A PRIEST whose lengthy battle to remain in his parish was taken to the Vatican has launched a tirade against the Catholic Church hierarchy.Canon Denis Quinlan, one of the so-called "Galloway Three", said successive bishops in his diocese had forced his early retirement and he was still demanding a "full and unreserved apology" after almost 20 years of bitterness.
Canon Quinlan, along with Father Michael Lynch and Father Ralph Mancini, fought and won the battle to remain in their respective parishes after being ordered to move on by Bishop Taylor in 1990.
The Vatican ruled that the bishop had violated church law by ordering their transfer.
Canon Quinlan says he and the other priests then expected an apology and an explanation would follow but they never came, and he remains angry and frustrated at the treatment.
He said: "I will not let it go. What took place to myself and the others all those years ago was manifestly unjust and it is time those in charge acknowledged this and reinstated our good names.
"A transfer is a normal method of sending priests to other parishes, but this was a removal. And a removal is very sinister.
"The Church should practise what it preaches. The longer this has gone on the more pain and psychological harassment it produces."
He claims he also asked for assistance at St Joseph's RC Church and the lack of this forced his retirement through ill health. But since calling it a day in February three priests have now been allocated to the parish.
He added: "Next year would have marked my golden jubilee with the Catholic Church. But my health was suffering. The workload was too great for one man."
However, many within the Catholic Church believe the former Kilmarnock-based parish priest is refusing to let go of a row that was resolved in 1996.
They also claim that Catholic convention dictates that the only person who can apologise is former Bishop of Galloway Maurice Taylor (pic'd here), who is currently battling cancer.
A Catholic Church spokesman said: "The events described took place almost two decades ago. Bishop Taylor, now retired, has no wish to comment."
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce