400 CHILDREN DIED IN SCOTTISH CONVENT AND BURIED IN A MASS GRAVE

THE TELEGRAPH 10 SEPTEMBER 2017

Up to 400 children died at a Scottish orphanage run by nuns and were buried in a single unmarked grave, new research has revealed.

The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, which ran the Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanarkshire, has previously acknowledged that 158 children were buried in compartments at a nearby cemetery.

But there have long been suspicions that the real figure was far higher.

Now research carried out by BBC Radio 4's File on Four programme and the Sunday Post newspaper, including a trawl of more than 15,000 official records, has revealed hundreds of children died at Smyllum - far more than the charity that ran it has admitted.

The investigation into Smyllum Park orphanage reveals 402 babies, toddlers and children died there between 1864 and when it closed its doors in 1981.

Most of the children sent to live at the orphanage who died were buried in an unmarked mass grave at St Mary's Cemetery.

Children at the infants' school at Smyllum orphanage, which was opened in 1864

Headstones mark the graves of the nuns and staff members buried nearby but no stone or memorial has ever recorded the names of the lost children.

The revelation that up to 400 youngsters - and some adults - are buried there has provoked calls for Scotland's ongoing Child Abuse Inquiry to investigate.

Former First Minister, Jack McConnell, who, on behalf of the Scottish Government, apologized to victims of care home abuse in 2004, said it was shameful they were still waiting for truth and justice. He said: "It is heartbreaking to discover so many children may have been buried in these unmarked graves. After so many years of silence, we must now know the truth of what happened here."

Former residents have accused the nuns and staff who ran the home of beating and neglecting some of the children in their care.

 Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanarkshire which operated between 1864 and 1981

Their allegations formed part of the campaign that inspired the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. The charity that ran Smyllum has already given evidence to the abuse inquiry, claiming earlier this year that abuse allegations were a "mystery" with "no evidence" of mistreatment.

The care given at Smyllum will be scrutinized during the second phase of the inquiry starting in November.

The latest revelations have provoked calls for those sessions to include an attempt to detail the children who died at Smyllum and discover exactly how many are buried in the graveyard at St Mary's.

Relatives of children who died at Smyllum are also calling for an immediate ground investigation at the cemetery using ground-penetrating radar to establish how many bodies are buried there.

The new probe involved scrutiny of thousands of death certificates. 

In 2003, burial records given to campaigners by Smyllum bosses suggested 120 children had been buried at St Mary's but relatives believed the figure was too low. The latest figures come after 402 death certificates listing Smyllum as the place of death or normal residence was found in archives.

No details are recorded of the children's lives, apart from their names, date of birth and when they died. Causes of death include accidents and diseases such as tuberculosis, flu and scarlet fever. Some died of malnutrition. The research was carried out by Janet Bishop, of the Association of Scottish Genealogists And Researchers In Archives. She trawled through more than 15,000 official records. Most of the deaths occurred between 1870 and 1930. 

It is believed most of the children, without parents or families able to pay for funerals, are buried at St Mary's.

Checks with surrounding cemeteries and local authorities found only two of the 402 laid to rest elsewhere.

11,601 children passed through Smyllum Park between 1864 and 1981, according to evidence given at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul declined several requests for the interview.

But, in a statement, it said: "We are Core Participants in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and are co-operating fully with that inquiry.

"We remain of the view that this inquiry is the most appropriate forum for such investigations.

"Given the ongoing work of the inquiry we do not wish to provide any interviews.

"We wish to again make clear that, as Daughters of Charity, our values are totally against any form of abuse and thus, we offer our most sincere and heartfelt apology to anyone who suffered any form of abuse whilst in our care."

The Scottish Government said, as Smyllum is part of the inquiry, it would be inappropriate to comment.

Six-year-old boy 'killed by nun at orphanage in 1960s'

Police said they found no evidence of foul play in Sammy Carr's death.

A boy was killed by a nun at a Scottish orphanage, a former resident has claimed.

Sammy Carr died in 1964 while under the care of the Smyllum Park in Lanark, South Lanarkshire.

Police Scotland investigated the claims made by a former resident and said they found no evidence of criminality.

But the sisters of six-year-old Sammy are now convinced he was attacked before he died.

Symllum Park has long been the subject of allegations that some of its young residents suffered physical and psychological abuse. The orphanage was run by the Poor Sisters of Charity, now known as the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is investigating the facility and four other residential care establishments run by the same order.

When Sammy died, his sisters said they were told he had fallen ill after playing with a dead rat.

The youngster was buried in St Mary's Cemetery in Lanark, where more than 150 children from Smyllum lie in unmarked graves. They died from disease or accidents between 1864 and the 1960s.

Now a 63-year-old great grandmother, Sammy's sister Ann Marie Carr said: "The nuns told us he'd died from a tumour in his brain. Something to do with the rat poison through his

They accepted that explanation until 2015, when another former resident told the authorities he witnessed Sammy being assaulted by a nun at the institution shortly before his death.

The 59-year-old now lives in England and has asked for his surname not to be publicised. David agreed to talk to STV News about his claims after Sammy's family gave him their consent.

He told how he and Sammy were playing with matches at the orphanage when they were caught by one of the nuns.

"Sammy was on the floor curled up in a ball and she was just kicking into him, kicking into his back, into his head," said David, who was the same age as Sammy at the time.

"It was proper kicks. I went over and laid on top of Sammy's upper half of his body....I just said, 'Sister, please don't hurt Sammy'."

David said Sammy fell ill after the attack: "It would have to be within days, if not a day. There's no doubt in my heart, she killed him. She didn't kill him there and then but he died days later, or a week later. She definitely killed him."

Sammy's death certificate records him as having died from a brain haemorrhage. David's allegations were investigated by the police. A detective phoned to tell him the results of their inquiry.

"She says we've put Sammy's autopsy report in front of a panel of four people. They've no reasons to suspect foul play. Sammy died of malnutrition and bleeding to the back of the head. I couldn't say anything. My head just emptied....bleeding to the back of the head. Kicking the life out of him. You don't have to be a detective to work that out."

Police Scotland told STV News they had carried out "a robust and thorough investigation and found no evidence of criminality."

Both David and Ms Carr said the police told them the nun involved had died in 2014.

David said: "All I can hope is someone sees this, because there were other kids there, and they remember it, and they come forward and back me up. They're not backing me up, they're backing Sammy up. You're doing what's right."

Asked if she believed her brother had been assaulted, Ms Carr said she was beaten at the orphanage by the same woman: "I got some doings, I got some doings so I do believe it. I got punched, kicked.

"I can't understand why a person at that age, carrying it all this time, would come to the family and say that. They would have just left it and let us believe what we were told."

Of the regime at Smyllum, she stated: "If it wasn't me, it would be somebody else, and you could hear the screams coming out of them, and there wasn't a thing any of us could do about it cause if we tried to do something we got punished as well. "

In a statement, the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul said they were "shocked to learn of the accusations made in relation to the tragic death of Samuel Carr, and have always co-operated fully with any requests for information from the relevant authorities, and will continue to do so.

"In particular, full co-operation was given to the police and following their investigation they found no evidence of criminality.

"The order is also co-operating fully with the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment."

PAT SAYS:

Another horror story of the Catholic Church's abuse of innocent little children.

400 children buried in an unmarked grave and one child murdered by a nun and all of them buried with less dignity than a family pet!

This reminds us that these are NOT one off cases but rather a sign of abuse and cruelty that was ENDEMIC and SYSTEMATIC in Catholicism.

Not many years ago I went to say Mass at the grave of a young boy who had been murdered by a Christian Brother in Tralee in Kerry.

The local Catholic doctor provided the Christian Brothers at the time with a death certificate saying the 14-year-old died of "DEMENTIA"!

You can talk about "all the good" done by some people in the Catholic Church until the cows come home.

But there is no getting away from the fact that this is an EVIL INSTITUTION that has perpetrated serious crimes against humanity.

Jesus himself said that a good tree cannot produce bad fruit.

Quite simply we are dealing with the same forest that produced trees like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin - the forest of EVIL!

Ian Paisley Jnr faces questions on €100,000 holidays in Sri Lanka

• Irish Independent
 
• Claire Newell, Edward Malnick and Nicola Smith

Holidays: Ian Paisley Jnr

IAN Paisley Jnr faces questions over holidays worth more than €100,000 he accepted from a country he is now helping to secure a post-Brexit trade deal.

