According to Irish newspapers today Archbishop Desmond Connell is quoted as saying he would go to jail rather than release some of his private papers.
Confidentiality is most important. And someone who goes to talk to someone expecting it to remain confidential understandably expects the deal to be kept.
As archbishop in Dublin Desmond Connell was the man in charge. The question may be asked do his papers pass on to the next man or are they his personal property. That issue has been discussed in the legal forum.
Is there not a sense of irony to all this. For hundreds of years the Catholic Church has pronounced on matters sexual. It certainly has given the impression that it knew exactly what God was thinking on the subject. And then all this.
This row, explosion, whatever one wishes to call it, is about terrible heinous crimes, unspeakable crimes.
Of course under no circumstances is it one per cent of priests who have committed these crimes. And the Vatican cardinal who has said that should be made withdraw his inaccurate ‘pronouncement’.
It might well be said that Desmond Connell will find himself a scapegoat in this new melee. Because the church will under no circumstances carry out any real study or investigation why so many priests have committed these crimes. Will they undertake to study why they kept it secret? Will they discuss why they moved about so many men so that it could all be kept secret?
Twenty years ago I asked for an open and honest discussion on matters of sexuality within the priesthood. I became an object/subject of laughter and silence. I still am that object/subject. In fact I was told by a now leading figure in a religious order that no such things went on, and under no circumstances did anything untoward take place in Maynooth. I was actually told that I did not live in the real world. That very day the then president of Maynooth College was Monsignor Michael Ledwith.
I believe that nothing has changed. Yes, the church is employing expensive lawyers and sophisticated spin doctors. But an organisation as old as the church, thinks in milleniums and centuries. What will or can a few years mean to it?
And there is the added worry that a whole generation of active, 'normal', intelligent men have left priestly ministry, mainly to marry women.
Their wisdom and worldly knowledge is now required.
Another worrying question might be, who has replaced these men!
It is a dilemma.
And all the time no-one has stood up to correct the Vatican cardinal who says it is one per cent of priests who have abused. Journalism, like all professions, must have its fair share of lazy practitioners.
In Ireland alone most probably every religious order and diocese has more than than the one per cent quota.
If the Vatican cardinal can issue such nonsense that can clearly be examined in the context of the facts what must it be like when it comes to all the unverifable information that is disseminated by these high cardinals?
It is also interesting that not a single Irish bishop has been brave or honest enough to distance himself from the Vatican cardinal's comment.
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10 comments:
"Twenty years ago I asked for an open and honest discussion on matters of sexuality within the priesthood. I became an object/subject of laughter and silence. I still am that object/subject. In fact I was told by a now leading figure in a religious order that no such things went on, and under no circumstances did anything untoward take place in Maynooth. I was actually told that I did not live in the real world. That very day the then president of Maynooth College was Monsignor Michael Ledwith."
Was you call for an open and honest discussion on matters of sexuality within the priesthood, just that, sexuality in its broadest sense,or was it really a call for a discussion on matters of homosexuality within priesthood/religious life? It might help if you were truthful with your readers here. I am going to stick my neck out here Micheal and suggest that your real motive was to raise the issue of homosexual priests and religious. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you have a 'problem' with homosexual people, in particular, and homosexual people who are priests or members of religious orders. It seems to me that in your mindset they are to be suspect, not to be trusted, dare I say that in your mindset homosexual equals peadophile? I think that the readers of your blog need to know your true feelings re homosexual people in general, and in particular you views and attitudes towards homosexual people in priesthood and religious life.
Thank you for your comment. But why the anonymity?
This may not be the venue to answer your comment. But actually I believe you are not correct.
Yes, I have a 'problem' with closet homosexual priests who seem to be extraordinarily 'conservative'. I also have a 'problem' with the possibilities of sub-cultures within religious orders and priesthood. The surrounding secrecy is most upsetting.
And actually looking back at the recent history of the Irish church I can't help but think that issues which need debate have never been discussed.
But there is chapter and verse I can give you but not in this forum.
