Diocesan Appointments 2022 : Diocese of Down & Connor

Having reviewed the pastoral needs of the people of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Bishop Noël Treanor has made the following appointments, which take effect from Friday 5 August:

Mensal Parishes

The mensal parishes of St Peter’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s, St Mary’s, St Colmcille’s and Holy Family, of which the Bishop was Parish Priest, no longer exists in canon law. With the exception of St Peter’s Cathedral, which is the “seat” of the bishop, the so-called mensal parishes will now have a Parish Priest as its proper pastor (cf can 515 §1) rather than an Administrator.

• Very Rev Timothy Bartlett to be PP St Mary’s, Belfast

• Very Rev Conor McGrath to be PP St Colmcille’s, Belfast and, in addition, Director of Vocations

• Very Rev Eugene O’Neill to be PP St Patrick’s, Belfast

• Very Rev Michael Spence to be PP Holy Family, Belfast

Parish Priests/Adm

• Very Rev Vincent Cushnahan to be PP St Vincent de Paul, Belfast.

• Very Rev Patrick Devlin to be PP Hannahstown.

• Very Rev Anthony Fitzsimons to be PP Carnlough and PP Glenarm (Tickmacreevan)

• Very Rev Raymond McCullagh to be PP St Agnes, Belfast and Vicar Forane (West Belfast Pastoral Community)

• Very Rev Michael McGinnity to be PP Ballymena (Kirkinriola) and Vicar Forane (Ballymena Pastoral Community)

• Very Rev Thomas McGlynn to be PP St Malachy’s, Belfast.

• Very Rev Kevin McGuckien to be PP Coleraine, PP Portrush & Bushmills and PP Portstewart and Vicar Forane (North Connor Pastoral Community)

• Very Rev James Madden O. Praem to be Adm Sacred Heart, Belfast.

• Very Rev Paul Strain to be PP Glenravel and The Braid (Skerry)

Assistant Priests (Curates)

• Rev Joe Davis to be CC Ballymena.

• Rev Paul Morely to be CC St Bernadette’s and CC Holy Rosary, Belfast.

• Rev Robert Sloan to be CC Holy Family, Belfast.

Hospital Chaplaincy

• Very Rev Darach MacGiolla Catháin to be Chaplain to Royal Victoria Hospital and Belfast Trust residing at Derriaghy.

Retirements

• Very Rev Msgr Patrick Delargy to be Pastor Emeritus and to assist as Priest in partial ministry and resident in Portrush.

• Very Rev Austin McGirr to be Pastor Emeritus and take a period of sabbatical leave.

• Very Rev Dermot McKay to be Pastor Emeritus and to assist as Priest in partial ministry and resident in Ballinlea.

Further Studies

• Rev Andrew Black to continue post-graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome.

• Rev John O’Laverty to continue post-graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Diocesan Cathedral Chapter

In addition to the above diocesan appointments, Bishop Noël Treanor appoint the following clergy as Canons of the Cathedral Chapter:

Cathedral Chapter of Down and Connor

• Very Rev Brian Daly, Ballycastle (Ramoan)

• Very Rev Sean Emerson, Antrim

• Very Rev Robert Fleck, Dundrum & Tyrella

• Very Rev John Forsythe, Randalstown

• Very Rev Sean Gilmore, Lower Mourne

• Very Rev Joseph Gunn, Bangor

• Very Rev Colm McBride, Glenavy & Killead

• Very Rev Denis McKinlay, Castlewellan (Kilmegan)

• Very Rev Patrick McWilliams, Duneane (Moneyglass, Toome & Cargin)

• Very Rev John Murray, Downpatrick

• Very Rev Edward O’Donnell, St Brigid’s, Belfast

• Very Rev Hugh Joe O’Hagan, Ahoghill

Bishop Noël Treanor appoints ex auctoritate episcopi the following retired clergy as Honorary Canons

• Very Rev Brendan Beagon PE

• Very Rev Aidan Kerr PE

• Very Rev Austin McGirr PE

• Very Rev Paddy McKenna PE

• Very Rev Daniel Whyte PE

Commenting on the appointments Bishop Noël Treanor said, “I would like to record my thanks to all involved in and affected by these appointments for their co-operation and I wish them God’s blessing, good health and fulfilment in their respective ministries.

“On behalf of the faithful of the diocese, and the bishops with whom they have served, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Very Rev Monsignor Patrick Delargy, the Very Rev Austin McGirr and the Very Rev Dermot McKay who have relinquished the office of Parish Priest after many years of ministry and fruitful service. With the people of our diocese, I am very grateful to them for their willingness to be of continued pastoral service to the diocese.”