The prominent Democratic Unionist Party MP accepted two all-expenses-paid trips from the Sri Lankan government, according to documents seen by the ‘Daily Telegraph’.

Mr Paisley took his wife and four children to the country, according to the reports. They flew business class, stayed in fine hotels and were provided with a chauffeur-driven Mercedes.

However, the trips were never disclosed in the House of Commons register of interests.

Mr Paisley is one of 10 DUP members relied on by Prime Minister Theresa May to prop up her government.

Shortly after the holidays Mr Paisley spoke in Parliament and suggested Queen Elizabeth could visit Sri Lanka to aid the peace process there.

This week, Mr Paisley posted a picture of himself with Amari Wijewardene, the Sri Lankan high commissioner, outside the Houses of Parliament captioned: “With Sri Lanka high commissioner to discuss NI-Sri Lanka trade deal after Brexit.”

Two days after the meeting in Parliament, Mr Paisley posted a picture of himself alongside Liam Fox, Britain’s International Trade Secretary. It was captioned: “With Liam Fox discussing our trade agreements post Brexit.”

The Sri Lankan high commission in London said yesterday that Mr Paisley was considered to be in a good position to help “enhance trade relations between Sri Lanka and UK” given the DUP’s role supporting Mrs May’s government.

The trips, which took place in 2013, have also raised questions given Sri Lanka’s questionable human rights record. Later that year, Conservative MPs were banned from accepting trips funded by the Sri Lankan government due to concern about the regime’s lobbying tactics.

The two trips took place in March and July 2013. On the first, he stayed for 10 days and took his entire family. On the second, he stayed for seven days and took his wife, Fiona, and two of their children.

The Sri Lankan ministry of external affairs is understood to have paid for business-class flights for the couple and their children, costing about €17,000, and arranged six hotels across the two trips, picking up the bill for their meals at the hotels.

The government also paid for helicopters to shuttle Mr Paisley and his family around, at a cost of €12,500 for one of the trips, with its defence ministry clearing space for them to land.

During their stays, they were taken to attractions including an elephant sanctuary, a national park and a Buddhist temple, with the costs of the excursions covered by the government.

By failing to declare his trips, Mr Paisley appears to be in breach of parliamentary rules – as funded trips that cost more than £300 (€320) must be declared.

Mr Paisley has been a vocal supporter of the Sri Lankan government in recent years, calling for “positive trading opportunities” between Britain and the island, as well as highlighting how human rights abuses may have been committed by Tamils as well as the government.

Mr Paisley declined to answer questions from ‘The Telegraph’ about his trips to Sri Lanka, and his subsequent discussions with the high commissioner on a post-Brexit trade deal. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

PAT SAYS:

Ian Paisley's hiding of his gifts from the Sri Lankans is another chapter in a long list of political dishonesty and hiding.

Many politicians will try and get away with this if they can.

Maybe a tougher declaration requirement should be introduced and serious penalties for breaking them?

Big Ian was into his religion but I imaging he had a bob or two also.

Little Ian has proven he is weak when it comes to making money and gifts.

In fact, I met him one day a few years ago with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner. The meeting was not planned. Our paths crosed in the Galgorm Hotel and Spa. 

I was there with friends and Ian came in with the High Commissioner.

He introduced me to the Sri Lankan diplomat as: "One of our most famous Northern Ireland priests".

So Ian and the High Commissioner have a longstanding friendship.

The incident shows that politics, as well as power corrupts.

'Agnostic' Corbyn upsets Catholics by taking Communion

 Gordon Rayner THE TELEGRAPH


Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of "disrespecting the Catholic faith" after he took Holy Communion despite his apparent agnosticism.

The Labour leader, who has never practiced Catholicism, took wine and wafers during the funeral of the former GMB Union president Mary Turner, who died in July.

The Diocese of Westminster, which is responsible for the church Mr Corbyn was attending at the time, responded by saying that it expected celebrants to be "in full communion with the Catholic Church" in order to receive Communion.

The left-wing New Statesman magazine reports that Mr Corbyn queued for Communion with his Mexican wife Laura Alvarez during the service at Sacred Heart Church in Kilburn, north London.

He is not the only Labour leader to be criticised for taking Communion: in 1996 the late Cardinal Basil Hume wrote to Tony Blair asking him to refrain from taking Communion when he was attending Mass with his family.

