IN DEFENCE OF FATHER HUGH KENNEDY, BELFAST

IN DEFENCE OF FATHER HUGH KENNEDY, BELFAST

Father Hugh Kennedy - St Peter's Cathedral

The following letter arrived here by 1st class mail today and is being published as part of this blog's determination to seek the truth and give everyone the right of replay:

DEAR BISHOP,

PLEASE PUBLISH THIS ON YOUR BLOG IN DEFENCE OF FATHER KENNEDY. THE ATTACK ON HIM BY AN ANONYMOUS PRIEST WAS UNWARRANTED.

1. I AM A HUMBLE LAYMAN WORSHIPPING AT ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL.

2.  FR KENNEDY IS NOT IN AN "OBVIOUS GAY RELATIONSHIP" WITH ANYONE.

3. FR KENNEDY IS A COMPASSIONATE, CARING AND HOLY PRIEST WHO HAS SHOWN GREAT KINDNESS TO ME AND TO MANY.

4. THE CATHEDRAL IS NOT A "DISASTER".  IT IS WELL RUN, WITH GOOD LITURGY AND MUSIC - ALMOST UNIQUE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND. FR KENNEDY'S HOMILIES ARE INTERESTING AND INTELLIGENT, AND BRING PEOPLE TO GOD.

5. THE ANONYMOUS PRIEST SAYS HE IS NEW TO THE DIOCESE OF S & C -  HOW HAS HE GATHERED THIS INFORMATION SO RAPIDLY?

6. FR KENNEDY IS NOT A SNOB. HE IS ABLE TO ASSOCIATE WITH A VERY WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE AND MINISTERS TO ALL EQUALLY.

7. HE IS WIDELY LOVED AND RESPECTED IN ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL AND PARISH. AS WITH ALL PRIESTS, HE HAS HIS DETRACTORS, BUT THEY ARE VASTLY OUTNUMBERED BY THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.

8. HE HAS BEEN PUT THROUGH HELL THIS LAST TWO YEARS BY THE DIOCESE 

AND HAS COURAGEOUSLY RETURNED TO HIS JOB OF MINISTRY AND TO DO HIS DUTY TO HIS PEOPLE. THIS OUGHT TO BE COMMENDED.

LASTLY, I WOULD EARNESTLY ASK YOU TO PUT THIS ON YOUR BLOG IF ONLY IN THE INTERESTS OF FAIRNESS AND BALANCE. I, LIKE THE PRIEST, WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, BUT WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IS SINCERE AND EARNEST, AND MAY I HOPE REPAIR SOME OF THE WOUNDS WHICH FATHER KENNEDY HAS ENDURED.

THANK YOU.

THE HOLY SPIRIT - NOT THE POPE - WILL DECIDE ON THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN

THE HOLY SPIRIT - NOT THE POPE - WILL DECIDE ON THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN

I have been trying very hard to keep an open mind on Pope Francis. I had no time for his predecessors John Paul 11 and Benedict.

I was impressed with Francis's decision to live simply in St Martha's Hostel and not in the Papal Palace.

I was impressed with his decision to call himself simply "The Bishop of Rome" and not Supreme Pontiff.

I like the fact that he celebrates Mass daily for the Vatican workers.

I liked his refusal to condemn gay people.

I like the fact that last week he ordered 30 priests out of the curia and back to their diocese to serve the people in parishes. Most of the work in the curia can be done by good and well trained lay men and women.

He is in his late 70s and I suppose one old man can only do so much. The necessary reform of the Roman Catholic Institution will take many generations and many Bishops of Rome. At least Francis has set the ball rolling.

THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN:

I was disappointed this week that Francis said that the issue of the ordination of women could not even be discussed. As far as Francis is concerned the "church" in the form of horrible Pope John Paul 11 had settled the question for ever.

I hope that Francis is not forgetting the JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

I hope he is not forgetting that THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISION on all matters concerning the church.

I believe that the Holy Spirit has made it crystal clear to all thinking and prayerful Catholics that it is only a matter of time before we have OPTIONAL CELIBACY and WOMEN PRIESTS in the Catholic Church.

The Holy Spirit has made this clear through:

1. The falling numbers offering themselves for the priesthood.

2. The fact that OBLIGATORY CELIBACY is not working and is a cause of great scandal, corruption and confusion in the Catholic Church.

