believe a word of it! D&C is not tha...Don't believe a word of it! D&C is not that badly off that priests cant get away on holidays - some of them several a year. <br /><br />As the playwright wrote: "the whole world is in a state of chassis!" There are crises everywhere in the Church and the world. Blaming Bishop Treanor is just pathetic and some of the stuff being said here about gourmet food, fine wines, etc., are the poisoned views of a few men who wouldn't be happy of Our Lord Himself came, in Person, to be bishop. After all, we survived Paddy Walsh for sixteen years. People weren't happy with wee Cathal either and they criticised Bishop Philbin for being 'out of touch' and a kinder man you wouldn't have met. Bishop Noel is a decent and good man, a true Christian. Get on with your work Frs. and follow the advice St John the Baptist gave to the soldiers. Quit yer bitchin' and, at the opening of the accounts, be able to say to the Lord: "We are worthless servants. We have done no more than our duty". Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-41750405627430854812014-11-15T16:05:03.493+00:002014-11-15T16:05:03.493+00:00Dear "anonymous 01:47 15Nov".
You pose...Dear "anonymous 01:47 15Nov". <br /><br />You posed the question what we so called "malcontents" are doing in our own parishes ? Let me answer you.<br />I am doing the same work that 3 clergy used to be responsible for. I have not had a proper holiday ie. more than 1week, in the last 2 yrs. <br />Can you honestly say that there are not major topics to be dealt with in our diocese ?<br />Don't shoot the messenger,just because you don't want genuine issues of concern around clergy being raised in a public forum, such as this blog. <br />Burying our heads in the sand will do nothing for the good people of Down & Connor, who look to us as their spiritual fathers.<br />I've tried to raise these issues with the Bishop & other clergy to no avail. Sadly the majority of D&C clergy are in the 'anything for a quiet life' club. <br />I care about the future of our Diocese and that is why I challenge the inadequate status quo.<br /><br />Priest of Down & Connor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-50052575550708434592014-11-15T14:33:56.532+00:002014-11-15T14:33:56.532+00:00Priests need balls and people need courage. It is ...Priests need balls and people need courage. It is time for another reformation within the RC church where appropriate bishops can be told to "fek off" Seanroscommonmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08748800697962234196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-60176689408004695182014-11-15T14:20:42.447+00:002014-11-15T14:20:42.447+00:00Dear Bishop Pat,
The comments of the Priests on y...Dear Bishop Pat, <br />The comments of the Priests on your blog remind me of the "Titanic" scene after hitting the iceberg. The Down & Connor 'ship' is sinking lower every day. <br />As a practising Catholic in Belfast, I feel very sad about this situation, but feel powerless to do anything, to change it for the better.<br /><br />Belfast Parishioner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-65846953816525044832014-11-15T11:02:54.835+00:002014-11-15T11:02:54.835+00:00Dear Pat,
Whilst not disagreeing with most of what...Dear Pat,<br />Whilst not disagreeing with most of what the last two priests said, I would say the following.<br />Firstly, I think the Vatican misjudged badly the type of person we required as Bishop, when Noel T was appointed here in 2008. He does not have the right "skills set" to be a Diocesan Bishop, and he surely must realise that himself. Just over 6 yrs after his appointment he is still a stranger to most of the clergy & people in D&C. <br />All of us when in times of emotional discomfort, seek support, and that I believe is what + Noel is doing with the frequent trips abroad, to Rome, Brussells etc where he can reenter his 'old world' , far away from the problems and humdrum existence of D&C. <br />The fact raised by others, (I can concur with this also) that it takes months to get decisions out of "Lisbreen", is indicative of the low priority that parish life has in + Noel's mind; he may even subconsciously be always " finding" something more interesting to do or think about. <br />Sadly, I see no solution to this situation, other than Rome HQ to find a new role for + Noel; the Diplomatic Corps would seem to be an obvious choice.<br /><br />D&C priest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-40814811979584539512014-11-15T01:47:18.382+00:002014-11-15T01:47:18.382+00:00And I do not believe YOU, Rev Buckley - nor the fe...And I do not believe YOU, Rev Buckley - nor the few disaffected malcontents who are trying to manufacture a "crisis" of their and your own making. What are these "faithful", "spiritual" priests writing to you doing in their own parishes? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-49877628208880880872014-11-14T22:45:45.992+00:002014-11-14T22:45:45.992+00:00Dear PP & fellow Priest,
You are right. We are...Dear PP & fellow Priest,<br />You are right. We are in Crisis, and a major factor in it, is +Noel's poor spiritual leadership. He's running away from the situation (mostly via airports) because he has nothing to offer us in Down & Connor.<br />A very sad state of affairs for all concerned, not least the clergy who feel largely that Noel regards us as an inadequate bunch. He's a round peg in a square hole, and we're stuck with him. I know these comments may lack a certain charity, but I stand over them.<br /><br />Priest of Down & Connor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-59951074973615289632014-11-14T19:46:55.763+00:002014-11-14T19:46:55.763+00:00I do not want my Bishop to be a "perfect gent...I do not want my Bishop to be a "perfect gentleman" - who lives in a palace, eats gourmet food, drinks fine wines and travels the world in Business Class.<br /><br />I want my Bishop to have - as Pope Francis says - "the smell of the sheep about him".<br /><br />I want him to be priest and prophet to my people and I.<br /><br />The smell of Chanel No 5 Pour Homme does nothing for me.<br /><br />We are in crisis.<br /><br />Its sad that it is only Pat Buckley that is speaking out.<br /><br />PP D&CAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-75656804192215857952014-11-14T17:50:51.637+00:002014-11-14T17:50:51.637+00:00Dear Priest,
I do not believe you ! Sorry ! The ...Dear Priest,<br /><br />I do not believe you ! Sorry ! The priests who spoke to me about the Newry meeting are not "malcontents". I have known them for years. They are spiritual men with pastoral hearts who are genuinely afraid for the diocese.<br /><br />Can you tell me why 50% of the priests were missing ???<br /><br />I am glad that you acknowledge the existence of the "Carryduff Question".<br /><br />I was not at the meeting. The Bishop's email was not sent to me by Noel.<br /><br />A part of the crisis is that Nero is fiddling why Rome burns.<br /><br />There were many around Nero who did not speak the truth to him and described him as a perfect gentleman too.<br /><br />PatThinking Catholicismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-67825718281737339892014-11-14T17:33:02.084+00:002014-11-14T17:33:02.084+00:00This "crisis", Fr Buckley, exists in you...This "crisis", Fr Buckley, exists in your imagination, goaded on by the malcontents who are feeding your frenzy. The Bishop was not "furious" at anything and the meeting was congenial and enjoyable. There was an open expression of views around the challenges facing all priests in parishes and diocese everywhere. The "Carryduff Question" was not couched in the negative terms you and your ilk wish to put upon it. Apathy among some clergy is a common problem and it is not Bishop Noel's fault. I have never found the Bishop in any way patronising or condescending. He is an absolute Christian gentleman. PriestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com