Mr Blair was at the time a practicing Anglican, and replied: "I wonder what Jesus would have made of it."

Mr Corbyn's office declined to comment on his taking Communion, but a Labour source said the Labour leader had spoken at the funeral and "paid his respects to her family and Mary's memory".

Clare Bowskill of the Latin Mass Society said: "Most Catholics would think that was disrespecting the faith quite considerably. Even Anglicans are normally told at Mass that they are welcome to come up for a blessing but they do not take Communion."

The Eucharist is considered the most important of the seven sacraments, and Catholic Church guidelines state that non-Christians cannot receive it. According to the book of Corinthians, "any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself".

Sacred Heart is part of the Diocese of Westminster, which said in a statement: "To receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, a person is expected to be in full communion with the Catholic Church.  Normally, a priest would presume this is the case, unless he has clear knowledge or indication that this is not the case."

Mr Corbyn has always refused to be drawn on whether he has any religious beliefs, though Labour confirmed today that he is not a Catholic and did not convert to Catholicism to marry his current wife.

In 2015 he said: “I respect all faiths, I probably spend more time going to religious services than most people, of all types. I go to synagogues, I go to mosques, I go to temples, I go to churches, and I have many humanistic friends and I have many atheist friends. I respect them all."

Asked if it would be accurate to describe him as an atheist, he said: “There are so many things about me written that are unfair, unjust and ill-searched that it would be wrong. I’m not going any further than that, belief is a private thing.”

Mr Corbyn's church visits have got him into trouble in the past. Shortly after becoming Labour leader he was roundly criticised when he refused to sing the National Anthem at a Battle of Britain memorial service in St Paul's Cathedral.

PAT SAYS:

I don't see any problem with Jeremy Corbyn receiving Holy Communion at the funeral of his friend.

Of course it against of the teaching and discipline of the RC Church for a non-Catholic to receive Communion.

It is also against its teaching for a Catholic who is not "in good standing" or in "mortal sin" to take Communion.

I do not like Tony Blair or much that he says. But he was quite correct to respond in the way he did to being told he should not have taken Communion when he was not Catholic - "I WONDER WHAT JESUS WOULD HAVE MADE OF IT".

Of course, Jesus when he first made Communion available was a JEW!

And the first people who received Holy Communion were also JEWS!

Can you imagine Jesus presiding over a Eucharist and REFUSING ANYONE PRESENT Communion?

I cannot.

At our Oratory in Larne - ANYONE who presents for Communion receives it.

And that has included members of other Christian churches, Muslims, and members of the Parsee faith of India.

Communion is not a REWARD for being a Catholic or being GOOD.

Communion is spiritual food.

It is also a sign of community/communion among those present.

I have never - and will never refuse Communion to anyone.

It is God's gift. Who am I to refuse God's gift to anyone?

I have been refused Communion myself TWICE - once by traditionalist Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and once by Phonsie Cullinan in Waterford.

DUBLINS "SECRET" CHANGES

Diarmuid Martin seems to have taken to the habit of not publishing his clerical changes/ appointments whereas every other bishop in the country publishes his appointments on their websites a d in the mainstream media!

His second strategy in recent years seems to have been the dismantling of his personnel advisory panel in favour of him personally controlling the appointments.

I wonder what is behind this move on Diarmuid's part from collegiality to dictatorship?

Is he becoming like an aged and soon to be gone leader who is reacting to his forthcoming demise by pulling all powers to himself?

While Diarmuid is a media darling he has had a deteriorating relationship with his priests. Those few he "loves" he brings closely around him. Those he does not live he sends to the outer regions. And those he is indifferent to he plays chess with.

Very strange behaviour indeed!

And then there is his very clear affection for gay priests and semi seminarians. He keeps these close and protected. They are the "eggs" on which Diarmuid The Hen, roosts.

And then there is Dermo's baby, Georgeous. 

Some say he is gone. Others think that Dermo has him hidden away in some cosy roost and will produce his new 'chicken" at a surprise laying ceremony in November?

And The Mother Hen from the Pro Cathedral, it is rumoured has been removed and placed as a mere hospital chaplain. Hospital chaplains are very often young priests starting out or members of a religious order.