Bishop Noël Treanor went on to say, “My thanks and best wishes also go to Rev Aloysius Lumala who has served within Down and Connor for 10 years while pursuing post-graduate studies in St Mary’s University College, Belfast, and St Patrick’s Pontifical University Maynooth and who now returns to his native Diocese of Kampala, Uganda.

“‘The Harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’ (Luke 10:2) As the clergy of the diocese take up these new appointments and as they continue to serve the sacramental and pastoral needs throughout the diocese, I commend us all to continue to pray for vocations.”

Diocesan Appointments 2022 : Diocese of Killaloe

Bishop Fintan Monahan announces diocesan appointments for the Diocese of Killaloe

Bishop Fintan Monahan has announced the Killaloe Diocesan Appointments for 2022, which now includes the appointment of lay people to the Ministry of Pastoral Care and Ministry of Catechist.

Bishop Fintan said, “In 2018, an innovative decision was taken to introduce two new lay ministries in the Killaloe Diocese as part of the diocesan response to a changed situation where numbers of priests are steadily declining in our Church.   The two new ministries would work alongside priests and people in parishes and pastoral areas across the Diocese helping local Christian Communities to reach out to the wider community and easing the burden of work on the diminishing number of priests in the Diocese.

Ministry of Pastoral Care

“This Ministry includes visiting those who are ill or elderly at home or in nursing homes and having a special care for those who are isolated or on their own in the community.  They will be available to offer sensitive care to those who are bereaved according to their wishes and needs or to help families at times of funerals through, for example, helping to prepare funeral liturgies which are meaningful to families.

Ministry of Catechist

“The focus of Ministry of Catechist is on helping people in their own faith development.  This ministry will take different forms depending on local needs, reaching out to families at significant moments in the family faith story.”

Bishop Fintan Monahan went on to say “I offer my sincere thanks to all the clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese for the ongoing good work, dedication and generosity of service in the diocese.  Every good wish and blessing to all who take on a new role this Summer.”

Appointments will take effect from Friday 26 August for the duration of three years. The full list of Diocesan Appointments follows below:

Clergy

• Father John Bane, Co-PP, Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area, resident in Broadford retired in January 2022 now living in Clarecastle and offering pastoral assistance in the Abbey Pastoral Area.
• Father Martin O’Brien, Cuan an Chláir, Ennis, to be priest in residence, Tulla and offer pastoral assistance to Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area.
• Father Willie McCormack, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area to remain in Puckane and become AP in November.
• Father Des Hillery, VG, VF Odhrán Pastoral area, resident in Nenagh to go on Sabbatical returning for an appointment in the diocese early in the New Year.
• Father Pat Gilbert, returning from leave of absence be Co-PP in Odhrán Pastoral area and VF and to reside in Nenagh.
• Father Michael Casey, Co-PP to become VF of Cois Fharraige Pastoral area in place of Fr. Gerry Kenny who continues as Co-PP.
• Father Michael Harding, Co-PP, Cronan Pastoral Area, resident in Roscrea to go on sabbatical leave for one year.
• Father Pat Treacy, Co-PP, Cronan Pastoral Area, resident in Roscrea to go on sabbatical leave for one year.
• Father John Molloy, Co-PP, Ollatrim Pastoral Area, resident in Toomevara to be Co-PP Cronan Pastoral Area, resident in Roscrea and VF.
• Father Francis Xavier Kochuveettil, CC, Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Shannon to be Co-PP, Ollatrim Pastoral Area to be resident in Toomevara.
• Father Antun Pasilic, newly ordained, resident in Cathedral House, Ennis to be CC, Cronan Pastoral Area, resident in Roscrea.
• Father Martin Blake returning from leave of absence to be Co-PP, Pro-tem in Abbey Pastoral Area, residing in Cathedral House, Ennis.
• Father Michael Collins, Co-PP Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Newmarket-on-Fergus to become VF for the Pastoral Area and to offer Catechetical assistance to complement the work of Fr. Harry Bohan in Sixmilebridge Parish.