3. The fact of the typhoon of sexual abuse cases and criminal convictions that follow them.

4.   The fact that churches all over the world are becoming emptier and emptier.

5. The fact that our sister Christian churches are ordaining women to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopate - this week the Church of Ireland selected the first woman bishop as the Bishop of Meath in Ireland.

The Most Reverend Pat Story - Bishop of Meath

6. The fact that all over the world there are Catholic women being ordained in Catholic free church organisations.

It is only a matter of time before we have the first Roman Catholic women deacons, priests and bishops.

The HOLY SPIRIT is already shouting this GOOD NEWS from the rooftops.

Bishop Pat Buckley

28.11.2013

DOWN & CONNOR PRIEST RESPONDS TO BLOGS

DOWN AND CONNOR PRIEST RESPONDS TO BLOG

 Hello Pat, I am new on here and was told about your website. Clergy and laity are talking about it which is no harm. I have been reading it, on and off, this last week - haven't read all of it. A few random observations which I hope you won't take offensively on various matters:

1. Catholics do not believe that their fellow Christians won't be in Heaven. The church doesn't teach this - never has. a priest called Feeney was excomm in the 50's for saying Protestants can't go to Heaven. This is in contrast to the 'saved' Protestants who are adamant Catholics are damned unless they 'convert' to their mindset.

2. The infallibility of the Pope is a charism of the Holy Spirit for the good of the church. It does not mean the pope is always right - you should know this. Infallibility has been rarely used - only three times - apart from Church councils. The Pope is as liable to be wrong/ sinful, etc. as all of us are. God promised to guide the Church, however, throu the Holy Spirit.

3. To worship Mary is idolatry and would separate you from the faith of the Church. no true catholic regards her as a 'goddess'.

4. re. euthanasia/abortion - it is not to impose your Christian beliefs to utterly resist these - anymore than it is to resist stealing/murder/abuse. There are things that are wrong of themselves and it is our duty to oppose them by every legitimate means and seek to dissuade others from them. Extreme cases make for bad laws. Deliberate Euthanasia and abortion are acts of murder - never right.

5. The case of bishop Dallat was news to me. I found him the most 'real' of the bishops during the walsh regime (walsh unapproachable, sarcastic and with a shed load of 'baggage'; Farquhar's nickname being 'Coco the clown' among priests). The abolition of celibacy would not alleviate our probs - might add to them and further complicate matters. Whatever about bp Dallat - good luck to him and God rest him.

Bishop Dallat

6. Unfair to blame bp Treanor for D&C probs. He didn't cause them. 

This place was/is totally dysfunctional, dominated by characters who were gravely lacking in basic human/pastoral skills. Treanor may not be personality of the year but he is good-hearted. p.walsh's 'promotion' was a symptom of everything wrong with D&C. C Daly, I once heard accurately described as 'a pompous little fusspot' LOL. 

Cackle Daly

These men had no ability to interact meaningfully with either priests or laity - totally unqualified spiritually, humanly. No 'smell of the sheep' - they kept 'the sheep' at bay and regarded them with contempt. Farquhar was promising very gifted but was suppressed by Daly and always in the shade of Walsh. He hadn't the strength of character to face them down. he resorted to being 'the clown' sad and tragic for him. It has greatly affected his health. gone to seed years ago.

Paddy Walsh

7. Dallat was imposed on Walsh who craved episcopate for his mate Tom Toner. 

Tom Toner

Daly spiked this. Toner, God rest him, would have been another useless tool and clone of Walsh. When poor old Dallat died, Walsh again sought TT. Again denied. donal mckeown was again imposed on Walsh who wasn't informed of the apt by the nuncio but by mckeown (dickie) himself by phone - much to PW's dismay. A brief moment of hope when dickie was apopointed soon evaporated when dmcK jumped into Patty's soutance pocket and became a drone too. sad.

Donal McKeown

8. the donaghy case was horrific.

Father James Donaghy

 I had some limited insight into the suffering of his victims. a friend of mine was present for the entire court case - the evidence of the victims and when JD himself took the stand. The trial had to be halted one day because a juror became physically ill listening to a victim's evidence. JD was a very violent predator. I was told that watching Fr McCafferty give evidence was like watching a crucifixion. Walsh has many unanswered questions which he refuses to answer. The UTV prog in recent months flagged the issues but no one took them up. Very very strange indeed. Thankfully justice was done for all concerned.