Administrators if the Pro are generally promoted to being a PP in a plum parish. But this one, we are told,  has fallen to a hospital chaplain - and a hospital chaplain not in Barcelona - but in South Dublin!

Was this move asked for or imposed? And Why?

But of course in the North Korea of Archbishops House it is another "secret".

I wonder if all of this strange behaviour is a serious case of No-Red-Hat-itis?

When Dermo appeared his star was bright and shining. Pasty McGarry & Co have done their best to keep the star polished with the Brasso of publicity and soundbites.

But alas the star is in decline and all the Brasso in the Irish Times will not restore it.

Looking back, and to keep up our hen/egg analogy, will Dermo's legacy be: ALL CACKLE AND NO EGG?

HEAVEN- ATHEISTS- BELIEVERS.

If there is a Heaven, and I believe 100% that there is - will believers have an advantage over atheists in getting into Heaven?

I am inclined to think not!

One of the most meaningful parts of the New Testament for me is where Jesus describes the exact questions people will be asked on arrival at the Pearly Gates:

1. Did you feed the hungry?
2. Did you give the thirsty a drink?
3. Did you clothe the naked?
4. Did you c are for the sick?
5. Did you visit the sick?
6. Did you welcome strangers?

He goes on to say that those who answer yes will go to Heaven and the others to eternal loss.

And of course, you don't have to have a religious faith to do all above.

In fact, some of the best people I've ever met were atheists and some of the most unkind were religious.

What is the point then in having a faith and a relationship with God?

The point of believing in God and having a relationship with him is Heaven begins for you in this world rather than having to wait until after you die. Excuse the technicalities but the theologians call it "realised eschatology" as opposed to "futuristic eschatology". You're Heaven begins here.

Heaven is not about marble palaces or big reunions.  It's about enjoying and experience intimacy with God. That can begin here - as many believers, saints and especially mystics have experienced.

What then about Hell- punishment for wrong and evil?

We  Christians believe in Hell because Jesus taught it. 

Traditionally Hell was thought of as eternal burning forever. 
But of course, Heaven and Hell exist in the spiritual realm and experiences there will be of a super spiritual nature that includes, exceeds and magnifies infinitely both our physical and spiritual experiences in the human realm.

That's why the Bible says "Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, of the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love him.

While Heaven is and will be the inexplicable experience of Divine intimacy Hell will be the inexplicable experience of being deprived of Divine Intimacy.

That may not sound like much of a deal now as on earth our capabilities of experience and deprivation are quite limited. 

It will be different in the eternal realm when our capabilities have been raised to a now unimaginable level.

Of course, God may never allow ANYONE to perish?

We speak of him as having infinite forgiveness and compassion.

We cannot hardly imagine infinite anything.

In 1994 I wrote a personal creed:

A PERSONAL CREED

Bishop Pat Buckley

I believe that in this world it is impossible to understand God.

I believe that God made this wonderful universe and all that exists.

I can find God in nature, in animals, in birds and the environment.

I believe that God made all men and women,

That He made them all equal,

And that He loves and cherishes them all equally.

I believe that the whole human race is the family of God.

I believe that there may be intelligent life on other planets

And if so, they too are part of God’s family.

I hold that religion and faith are two different things,

That religion can be both good and bad

And that it is spirituality that counts.

For me your religion is an accident of your birth

Or a gift of God’s great providential diversity.

There is no one true church.

All churches and all religions contain aspects of the truth.

But only God is truth.

No man is infallible.

A Buddhist or a good atheist is as acceptable to God as a good Catholic.

I believe that sex is good and so is the body.

The only sexual act that is sinful is the one that uses or abuses.

I believe in people, especially suffering people.

I believe in the power of weakness.

I believe that all men and women will be saved.

I believe in a packed Heaven and an empty Hell.

And even Satan might get another chance.

I believe in the freedom of God’s sons and daughters.

I believe that dogma is often evil.

I believe that life is a journey towards God

And that no one has the right to insist that you go a certain road.

I believe that God and reality are too big for my poor words.

I believe therefore that I am only at a beginning.

Only knocking at a door.

And I believe that the best is yet to come.

(1994)

In the meantime, both atheists and believers, for different reasons, and with different motivations, need to make the here and now as much like the here after as possible.

In that way, there are no losers - from the philosophical and spiritual perspectives.

ABORTION ON JIM JEFFRIES

As expected Jim Jeffries asked me my views on ABORTION.