Ministers

• Geraldine Armitage, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Ministry of Pastoral Care in Odhrán Pastoral Area and Nenagh Parish with specific focus on developing bereavement supports and funeral teams.
• Catherine Brigdale, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Crusheen, Ruan, Corofin and Tubber Parishes.
• Ríona Browne, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Crusheen, Ruan, Corofin and Tubber Parishes.
• Gemma Brugha, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Ollatrim Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Cloughjordan Parish and outreach to migrants and refugees in the surrounding area.
• Anne Marie Custy, Catechist, Appointment to Abbey Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes with specific responsibility in Doora-Barefield Parish.
• Veronica Dalton, Catechist, Appointment to Brendan Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes with special responsibility in Kinnity Parish.
• Michael Daly, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area to the Ministry of  Pastoral Care in Scarriff, Ogonelloe, Feakle, Killenena, Mounshannon & Tuamgraney-Bodyke Parishes.
• Bernadette Daniels, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Abbey Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care Ministry in Clarecastle Parish & Carrigoran Nursing Home and to support to development of the Bedford Row Project in Ennis.
• Maura Falsey, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Inis Cathaigh Pastoral Area to the Ministry of  Pastoral Care in Kilrush, Kilmihil, Cooraclare, & Killimer Parishes
• Joy Hensey, Catechist, Appointment to Abbey Pastoral Area with specific responsibility for Ministry to couples preparing for marriage in Doora-Barefield Parish
• Joan Hogan, Catechist, Appointment to the Brendan Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes with specific responsibility in Birr Parish.
• Lucy Kearney, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Crusheen, Tubber, Ruan & Corofin Parishes
• Gerard Lynch, Catechetics, Appointment to work as part of the Adult Faith Development Team of the Diocese of Killaloe to develop and facilitate faith development approaches for adults across the Diocese.
• Dolores Madden, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Scáth na Sionnaine Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Castleconnell Parish and the development of bereavement support in the Pastoral Area.
• Bríd Meaney, Catechetics, Appointment to Radharc na nOiléan Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes in Kildysart, Cranny-Coolmeen, Lissycasey and Kilmurry Mc Mahon Parishes.
• Carmel Moroney, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area with specific responsibility for development of bereavement support and funeral ministry in Tulla, O’Callaghan’s Mills & Broadford Parishes.
• Margaret Mc Inerney, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Tradaree Pastoral Area to the Ministry of  Pastoral Care in Shannon & Newmarket Parishes with specific responsibility in Carrigoran Nursing Home.
• Tom O’Dea, Catechetics, Appointment to Tradaree  Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes in Sixmilebridge Parish.
• Deborah O’ Driscoll, Catechist, Appointment to Odhrán Pastoral Area with specific responsibility for the support of Sacramental Preparation in Nenagh and Youghalarra Parishes.
• Rita O’ Dwyer, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Críocha Callan Pastoral Area to the Ministry of  Pastoral Care in Milltown Malbay & Mullagh Parishes.
• Jim Sexton, Catechetics, Appointment to work as part of the Adult Faith Development Team of the Diocese of Killaloe to develop and facilitate faith development approaches for adults across the Diocese.
• Anne Marie Sheedy, Pastoral Care, Appointment to Tradaree Pastoral Area to the Ministry of Pastoral Care in Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry Parish.
• Gerry Sheeran, Catechetics, Appointment to work as part of the Adult Faith Development Team of the Diocese of Killaloe to develop and facilitate faith development approaches for adults.
• Bernie Torpey, Catechetics, Appointment to Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area to support Sacramental Preparation Processes in Broadford, Tulla & O’Callaghan’s Mills Parishes.

Diocesan Appointments 2022 : Diocese of Clonfert

Very Rev Michael Byrnes PP JV while continuing as Parish Priest of Portumna, Gortanumera and Boula to act as Moderator of the team of priests serving the Parish of Fahy and Quansboro (effective 15th November 2021)

Very Rev Seamus Bohan PP while continuing as Parish Priest of Tynagh and Killeen to act as Moderator of the team of priests serving the Parish of Abbey and Duniry. (effective 1st November 2021)

Rev Aidan Costello while continuing to be Diocesan Director of Vocations to be a member of the Chaplaincy Team at St Brendan’s Community Hospital, Loughrea (effective from April 2nd 2022)

Rev Charles Nyameh (Diocese of Jalingo, Nigeria), Curate St Brendan’s Cathedral Loughrea to be Curate Ballinasloe, Creagh and Kilclooney and Priest available for ministry in the Ballinasloe Pastoral Area along with being Diocesan Co-ordinator for the Pastoral Care of Immigrants. (effective from April 2nd 2022)

Rev Tony Nzinang (Diocese of Jalingo, Nigeria) to be Curate, St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea and Member of the team of Priests to serve St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea and the Parish of Kilnadeema and Aille. Father Tony will also be available for chaplaincy services to St Brigid’s College, Loughrea (effective from April 2nd 2022)

Rev Michael Ifiora (Diocese of Jalingo, Nigeria) to be curate, St Brendan’s Cathedral Loughrea and Member of the team of Priests to serve St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea and the Parish of Kilnadeema and Aille along with being a priest available to the Loughrea Pastoral Area. Father Michael will also be available for chaplaincy services to St Raphael’s College, Loughrea (effective from April 2nd 2022)

Rev Brendan Kelly (retired Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle) to act as member of the team of Priests to Serve the Parishes of Abbey and Duniry and Tynagh and Killeen along with being a priest available to the Portumna Pastoral Area. He will reside in Duniry. (effective from April 2nd 2022)

Diocesan Appointments 2022 : Diocese of Waterford & Lismore

 

Most Reverend Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore has made the following appointments:

 
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Nicholas O’Mahony Pastor Emeritus of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity Parish.