9. The Hugh kennedy saga was and is astonishing. 

Hugh Kennedy on left

he has no respect among the people of st peter's - a parish he has destroyed. In any other walk of life, he would be handed his p45 but not in D&C. His open gay affair is shocking to people. He would be forgiven if he was a kind man but he is an arrogant snob - again no smell of the sheep. The diocesan cathedral is a mess. God luck to Ciaran dallat and God bless him! Again, Walsh appointed Kennedy. Walsh seems to have a penchant for disastrous decisions. Kennedy's obvious dysfunctionality should have been addressed with the man for his own good years ago but he was let run amok and even indulged.

10. Lay People are talking about homosexual Down and Connor clergy's exploits in gay bars and cruising areas. Belfast is a village. The dogs on the street know their names and they are going to get caught. Journalists are reading this sight. This is a powder keg. Priests have been seen in gay bars in Belfast openly acting up. Stoopid or what?

Anyhow, this was a disjointed response to issues on your site Pat. I wish you well. A brother priest "Sagart, Dun agus Conaire"

RELIGIOUS NUTS versus SPIRITUAL FRUITS

RELIGIOUS NUTS versus SPIRITUAL FRUITS

There is a massive difference between being "spiritual" and being "religious" - between SPIRITUAL FRUITS and RELIGIOUS NUTS.

RELIGIOUS NUTS:

THE CATHOLIC ONES:

1. Roman Catholics who think that the pope is infallible.

2. Roman Catholic who believe that their church organisation is not absolutely corrupt.

3. Roman Catholics who think that only Catholics go to Heaven.

4. Roman Catholics who think that God spend all day every day worried about what people do with their penises and vaginas.

5. Roman Catholics who are members of cults like the NEOCATECHUMENATE and OPUS DEI.

Roman Catholics who make Mary, the mother of Jesus, into a goddess.

6. Roman Catholics who go to see moving statues.

7. Roman Catholics who kill for God and their religion.

THE PROTESTANT ONES:

1. Protestants who interpret the Bible literally.

2. Protestants who think the world is only 6,000 years old.

3. Protestants who think Catholics and others will not get into Heaven.

4. Protestants who take the term "born again" literally.

5. Protestants who call the pope the anti Christ.

6. Protestants who kill for God and their religion.

THE MUSLIM ONES:

1. Muslims who interpret the Koran literally.

2. Muslims who believe in and wage a Holy War.

3. Muslims who think that if the blow themselves up there are 72 virgins waiting on them.

4. Muslims who try and kill authors and cartoon artists.

5. Muslims who kill in the so called name of Allah.

THE JEWISH ONES:

1. Jews who hate, torture and kill Palestinians.

2. Jews who believe it's okay to have nuclear weapons.

3. Jews and kill in the name of Yahweh.

4. Jews who think that the current Israel is their Promised Land.

THE OTHERS ONES:

1. Cults of all kinds.

2. The Mormons.

3. Jehovah's Witnesses.

SPIRITUAL FRUITS:

1. Love.

2. Hope.

3. Faith.

4. Tolerance.

5. Respect.

6. Good deeds.

7, Forgiveness.

8. Rationality.

9. Good manners.

10. Non violence.

11. Peace.

12. Humility.

13. Modesty.

14. Kindness.

15. Decency.

16. Neighbourliness.

17. The honouring of the aged.

18. The love of animals and nature.

19. Gratitude.

20. Thanksgiving.

21. The care of children and the vulnerable.

22. The admiration of beauty.

23. Sharing.

24. Hospitality.

25. Non-judgementalism.

MAYBE SOME OF THE REST OF YOU MIGHT ADD TO THE LISTS ?

THE STRONG CASE FOR EUTHANASIA

THE STRONG CASE FOR EUTHANASIA

The question of euthanasia is back in the headlines for two reasons:

1. The Irish Government intends to explore the issue in the Irish Parliament.

2. The highly respected Catholic theologian Hans Kung, who has developed Parkinson's Disease is saying that he is considering the option.

Hans Kung

Euthanasia is a social, moral and ethical issue. It should not be a "religious" issue in the narrow sense of religion. Each of our countries in the 21st century should ideally be a modern, democratic and pluralist country. At this time in history it is crazy for any nation to be a "catholic, Protestant or Muslim" nation. 

Adherents of the different religions should be quite free to hold their religious views and to have those views preached to them by their church or religious leaders - and indeed to vote according to their religious views.