I basically replied that like on most other topics I am not a dogmatist.

Am I pro-life or pro-choice?

In fact, I am both.

I am pro-life in the sense that I personally believe that human life is sacred from conception to death.

I am pro-choice in the sense that I believe that no church or religion has the right to foist it's teaching on the population of any country.

In that context, I believe that the only people who chose whether Ireland has an abortion, to whatever degree, is a choice for the Irish electorate, and not a choice for pressure groups, whether women's groups or clergy.

Abortion cannot be described as a GOOD THING.

In limited cases - to save the life of the mother, rape etc, you could describe it as THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.

For instance, there is a massive moral difference a termination to save the mothers life and a termination for financial or materialistic reasons.

This is a very controversial subject.

It's a moral dilemma.

And a moral dilemma anyone involved in would struggle with.

SEAMUS HEANEY'S POEM: LIMBO

A poem about an Irish mother having to drown her baby because it was illegitimate

Fishermen at Ballyshannon
Netted an infant last night
Along with the salmon.
An illegitimate spawning,

A small one thrown back
To the waters. But I'm sure
As she stood in the shallows
Ducking him tenderly

Till the frozen knobs of her wrists
Were dead as the gravel,
He was a minnow with hooks
Tearing her open.

She waded in under
The sign of the cross.
He was hauled in with the fish.
Now limbo will be

A cold glitter of souls
Through some far briny zone.
Even Christ's palms, unhealed,
Smart and cannot fish there. 

---------------------------------------------------

• 
  
  Poet's Page
• PJIM JEFFRIES HIMSELF

The first thing to say is that I liked him as a person.

I personally have no problem with his controversial humour.

He swore during the interview as is his won't.

Obviously, I didn't as is my style.

I do not know how the edited version of the interview will appear. I have no control over that.

I spoke my mind and my truth.

I don't tell lies a d don't have to save my answers.

I believe we should be open to adventures, challenges and the new.

I am.

It keeps me young in mind and spirit.

THE JIM JEFFRIES SHOW

Today (Tuesday) I am in London to be interviewed by comedian and journalist Jim Jeffries on his show which goes out on the Comedy Central channel (Sky 112).

Until his producer, Andrew, rang me the other day I must confess that I did not know of Jim Jeffries.

Andrew - who is from California and married with two children - had an hour long chat by telephone. Like many others, Andrew is a "lapsed Catholic" - mainly due to the tsunami of scandals that have engulfed the Catholic Church in recent years. On the telephone, we talked about the Catholic Church and its future and about many serious issues like celibacy, women priests and abortion. It was an interesting talk.

I'm not 100% sure what format the interview will take but Andrew says Jim and I will talk for 45 to 60 minutes.

With Jim Jeffries being a comedian I imagine it will not be simply a straight talking show? I could be wrong.

Jeffries himself is an atheist. I imagine it will be interesting and challenging. Some of the topics planned and serious and heavy. I was watching a film on Sunday night about the English politician who fought against slavery - William Wilberforce. At one point said that sometimes conversations about serious topics can be helped with having some humour involved. 

A NAUGHTY MAGAZINE:

Some years ago I did a 4-page interview with a journalist that appeared in a naughty magazine. At the time of the interview, I did not know the magazine was a naughty one.

When it appeared some people criticised me for doing the interview.

My response was: "How often does a priest get to talk to the 40,000 readers og a naughty magazine, Some good will come of it".

A few weeks later I was contacted by a young woman who was pregnant for her boyfriend and who was thinking of going to England for an abortion. She had found my interview in her boyfriend's naughty magazine stash. She asked if we could meet.

We met and I listened and put absolutely no pressure on the young woman one way or another. 

As it turned out she decided to keep the baby who is now a young man in his 20's.

Because of that magazine and my interview that young man is alive and well today.

As a believer, I believe that God can bring good out of everything.


I was going to include a video clip of Jim Jeffries but I could not find one without the "f" word in it and my critics here would use that to beat me with.

If interested you will him on YouTube.