 
Very Rev. Richard O’Halloran Parish Priest of Tramore, Carbally,
Dunhill and Fenor.

 
Rev. Francis Xavier Chidambararmreswaran Parish Priest of the Parish of Portlaw
and Ballyduff Lower.

 
Very Rev. John Harris Director of Ecumenism.

 
The above clerical changes took effect on 1st February 2022

Diocesan Appointments 2022 : Diocese of Kerry

Bishop Ray Browne wishes to announce the following changes of appointment of clergy of the Diocese of Kerry: 

Retirements:

Fr. Tom Leane, PP Dromtariffe

Appointments:

Fr. Joseph Begley Glengarriff to the Killarney Pastoral area and to minister in Killarney.

Fr. Jim Lenihan Killarney to the Killarney Pastoral area and to be PP Glenflesk.

Fr. Niall Howard Killarney to the Kenmare Pastoral area and to be PP Glengarriff.

Fr. Sean Jones St. John’s, Tralee to the Killarney Pastoral area and to minister in Killarney.

The parish of Dromtariffe will be served by the priests of the Duhallow/Sliabh Luchra Pastoral Area, with Fr. Jack Fitzgerald as Moderator.

Priests of all Pastoral Areas of the Diocese take up additional responsibilities outside their own parishes and within the Pastoral Area.  This will be decided and communicated locally.

These changes will become effective on Wednesday, July 20^th 2022

CWI : Upcoming

As flagged yesterday, CWI has returned and is now in the process of beginning to launch its latest investigation results for all of you.

We here at CW pride ourselves on being thorough, balanced and fair in all areas of an investigation, and this will also cover the publication online also.

The beginning of our publishing will begin once the final legal hurdles are cleared, but let us tease you a little....

It involves 2 bishops, a few clergy of at least 2 denominations, a whole heap of spurious and false allegations, some international involvement and a load of local involvement....on a level not seen before....

Unlike others, we will not attempt to control the narrative, but we will also make sure that each and every comment is verifiable, honest and relative.

We will keep you updated....

"Priestless funerals"? Dublin's Catholic Church looks for solutions to critical numbers

 

The new strategy "Building Hope" sees Dublin parishes sharing assets including finances, personnel and volunteers and could very well see lay-led liturgies at funerals.

Due to the aging clergy and lack of new admissions into the seminary, the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin is bringing in new measures, including appointing priests to oversee multiple parishes and sharing assets volunteers and finances. They may even allow lay members of the church to preside over funerals. 

There are 207 parishes in the Archdiocese of Dublin. Reports show that since February 2020 34 priests have died. Only one student entered the seminary during that time to train as a Catholic priest. While sharing parishes may be a solution now the archdiocese has warned that this is just a stopgap that would solve the problem for perhaps five or 10 years.

Father Aquinas Duffy the parish priest of Cabinteely, who also works across up to 15 parishes in the Bray Deanery, in Dublin, spoke to the Irish Independent about the Archdiocese's lack of priests.

“Anybody who works in parishes can see the structures are collapsing around us. We are at a crossroads. The time for talk is over – concrete action needs to be taken," Fr Duffy said.

Fr Duffy said that due to this crisis parishes could rely increasingly on lay-led liturgies. He said even now parish priests could perform 500 funerals per year in two parishes. 

"There is no way one priest can do 500 funerals the way we do them now. So we have to go down the road of lay people being trained to lead funeral services and burials."

He added, “People will get very upset by that and will give out, but that is the reality of the situation that is about to hit parishes...

“I think it is a shock still to people. There are a lot of lay people and priests who are still in denial about the reality of the situation that we are in.

“This crisis has been coming for many years, but Covid has pushed us further over the cliff. The crossroads we are at now will determine the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland.”

As the reality begins to hit home, Fr Duffy said that Catholic Church at a higher level will be forced to face deeper questions. 

Fr Duffy asked "Who is going to provide the Eucharist in the future? We have to try and find solutions.

"If we don’t consider issues like women priests and married clergy, we are only fooling ourselves. If we miss this opportunity now, it is a decision to let it all collapse.”

"Building Hope"

Speaking in April 2021 at the launch of "Building Hope" Archbishop Dermot Farrell said the new task force and their findings would “prepare an approach to a pastoral strategy” that supports parishes to undertake a “radical renewal”, and that will allow communities of faith to look to the “future with creativity”, the Irish Catholic reports.