But no nation on earth should be dictated to by any religion. And any church or religion that tries to dictate to the state should be told where to go.

There are secular moral and ethical issues surrounding the euthanasia debate:

1. No state or state agency should force or pressurise, either in a subtle or open manner, a person into choosing euthanasia.

2. The state should have a secular, moral and ethical system in place to make sure that the person choosing euthanasia is choosing it freely and not under pressure.

3. Anyone forcing a person into euthanasia should be tried for attempted murder, murder or manslaughter.

4. A number of doctors and health professions should be involved in the euthanasia choice.

5. People who chose the euthanasia option should not have to travel to another country but be able to avail of facilities either in their own home or in a suitable health care setting.

Personally I do not think that I would ever choose euthanasia. I am a Christian. The voluntary death of Christ on the cross and His embracing of suffering is a central part of my faith and spirituality. 

I would want to experience my life to the very last moment and if I were destined to be ill and suffer greatly in the lead up to my death I would want to go through all of that with the crucifix in my hand and unite my sufferings with the sufferings of Christ.

However I would never, ever, wish to impose my faith and spirituality on any other human being - be they atheist, agnostic, Christian, Muslim or whatever.

I can seen how some people cannot see any value in a long, debilitating, suffering-filled death.

I respect their right to say "ENOUGH NOW" and to end their life before they descend into a merciless pit of suffering.

I think that a modern state should give everyone in their right mind, who is acting freely, to call it a day.

Euthanasia should be legal - and of course it should be optional.

Bishop Pat Buckley

22.11.13 

WHAT TURNED ME INTO A CHURCH "REBEL"

WHAT TURNED ME INTO A CHURCH "REBEL"

A Down and Connor (Belfast) priest wrote yesterday in comments:

"THANK GOD WE ARE "STUCK WITH +NOEL. FAR BETTER THAN THE CLOWN BEFORE HIM AND CACKLE DALY"

Bishop Walsh - "The Clown"

He was obviously referring to Bishop Paddy Walsh - whom he called a "clown" and Walsh's predecessor Cahal Daly.

Cackle Daly

I came to the Diocese of Down and Connor in 1978 and was made a curate at the cathedral in Divis Flats - St. Peter's. At that time Bishop William Philbin was the bishop. Philbin was a shy and remote man - a scholar who spent most of his time translating ancient Greek and Irish. But he never bothered me and generally speaking I think he let the priests get on with it. 

When Philbin retired in 1982 Rome appointed  Cahal Daly as bishop - a native of Down and Connor but who had been the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. He was 66 when he came to Down and Connor.

Unlike Philbin he wanted to be involved in everything and control everything. He was really a nosy old woman. He liked living in his palace, had a personal driver and a "valet" called James. He lived to holiday in French monasteries and buy lots and lots of expensive vestments from France, Belgium and Rome.

I was living at the cathedral with four other priests - Father Vincent McKinley the administrator an ignorant, cynical and woman obsessed North Antrim man), Father Joe McGurnaghan (a cynic who played classical music all day), Fr Jimmy McCabe (a sincerely pious Derry man who was a chain smoker) and Father Seam Crummey a Salesian and an alcoholic.

When he got drunk Father Crummey liked to recite his favourite piece:

I am the King of Siam,

For women I don't give a damn;

But a good looking boy is always a joy,

The say I'm a bugger; I am.

On one occasion when he was drunk he recited this poem in the presence of His Lordship, The Most Reverend Dr Cahal Daly. Needless to say the room went into a stunned and embarrassed silence.

In the presbytery we lived like princes every day. Daily lunch at 1 pm involved vegetable broth laced with sherry, the finest of meats and fish accompanied by the finest of wines, rich deserts, cheese board with port and coffee with brandy.

All around us the people of Divis Flats were living a daily nightmare - 83% unemployment, armed paramilitaries everywhere, abuse of prescription drugs, women with children with different fathers and rampant poverty.

After a year I had to make a choice between life in the presbyters and ministry to the people. I chose the people.

I became involved in the schools, the youth clubs and in tackling the poverty, the awful housing and the car stealing - so called joyriding. We organised a clean-up of the area, a yearly Divis Festival and a residents association.

All of this got me into trouble within the presbytery - resentment, jealousy, anger. On one occasion I was physically beaten up in the priest's dining room.