And my call 20 years ago was just what I say it was. Actually I was derailed by a 'mob' mentality.
Again, why the anonymity? Is there not something 'odd' about an anonymous contributor using the word 'truth'?
I prseume you know me, so, no doubt, you can easily contact me.
For someone to use the word 'truth' and then remain anonymous is upsetting.
The secrecy and anonymity that exists within the Irish church is most unhelpful and unhealthy.
Let me add that the secrecy that pervades the Irish Catholic church is the oxygen of so much of the wrong that has taken place.
And that's another aspect or characteristic of power and control. The agents of the church in Ireland felt untouchable and again, that created an atmosphere or environment that allowed so much wrong-doing.
It is laughable to think that the hierarchical church did not realise that paedophilia was a crime 20, 30, 40 years ago. Of course they did but they wanted to keep it all secret. They knew best.
Secrecy and clericalism are synonymous. And that is how it is today too.
How are bishops appointed? The secrecy surrounding the form that is circulated?
The word 'laity' tells a great story.
I suspect the reason why people would want to maintain anonymity in posting on your blog, Michael, is the fact that they might fear being 'outed' by you!!!!! After all, you do have a history in so doing, don't you? (incidentally, I am not the original anonymous contributor above)
This is becoming too serious for me. Again, the anonymity is neither appropriate nor kind.
Not true, Mr Anonymous. I came across a pornographic homosexual web page. I spoke about it. The page was out there in the public domain and I mentioned it. Do you call that 'outing'? I don't.
Should this be all silenced and the blog closed?
I have decided to discontinue this discussion. This blog will go dormant for some time.
The anonymity is most worrying but nothing that surprises me.
Unfortunately it confirms for me many of the views and opinions I have had for over 35 years.
I know there will be no possible forum to discuss in charity and truth issues needing debate.
Farewell.
Michael, I am the original poster and I regret the direction this discussion is taking. I do not in any way wish to question your integrity or truthfulness, if I have given that
impression, I sincerely apologise. On the issue of posting anonymously, I chose that option simply because it was one of the options given. In a perfect society I would be happy to add my name to the above post, but I am not a courageous person and we don't live in a perfect world yet. I am also being very prudent. I really do believe that your fears re "homosexual subcultures with priesthood/religious life" are more imagined than real. For you to suggest this is to confirm my belief that you feel homosexual priests/religious need to be monitored, treating with suspicion and not to be trusted. Like you I detest the clericalism that has had such a stranglehold on the Irish Catholic Church. It and not homosexual priests/religious has been responsible for the mess that the Irish Catholic Church now finds itself in. Like you I too yearn for greater openess and transparency within the church, priesthood, and religious life. In such a scenario, laity, clerics, religious, be the heterosexual homosexual or bisexual, would feel less fearful talking about their feelings and their struggles integrating their sexuality with their Christian faith. Your call for an open and frank discussion on sexuality within priesthood/religious life is admirable and to be welcomed, but it should be open and willing to listen to and acknowledge the many good men and women within priesthood and religious life who happen to be of homosexual or bisexual orientation. They need to have the voices heard too.
I regret that you feel the need to discontinue this discuss, but I understand your reason for choosing not to do so. Obviously I understand how the anonymity option could be abused to settle old scores or whatever, and I can't see how you can prevent this happening, unless you choose to restrict the anonymity option. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my original post, you could have taking the easy option and deleted it, or ignored it, but you chose to respond. Thank you !
Gosh, how I break my own rules! But this last comment leaves me no option but to add a remark.
Thank you for your comment. There is someting honest and open about it. Maybe I should understand why you wish to remain anonymous -I'll try.
But I think if I were allowed tell my story you would be in a far better position to understand what I am trying to say.
Again, this is not the forum for such a discussion. But even if it has started any possibility of a debate maybe it has proved to be of some value.
Again, thank you for that last comment.
I have a 'thing' about anonymity and will not rest until endgame. That's another battle and not for here.
Take care.
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