Dr. Farrell said “I want the task force to stimulate reflection and creative thinking across the whole community, in parishes and in organizations committed to the well-being of the people, to guide a process of dialogue which will continue as we develop and implement our plans for the future.

“To assist the task force, I am also establishinhttps://www.irishcentral.com/topic/dubling an expert panel in the areas of the economic, social and pastoral situation in Dublin, and the trends which will shape our situation over the next 25 years. Their advice will help us to consider the views and priorities of the many organizations delivering services to the people of Dublin,” Archbishop Farrell said.

He added “There is an urgency, and this cannot be an endless process,” he said, continuing, “It will give us all a basis for moving forward together with hope, confident that the Spirit is with those who respond to the call to follow the one who is the Lord of tomorrow as well as today”.

CWI: Clerical Whispers Investigates : Back In The Game

My dear colleagues, brothers and sisters in Christ and all who visit this site, we are delighted to announce the re-activation of CWI: Clerical Whispers Investigates.

Over the last few months, we have been keeping eyes on some stories 'breaking out' elsewhere, and have decided to start our own investigations again.

Due to the nature of some (if not all) claims and allegations in one particular scenario, it was decided to get legal assistance, external (i.e. international) and local (i.e.Irish) qualified and discreet investigators, and all the evidence that can be obtained AND lawfully published thus far.

Having 

 

* carried out over 13 separate branches of inquiry and investigation,  

 

* availed of legal advice, 

 

* interviewed many parties involved,

 

* read, seen, listened and watched as much verifiable evidence as is legally permissable to publish, it hasnow been decided that we here in CW will now proceed to publishing the majority of these claims - with EVIDENCE.

 

What remains unmentioned and unpublished is solely down to the fact that there is now legal concern and action to take place, and where permitted, and legally advised, reference will be made.

Such allegations that WILL be published / challenged shall contain

* Names that will identify ALL persons concerned;

* Evidence - documentary shall also be published in total;

* Current update as to where the matter is currently situated, and

* Right to reply shall be accorded to all parties concerned.

If you wish to submit an allegation for investigation, please do so by making contact with us via clericalwhispers@gmail.com and subject it CWI for our attention and we will take care of it from there.

 

ALL VERIFIABLE INFORMATION SUBMITTED SHALL BE TREATED IN THE 

STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE AT ALL TIMES

Once published, we invite responses from those concerned so as to offer a fair balance and right to reply, but please do understand - one and all - that if one party does not respond, then it does not mean either it is biased on our part or indeed on theirs!!

We sincerely looking forward to hearing from all, and please God, it might serve a purpose of showing those further up the hierarchial ladder that all is not well down here at ground level and something needs to be done!!!

Get in touch, get it investigated, get it resolved!!!

Sotto Voce

 

A Little Reminder......

As we begin to start publishing again, we wish to draw your attention to the following, which was first published on April 30th, 2010, and remains in force.

 

CW - Our Code, Your Rights - Code Of Responsibility

In recent days, we have been somewhat engaged with some who view, contribute, comment and post on this site in relation to how YOU should be able to take issue with postings and how they are dealt with so as to ensure all parties are satisfied if there is a problem.

We have come to the following agreement with those representatives who we mailed in relation to this issue and with the necessary legal advice, the following is now part of the Code of Responsibility which is relevant to the public who visit this site:

* * * * *

1. Accuracy

i) Clercical Whispers will take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognised will be corrected, promptly and with due prominence - on condition that evidence and information to the contrary of that presented is forwarded / notified to Clerical Whispers within a period of 28 days of original posting.

iii) Where determined and deemed as appropriate - an apology will be published for 5 consecutive days and also attached to the original posting.

iv) A posting will, as far as is possible, report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation to which it has been a party, unless an agreed settlement states otherwise, or an agreed statement is published.

 

2. Opportunity to reply

Clerical Whispers will ALWAYS offer a right to reply to those who clearly indicate as to why they may feel aggrieved with a posting, comment and/or contribution within 28 days of original being published online.

i) Invitation to reply will always be offered via either a private email which remains confidential or through a formal posting of a reply either in comment form or in actual posting itself.

ii) This invitation will be issued on 3 ocassions only and thereafter correspondence shall no longer be entertained.

iii) If after this the matter remains unresolved, then it will pass to our legal advisors for action if so deemed as necessary and appropriate.

 

* * * * *

 

We are very well aware that what we publish here may not be to everyones liking, and have always taken that on board when considering the publishing of an article.

Information that comes to us from private sources - unless otherwise indicated - remains just that - private.

Accuracy of such information as submitted is always sought, and if there is a contesting to such information and its accuracy, we extend the invitation to the allegedly injured party of right of reply.