Father McKinley reported me to Cackle Daly for being disobedient and disruptive. 

Daly loved me to Kilkeel - a place I came to love. There I did all my priestly duties but also tackled the misbehaviour of the UDR (part time British Army regiment) and the efforts of the INLA (paramilitaries) t recruit our young people.

Daly then moved me to Larne. In Larne I did my ordinary priestly duties but also tackled unionist domination and discrimination. For instance while 17% of Larne was Catholic only 3% of Catholics were employed in Ballylumpford Power Station. In 1989 I was elected to Larne Borough Council as a cross community candidate.

In 1986 Cahal Daly sacked me from the parish of Larne and from the Diocese of Down and Connor. He gave me two reasons:

1. Being critical of the church in the media.

2. Being overly involved in community work.

I have stayed in Larne as an independent priest and bishop operating an independent ministry.

In 1990 Cahal Daly was moved to Armagh. Paddy Walsh became the Bishop of Down and Connor.

Soon after he was appointed to sent the diocesan chancellor Canon Raymund Fitzpatrick to open negotiations with me with the hope of a reconciliation.

We had 6 meetings. On the basis of those meetings I prepared a 15 page document for Bishop Walsh on how we might effect a reconciliation. They wanted 7 concessions from me. I have them 10.

I asked for 3 things:

1. That they would acknowledge me as a priest of the diocese.
2. That they would give me a ministry, of their choice, in the diocese.
3. That they might guide me in how I might reconcile my conscience and official church teaching.

This document could not be delivered to the bishop's house or to Canon Fitzpatrick's house. I was to park under a tree in the Somerton Road area of Belfast and pass an unmarked brown envelope to the driver of a car parked under the next tree. That car contained Canon Fitzpatrick who was lying on the floor of the car.

Four weeks later Bishop Walsh wrote to me to tell me that my document was unacceptable and that if I did not cease celebrating marriages by a certain date he would convene a church trial to have me suspended from the priesthood.

Having received that threat negotiations broke down and I was consecrated a bishop, validly but illicitly on May 19th 1998.

The correspondence between myself and Cahal Daly and Bishop Walsh are available for viewing by appointment at The Oratory in Larne and after my death will be publicly available at a Belfast venue.

These were the events that turned me into what they call a church "rebel".

Bishop Pat Buckley
20.11.2013.

   

WHY DOWN AND CONNOR IS STUCK WITH BISHOP NOEL TREANOR

WHY DOWN & CONNOR IS STUCK WITH NOEL TREANOR

Bishop Noel Treanor

When Noel Treanor was made Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008 the Vatican plan was that after a few years experience in Down and Connor he would be transferred to Armagh to replace Cardinal Sean Brady who has made such a mess of the Church's handing of the sexual abuse of children by priests.

Cardinal Brady interviewed abused children

Cardinal Brady, as the younger Father Sean Brady, had interviewed children in secret, with their parents locked out of the interview room about their abuse by Father Brendan Smyth, Ireland's most notorious paedophile priest. 

Father Brendan Smyth

But Bishop Treanor dropped a clanger when he attacked Ian Elliott - the highly respected head of the Nationan Board For Safeguarding Children - a body set up by the Irish Bishops and Religious Superiors.

Ian Elliott

Bishop Treanor very foolishly accused Mr Eliott of "spinning" against the Irish Bishops  - something that could not be further from the truth.  Mr Elliott is a professional to his finger tips.

Bishop Treanor's complaint against Mr Elliott was investigated by Judge Catherine McGuinness the head of Ireland's Supreme Court and she found Bishop Treanor's allegations without foundation.

Judge Catherine McGuinness

Bishop Treanor had to issue a humiliating and public apology to Mr Elliott. What a blunder for a man like Treanor who had spent years being a Vatican "diplomat" in Europe.

And with one fell swoop Bishop Treanor scuttled his chances of being promoted to Armagh and being made an archbishop and a cardinal.

This week it has emerged that Bishop Treanor has had another go at the National Board for Safeguarding Children. The Board had conducted an investigation into clerical sexual abuse in Down & Connor and is soon to publish its findings.

But Bishop Treanor launched his own enquiry - without informing the Board - which was conducted by Dr John Devanney of Queen's University, Belfast.

Over the weekend the National Board has expressed "surprise" about Bishop Treanor's private enquiry and said it knew nothing about it !