PRIEST LEAVES HALF MILLION IN HIS WILL

Charlie Haughey’s brother leaves €455,000

Fr Eoghan Haughey, an Oblate priest and the final surviving sibling of former Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey to die, has left €454,530 in his will. Fr Haughey, of Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin died on October 7, 2016 at the age of 82. (Sunday Independent)

The strange thing about Father Haughey leaving Euro 454,530 in his will was that he had a SOLEMN VOW OF POVERTY as a member of the religious order called the Oblates of the Immaculate Heart of Mary whose main house in Ireland is at Inchicore in Dublin.

Priests, Brothers and Nuns who are members of religious orders are not supposed to own anything - not even a pencil, The rule is that EVERYTHING you have is owned by the religious order and you have to hand everything over to them.

Members of religious orders are not supposed to have private bank accounts or credit cards.

So how did Father Haughey get Euro 500,000?

I think that this is a parable of the decline of the Religious Life in our time.

We know that religious take vows of chastity - but we also know that many of them (maybe most of them?) enjoy full sex lives with each other and with lay men and women.

And in this day and age the vow of poverty is a bit of a laugh.

You take a vow of poverty and you have:

1. No bills to pay ever.

2. All the food, drink etc that you want.

3. A roof over your head with no mortgage, rent, bills, repairs etc.

4. The use of a car with no bills for hire purchase, tax, insurance or repairs.

5. Holidays and holiday money provided.

6. All the university courses and study you desire.

7. Sabbaticals and breaks when you want.

8. A very cushy job - with little or no manual effort.

9. Private health insurance. 

10. All the sex you want - once you keep it under wraps.

11. No need for a Funeral Plan and a guaranteed "heroes" send away.

I imagine that there are many people out there who would be willing to take a meaningless Vow of Poverty to be set up like that for life.

I'm reminded of the story of the American Catholic Diocese who organized a week long conference in a 5 star hotel on the theme: POVERTY.

On the Friday night three old monsignors were having cognac and cigars on a balcony when one said to the other two:

"If this was the one on poverty - I can't wait for the one on chastity".

The next time a collection plate is put in front of you at Mass remember Father Haughey's  HALF MILLION.

Keep your hands in your pocket and when Mass is over go out on the street and find a homeless person and bring them to McDonalds for a meal.

SHOULD PAT BE RECONCILED WITH ROME?

30 YEARS AGO WITH FR MICHAEL KEANE AND MY MOTHER JO

EVERY WEEK I GET LETTERS AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT I WOULD BE RECONCILED WITH ROME.

There are a number of things I need to say about that:

1. I never jumped ship. I was pushed overboard.

2. As a Christian, I am always open to reconciliation with those from whom I have become estranged.

3. I have tried on many occasions to seek reconciliation - and my efforts have been turned away.

Cahal Daly and I had several talks and much correspondence from 1983 to 1986.

He moved me from parish to parish twice in two years and I always obeyed him and moved.

When he finally axed me in 1986 I made every effort I could to be reconciled with him. After years of refusal, I brought my case to the Industrial Tribunal and the High Court hoping that these independent institutions might broker a reconciliation.

When Cahal Daly left for Armagh in the early 1990's I had a lot of contact with his successor in Down and Connor - Paddy Walsh.

PADDY WALSH

That contact came to a head with me having several meetings with the diocesan chancellor - Canon Raymund Fitzpatrick - and with me producing a 15-page proposal for our reconciliation. 

I based my proposal on the Parable of the Prodigal Son - with me playing the role of the repentant prodigal and inviting Paddy Walsh to play the role of the forgiving father.

Paddy Walsh thanked me for my proposal - and was particularly grateful for my use of that Parable - and said me needed some weeks to think and pray about it.

When his response came it was not an answer to my proposal - which involved me making a public apology to the Bishop of Down and Connor.

Instead, it was a letter giving me a number of days to stop celebrating marriages and the threat of suspension and excommunication!

THAT I5 PAGE PROPOSAL OF MINE IS AVAILABLE IN LARNE FOR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO VIEW OR EXAMINE IT.

It is too big to print here in full on the Blog.

But here is the kernel of the document:

IN CONCLUSION - THE PRACTICAL WAY FORWARD:

FROM ME:

1. That I acknowledge, in writing if required, that I have acted, albeit in good faith and clear conscience, contrary to official Church teaching and Canon Law with regard to marriages, Confessions, and Confirmations.

2. That I will guarantee, in writing if required, that as of a certain agreed date, I will cease to act contrary to official Church teaching and Canon Law, thereby in faith subjecting my own individual conscience to the "universal conscience" of the Church.