In recent times, we are conscious that some may belligerently ignore and rebuff such invitations of right of reply which is also a right on their part(s), but after such rebuffs there is nothing further we can do except pass it on for legal action where necessary.

If YOU wish to comment or contribute to this site, the above points should be kept in mind.

If YOU wish to take issue with ANY posting please note that it should be so done within the 28 days time frame as laid down.

When writing to us in relation to a comment, contribution and / or complaint, please send your email to us: clericalwhispers@gmail.com and subject line it Code of Responsibility, making sure to include a link to the offending post.

We will reply as immediately as possible for us.

Any further questions, queries or comments in relation to the above can be notified to us at given email address.

 Be advised that if the response you receive is not to your satisfatction, then please take the matter further to the Data Protection authority in your own jurisdiction, and we will liaise with them as a matter of course, so as to resolve the matter.

New Beginnings

It is over 5 years since we last published on this blogspot, and in the interim, so much has happened on the international stage - whether religiously, politically, socially or otherwise.

Perhaps, during that time, this blog would have been kept in overdrive for the want of keeping you all updated with all that happened, and continues to happen.

In the last year or so alone, many of us who had held positions here in CW, were in touch and felt it wsas time to start opening this blog again, and we cast this idea further beyond ourselves and just under 96% of those we surveyed supported the idea of our starting to publish again.

Once we had that survey back, discussed the results, and reflected on whether we could proceed, the numbers we need to keep it going etc etc - we decided to again take a month out to discuss this with the site founder, amongst ourselves again, and some external advisors.

And the result of all of this.....?

15 months on from when we started to discuss this as a possibility, it is now a definite return....

.....and the team has started the work already with one major story - from Ireland (and accompanying international flavour) - going to be the big opener for us, as well as being an eye-opener for some of the main characters.

We will begin to publish as soon as we have final legal clearance to do so.

Irish woman claims priest performed sacrament of the sick on her "for being gay"

 

An Irish documentary has revealed that an Irish priest gave a young woman the last rites in a bid to "cure" her of her homosexuality.

The RTÉ documentary "Outitude" reveals how Irish woman Marina Forrestal was anointed with oil on various parts of her body by an Irish priest in the mid-1970s in a practice similar to last rites to the sick or dying. 

The Irish Mirror reports that Forrestal described the practice as "ritual abuse" in the hour-long documentary, adding that she was also subjected to recession therapy by a priest. 

She claimed that she had her hands anointed against masturbation during the sacrament and said gay men subsequently told her that they had their genitals anointed during the same religious practice. 

Forrestal, who now works as an artist and community organizer, told the documentary that she sought help from a support group after breaking up with her first girlfriend. 

"I met my first girlfriend in 1974. When we split, I was really lovesick, I couldn't get over it by myself. I needed help," she said. 

"Within my support group actually there was a priest who was supposed to have a gift of healing and he invited me to come and have a number of sessions with him.

"During one of the sessions, he told me that I shouldn't look at any women's magazines anymore because of the underwear ads.

"He did recession therapy with me which evolved me lying down and closing my eyes and going into some kind of, I don’t know, altered state, I suppose." 

She said the priest made her imagine that Jesus discovered her in bed with a lover, asking her how she thought Jesus would feel about it. 

She said the priest became angry and slammed his fist on a nearby table when she told him that she thought Jesus would be "fine" about it. 

Forrestal claims the priest told her: “If you're going to continue to romanticize this thing, I'm not going to be able to help you any further."

The priest carried out the sacrament of the sick in their very next session together, Forrestal said. 

"So he took out a bottle of oil and he asked me if I had any connection with the occult first so I said ‘no’ and so he did this anointing of the oil.

"He asked me did I masturbate, and he anointed my hands against masturbation.

"I had to say how sorry, I was, and stuff."

She said he also anointed other parts of her body and gave her a bottle of holy water so that she could anoint her genitals when she went home. 

"When he came to my genitals, he told me I was to take the bottle home, thank goodness.

"I have since spoken with men who have had their genitals anointed in rituals like this. I now consider that to be ritual abuse." 

She added: “I think he had his sexual fantasies, I don't think he thought he was putting them on me but I think he was putting them on me.

“And I think that thing of the sacrament of the sick for being gay is a perversion.

“It was a shaming of me. And it was a ritual shaming. And it did involve sexuality. And it was wrong, it was very wrong.”

"Outitude" also documents other forms of homophobia, stories of coming out, and activism within the Irish lesbian community from the 1970s to the present day. 

The documentary also explores cases of homophobia and discrimination in Irish universities and bars.