It looks as if Bishop Treanor - wounded by his failed attack on Mr Elliott - is continuing his fight with the National Board. Is that not petty? And why should church goers have to pay for two enquiries?

Not that Bishop Treanor is worried about spending church money. He is currently spending a fortune on renovating his palace - called "Lisbreen" on Belfast's Antrim Road.

Has Bishop Treanor not heard about the Bishop of Limburg in Germany who has recently been sacked by Pope Francis for spending Euro 31 million on his episcopal palace?

Bishop of Limburg

Maybe it's time that Treanor changed his palace's name from "Lisbreen" to "Limburg"?

Maybe its time Pope Francis had a work with Noel for spending so much money on his palace?

Bishop of Limburg and Pope Francis

The thing about Bishop Noel Treanor is that there is a strong rumour that he does not even like being in Down and Connor.

Rumours in Europe and Rome says that Treanor finds Down and Connor difficult, its priests "problematic" and his palace at Lisbreen "cold and damp".

But unless the Vatican can find a desk job for poor Noel in Rome or back in Europe it looks as he is stuck with Down & Connor and Down & Connor is stuck with him.

Can anything really good and happy come from such an unfortunate marriage?

Bishop Pat Buckley
18.11.13

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER "DISAPPEARED" - PRIESTS CHILDREN?

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER "DISAPPEARED" - PRIEST'S CHILDREN?

Today a Diocese of Down and Connor (Belfast) parish priest comments on this blog:

I AM A GOOD PRIEST. I AM GAY AND HAVE SINNED. 

MY FELLOW PARISH PRIEST IS SUPPORTING HIS CHILD OUT OF PARISH MONEY.

(A priest who with no one will associate - Down and Connor)

So this Down and Connor parish priest is saying that there is at least one parish priest in Down and Connor who has fathered a child and who is supporting him with parish funds. Is this WITH or WITHOUT the knowledge of the Down and Connor bishop Noel Treanor?

This current PP and "father" is not the only one in the history of Down and Connor to have fathered a child.

I once had to intervene in the case of Father Archie Kelly who was the parish priest of Castwellan in Co. Down, who had fathered a child.

And there was, not long ago,  the curate of Randalstown, Father Gordon McKinstry.

Of course there have been far more prominent cases of priest and bishops having children. Here in Ireland there was the infamous case of Bishop Eamon Casey who produced a son called Peter with Annie Murphy.

Bishop Casey and son Peter

There there was the case of "Father" Michael Cleary who had a son with Phylis Hamilton - whom he always introduced to people as "a homeless unmarried mother I took pity on".

Cleary, Phylis and Son

I also assisted Adriana Allsworth of Birmingham in England who has 3 children for an Irish priest who abandoned her and the kids and ran back to his religious order in Ireland.

Recently in New York, Father Caismir Manyonyi, a newly ordained priest stepped down from ministry having admitted he fathered a child while in the seminary.

Father Manyonyi

In Los Angeles the auxiliary bishop, Bishop Zavala (60) stepped down having admitted he was the father of two children.

Bishop Zavala

In Rome, Father Thomas Williams - of the cult like Legionaries of Christ stepped down after fathering a child there.

Father Williams

There is a long history - even in Ireland, of priests and bishop fathering children. Most of the time the church pays the women large amounts of money to go away and keep silent.

Just look at some common Irish surnames:

McEntaggart - "the son of the priest".

McAnespie - "the son of the bishop".

McNabb - "the son of the abbot".

Many popes have fathered children. Many bishops have fathered children. And many more priests have fathered children.

I would guess that there are HUNDREDS of priests out there in Ireland. I would like to hear from them.

Celibacy is not working. Many priests find it very difficult to keep old Leroy in their trousers, cassocks or religious habits.

I run a group called BETHANY for women who are or have been involved with priests. Two I know of have priests children. Four I know of have aborted priest's babies. In all 4 cases the priests paid for the abortion. In 2 cases the priest travelled with the woman to England for the abortion.

Afterwards priests handle the abortion by simply forgetting about or or by going to priest friends for confession and forgiveness.

Gerry Adams and the IRA have their DISAPPEARED.  But the Catholic Church, in Ireland - and internationally have their "DISAPPEARED" - all the children fathered by priests and bishops.

These children deserve to know and have contact with their fathers. These children and their mothers deserve recognition and support from the church.

Bishop Pat Buckley
16.11.13.