3. That I will guarantee, in writing if required, that my future writings will be more circumspect and will reflect official Church teaching.

4. That I will guarantee that I will work under the authority of the Bishop of Down and Connor, in an open, co-operative and positive way for the good of the church in the Diocese.

5. That I will not stand for re-election to Larne Borough Council in deference to Canon Law's prescription that a cleric not hold public office.

6. That I will guarantee to keep all contact and discussions between myself and the bishop on our pastoral solution strictly confidential.

FROM YOU:

1. That you formally incardinate me into the Diocese of Down and Connor.

2. That you appoint me to a mutually agreed and clearly defined ministry in the Diocese that affords me "rehabilitation" in the eyes of the clergy and people and that affords me full faculties and financial security.

3. That you offer me pastoral care and guidance as to how I might acceptably put forward my conscientious views on various matters internally and privately within the Church.

That letter was given to Bishop Walsh - 25 YEARS AGO - on the 29th March 1992.

Bishop Walsh's response was to threaten me with suspension and excommunication.

BISHOP TREANOR:

BISHOP TREANOR - LOOKING FOR LOST SHEEP?

When Bishop Walsh retired in 2008 Bishop Noel Treanor became the Bishop of Down and Connor.

-On the 11th August 2008 I wrote the following letter to Noel Treanor and sent it Recorded Delivery to make sure he got it.

IT READS:

Dear Noel,

I wanted to let the initial fuss die down and let you catch a breath before dropping you a note to welcome you to Down and Connor. Hopefully, you are beginning to find your feet.

I have offered Mass for you and asked God to give you the wisdom, strength, courage and good health you will need so that you can spiritually and pastorally renew the church in the diocese.

It would be nice if, at some time, you and I had the opportunity to have an informal courtesy meeting to simply say "hello". I will leave that thought with you.

Again, wishing you every blessing on the occasion of a very major change in the course of your Christian and priestly life.

Warmly yours,

+ Pat

-----------------------------------------------

That letter was never acknowledged or replied to. 

It is very difficult to be reconciled if those you seek reconciliation with will not meet you or will not acknowledge or reply to your overtures. 

Am I still open to reconciliation?

Yes.

Have things become more complicated?

Yes.

Does that make reconciliation impossible?

No - especially not for those who say that they follow the Jesus who prayed: "FATHER, MAY THEY ALL BE ONE - AS YOU AND I ARE ONE".

OF COURSE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN ALL THIS IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOD'S WILL.

I'M SURE HIS WILL IS REVEALED IN ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US - IF WE RESPOND TO THEM WITH THE EYES OF FAITH.

AND I KNOW - THAT IN SPITE OF ALL MY HUMAN WEAKNESS - I DO WANT TO DISCOVER AND DO GOD'S WILL.

DERRY DIOCESAN CHANGES

Bishop McKeown has announced the following appointments for priests, which will be effective from 8th September 2017:

Fr Peter Madden, PP Ballinascreen, to be, in addition, Vicar Forane for County Derry Deanery;

Fr Kevin J McElhennon, PP Cappagh, to be, in addition, Vicar Forane for Tyrone Deanery;

Fr Michael Doherty, PP Mourne, to be, in addition, PP Sion Mills;

Fr Charles Keaney, returning from sabbatical study leave, to be PP Granaghan;

Fr Eugene Hasson, CC Drumragh, to be PP Drumragh;

Fr Thomas Canning, CC Three Patrons, to be CC Sion Mills and CC Mourne, residing at Sion Mills;

Fr Christopher McDermott, CC Templemore (St Eugene's), to be CC Drumragh and part-time further studies;

Fr Kevin Mulhern, on loan from the Society of African Missions, to be CC Three Patrons;

Fr Malachy Gallagher, newly ordained, to be CC Glendermott and Strathfoyle;

Fr Kieran O'Doherty, PP Granaghan, to be Priest-in-Residence Maghera.

In addition, Bishop McKeown announced the following:

Mgr Joseph Donnelly, PP Drumragh, to retire;

Fr Peter McLaughlin, PP Sion Mills, to retire.

NO MENTION OF FATHER BRENDAN COLLINS WHO WENT ON SABBATICAL LAST YEAR ???