Campaigner criticises 'very disappointing' update to Catholic Church penal code

Veteran campaigner Marie Collins has expressed her disappointment at the changes to the Catholic Church’s penal code announced by the Vatican on Tuesday.

“It's a very disappointing document, no zero tolerance, no mandatory reporting,” she told Newstalk’ Pat Kenny show.

Ms Collins said she had been hoping the church’s attitude that children and women were “temptresses” would be “dead and gone”, however she said that attitude was still there, adding the Vatican was further behind than any other part of the church.

Parts of the penal code “jumped out” at her, one being that clergy could be punished very severely if they did not report internally to the church authorities: “But there was no mention whatsoever of them having to report to civil authorities so nothing has changed there sadly", Ms Collins said.

“The problem with it from my view is that there are lists of penalties for various infringements and offences, but nowhere does it say they will be applied, or they must be applied.

“The one that really sticks with me is, as far as where abusing a child is concerned, is it says that a priest can be removed from office, he can be laicised, where the case calls for it. Now that wording for me means that it will be left to a judgement call to the individual bishops, how they actually punish a priest, which means you don't have any consistency or standard across the church," Ms Collins added.

“One bishop could decide something is serious while another bishop could decide it's a minor offence. By putting in they can be punished by being laicised, deprived of office, or whatever, where you put in 'where the case calls for it' and then don't define where a case calls for it, you're leaving it up to the judgement of the individual bishops and that's where it's always been, there's no change, it depends on the goodwill of the bishop in the area of the priest,” Ms Collins said.

'Heat of passion'

One section of the document, which Ms Collins said upset here was where a penalty could be diminished if the offence occurred 'in the heat of passion' - “That really has no place in a document like this in my view,” she said.

Ms Collins said caveats “litter” the document: “If you take the headlines out of it, it looks very good, it looks as if the church is moving on, but when you read it in detail, it's not.”

She said many survivors would be angered by the section regarding children, in which it says “if a person, a priest, commits an offence against the sixth commandment of the decalogue with a minor - the sixth commandment is 'thou shalt not commit adultery' and it's saying that if a priest commits an offence against the sixth commandment with a minor, what has committing adultery got to do with child abuse?

"By saying with a minor it's suggesting that the minor is a willing participant or has somehow given consent - to commit an offence, to commit adultery under the heading of adultery with a minor - that's just inappropriate and absolutely has no place here," she said.

Ms Collins pointed out that the bishops in England and Wales had put in a formal request to the Vatican not to use this language as they had used it before.

“They were asked at a press conference in the Vatican yesterday why they used it, and they said it was tradition. That just shows where we're still at with the Vatican.

“To consider abuse against a child as being an offence against the sixth commandment - thou shalt not commit adultery, is offensive to any child who has been abused, any person who has been abused as a minor, yet it’s still in there, that makes me very angry.

'Provocative'

Ms Collins also raised concerns regarding the use of the work provocative in another section of the code.

“Provocative? Who judges that? It shows the mindset still, in the case of something against an adult female 'well she could have been a temptation' because she was so provocative, and they also think that way about children, nothing in the wording there shows any change of attitude.

“It's all emphasising how you can reduce the penalty - it even says in one section that if there's been a criminal trial it may be thought that the civil punishment is enough and no further punishment might be necessary.

“Survivors over the decades have been looking for zero tolerance and that is that any priest or religious that abuses a child no longer remains a priest and there was a summit some years ago in Rome with all the bishops from around the world and zero tolerance was promised, and it has not shown up in this.

“There's no promise that someone will be removed as a priest if they abuse children,” she said.

Penalties

In Ms Collins' view, some parts of the document were good, such as extending the abuse to grooming and pornographic images, but there was nothing as far as penalties are concerned, she said.

“They're still not mandatory, they're still up to an individual to decide whether they should impose them or not. In some cases penalties don't have to be made public and that if someone gets a remission of their penalty that doesn't have to be made public either.”

Ms Collins said she did not think the church would make any changes to the document: “In the Catholic Church, Canon law is the ultimate ‘go to’ document - it is the rule, it is an absolute, it won't be tinkered with around the edges, this is set down now for many years to come.

“As a survivor of abuse as a child, it bothers me that I'm still being lumped in under the ‘shalt not commit adultery’. The fact that priests can be removed from office, but don't necessarily have to be.

"That the judgement of whether a case is serious or not is left down to the local bishop and the fact that right the way through it constantly talks about remitting the offence even reducing the penalty if the religious or the priest is remorseful.

“I'm a Christian, I'm a Catholic, and I'm very happy to see someone remorseful about their offence, but it doesn't mean they don't deserve to be punished for it," Ms Collins said,

"And yet that is still here in this, it seems they haven't learned anything - they've learned enough to be able to add more offences and to expand what is covered, but as far as penalties are concerned they have pulled back from the brink of making the changes that were so necessary, and it's very disappointing and the attitudinal things that are still there, like if someone is provocative - it's still looking at the female or the child as tempting the religious,” she added.

