Tag Archives: Catholic Church

  Bishop Fintan Monahan has announced a number of new anointments in the Diocese of Killaloe, which has a Catholic population of around 127,000. Fr Des Hillery, PP, Nenagh was appointed Vicar General of the diocese during the year. In Ballynacally/Lissycasey, Fr Joe Hourigan to retire as parish priest but continuing to lead the sacramental and pastoral work in the parish. Fr Albert McDonnell, to take on the administration of the parish and become the parish priest in addition to his existing duties. Fr Martin O’Brien to retire as PP of Tulla and to take extended leave from duty on medical advice. Fr Ignatius McCormack, Adm., Quin has recently been appointed principal of St Flannan’s College. Quin will now be covered by Ennis parish, pro-tem, supported by the Abbey cluster. Fr Tom O’Gorman as Adm., will continue to live in the presbytery, Cloughleigh, effective from September 1. Tulla will be covered by Ennis parish, pro-tem, supported by the East- Clare …

Following the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, which voted 118 to 62 against expressing ‘welcome’ to gay people in the Catholic Church, Ennis-born Fr Bernárd Lynch has said lying about one’s sexuality within the Church is more acceptable than telling the truth. “If I did lie, if I did pretend, I’d have a job. I could even have a lover on the side,” said Fr Lynch, who publicly came out as a gay man in 1986, when he was ministering in New York. The London-based psychotherapist, who is chair of the Camden Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Forum, said, “Straight or gay, truth and honesty in the Catholic Church, as far as sexuality and relationships are concerned, is punished by dismissal. Whereas lies and hypocrisy are rewarded, as much in Ireland as the UK or the US. Again, you wonder are these people really serious about the Gospel.” Fr Lynch claims the Church’s attitude to homosexuality is intrinsically linked …

TOWARDS Healing, the free confidential and counselling referral service, will provide extended opening hours this Monday and Tuesday in response to the publication of nine reviews of dioceses and religious congregations. These reviews have been undertaken by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. The Towards Healing extended opening hours are: 8pm to 1am  Monday  and Tuesday. The Towards Healing telephone helpline operates normally from Mondays to Thursdays, from 11am to 8pm, and on Fridays from 11am to 6pm. Towards Healing can be contacted on Freephone 1800 303416 (Rep of Ireland) Freephone 0800 0963315 (Northern Ireland and UK).