Priest accuses Minister of having ‘ABC, Any But Catholic’ attitude

A Co Wicklow priest has accused Minister for Health Simon Harris of having an "ABC, Any but Catholic" attitude after the Wicklow TD praised a school for ceasing its involvement with a Catholic agency in the provision of sex education.

Parish priest of Arklow Fr Pádraig Ó Cochláin was engaged in a testy Twitter exchange with Mr Harris on Sunday in the wake of the decision by Castleknock Educate Together, Dublin to cancel plans to have Accord, the Catholic Bishops' marriage advisory service, teach the Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme to its pupils.

In a tweet Mr Harris described the decision on foot of parental protests as: “Positive news. Sexual and relationship health is integral to overall health and wellbeing. Important our children have access to unbiased information. We must respect religious belief but all health education must always be based on facts, not ethos.”

Fr Ó Cochláin tweeted in response: “Beware of those who kill body and soul together. Simon’s statement has its own inherent ethos which is ABC, Any But Catholic! Health includes body AND (his emphasis) soul. Simon rejects Jesus’ teaching given by HIM to His Church and embraces the culture of Death ABCD.”

To which Mr Harris replied: “Thanks Fr Ó Cochláin for message. Judging my morality is probably above your pay grade. I’m happy to leave that to the man upstairs. Spreading division & judging others so harshly without ever having met them is not the Christianity that I know & respect. Every good wish, Simon.”

Speaking to The Irish Times Fr Ó Cochláin said: “Look, I’m not a nasty man I hope. In the heat of battle people can make statements.”

‘Humble priest’

In Arklow two years, he did not think he had met Mr Harris but “if he ever wanted to meet I’d be absolutely delighted to do so,” he said.

"I'm only a humble priest, only a servant of the people," he said, "but I believe diversity should include the Catholic Church. I don't see what harm Accord was going to do. It's a different church today. It had its difficulties in the past," said Fr Ó Cochláin.

He referred to commentary that today the Catholic Church in Ireland has been described as one of the safest places for children due to its enforced child protection measures.

“But I don’t want to add fuel to the fire,” he continued. “We can all be sensitive and people are allowed to be sensitive, but it seems that we can be diverse as long as we are not being Catholic,” he said.

Redemptorist priest Fr Gerry O’Connor, of the Association of Catholic Priests’s leadership team, also responded to Mr Harris’s “Positive news” tweet.

He tweeted: “Minister, so your argument is that there is One truth, One way. There are Nonnegotiable certaintities [sic]. It really sounds like an attitude that prevailed when a certain organisation was very powerful in Ireland. Perhaps you are right. However my instincts veer differently.”

The decision by Castleknock Educate Together school not to continue using Accord to provide its RSE programme followed protests by parents since last month and threats that they would withdraw their children from the school.

Court Hears Ennis Man Told Parish Priest He’d “Cut His Throat”

A court has heard how an Ennis man told a parish priest he would cut his throat in the grounds of the town’s Cathedral.

At Ennis District Court yesterday, Judge Patrick Durcan jailed 37-year-old Jamie O’Connor for three months for the assault on Fr Tom Hogan on March 22nd last.

In a statement to Gardaí, Fr Hogan he was was fearful for his own safety in a way that he has never been before during his 20 years in the town.

Ennis District Court has heard that at around 6:30 pm on March 22nd last, Fr Tom Hogan came into the Cathedral grounds and saw three homeless people including Jamie O’Connor.

Fr Hogan went about his business when minutes later, Mr O’Connor burst through the door of the church and tackled him, hurled abuse and threatened to cut his throat.

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr O’Connor had been living in a nearby tent in the church grounds for the previous three months, which Fr Hogan had asked him to remove, as there were works being carried out by a contractor.

He said Fr Hogan and a caretaker then removed the tent and stored Mr O’Connor’s belongings.

The Inspector said that when Mr O’Connor confronted Fr Hogan over the tent removal, he prevented Fr Hogan from putting the key in the door of the priests’ house, 10 metres from the church.

The court heard Mr O’Connor placed his hand very forcibly on the upper arm of Fr Hogan, who was very fearful he was going to be punched and harmed and that this went on for a number of minutes.

Another priest, Fr Ger Fitzgerald, arrived on the scene and defused the situation by placing his arms around Mr O’Connor and physically removing him from the area before calling Gardaí.

Judge Patrick Durcan imposed a three month prison term, back-dated to March 28th, and also banned Mr O’Connor from the the Cathedral and its environs for two years.