Fine Gael at prayer?

I don’t go in for conspiracy theories. Part of the reason for this is that they are a waste of time. They give people the sense of superiority by “knowing” the inside story of why things are going wrong (I have news for them: things started going wrong with Original Sin) and they seem to absolve people of responsibility for doing anything (this is not my fault because of the great Judaeo-Masonic-Marxist-Golfing conspiracy). Really, if you want light entertainment, try reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and have a laugh at the fact some people take this stuff seriously. My favourite nugget in the book is that John XXIII and Marcel Lefebvre are both members of the quasi-Masonic Priory of Sion: the first became pope and used the position to modernise the Church; when Paul VI tried to row back, John’s confrere in the Priory, Archbishop Lefebvre deliberately adopted a neo-traditionalist stance to force Paul continue with the programme. I think this bit was probably too complicated for Dan Browne to copy in writing The Da Vinci Code. Reminds me of the little Martian sitting at the table in episode of The Simpsons which sent up the Masonic Order as the Stonecutters’ Lodge.

Archbishop Charles Brown (right) with Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam (left) at Croagh Patrick

However, it may be that The Phoenix is on to something in Charlie Brown and Benny (September 20, page 6) as they respectfully call the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland the Pontiff Emeritus. Goldhawk was able to tell us that Terry Prone organised the publicity for Rev Anthony Flannery’s book launch and Bill O’Herlihy actually launched it. Ms Prone (a former nun married to a former priest, Tom Savage) is Fine Gael’s main PR advisor whereas Bill O’Herlihy is a long-term Fine Gael organiser and fund raiser, when he's not commentating on soccer matches. Quite recently, Mr O’Herlihy received the supreme Blueshirt honour of addressing the Michael Collins commemoration in Béal na mBláth. You can tell the man by the company he keeps and Father Flannery moves in some exalted company. A pity that quite a lot of us find it a bit rich to hear Fine Gael either pointing their fingers at alleged right-wingers or talking about radicalism in general. But then again, publications like The Phoenix and socialist groups are remarkably capable of suspending their censorious attitude to Fine Gael hard line economics when it comes to social issues or the Church or both. However, The Phoenix speculates that Enda Kenny has given his approval to this. It’s hard to believe he hasn’t. Many of us believe that Father Flannery wrote, or at the very least advised on, the famous “elitist, narcissistic, dysfunctional” speech (use "Enda" as a mnemonic and you’ll remember it). All of us know Father Flannery’s brother Frank is one of Enda’s right-hand men. The Brandsma Review commented earlier that the January Vigil for Life were in direct competition with Father Flannery for headline space in a manner which could only benefit the government in their proposals to legalise direct abortion. So, why shouldn’t Enda show some gratitude?

Meeting of the ACPI in Portlaoise.

The Phoenix is astute enough to recognise that the vocal liberal clergy have become very brave since the election of Francis I and point to a recent attack on the Nuncio by another ACP leading light, Father Brendan Hoban. Father Hoban criticises the Nuncio for not having been trained as such – in another context he could cite the lack of training as a virtue. The Phoenix recognises that the tactic is to portray Archbishop Brown as Benedict’s man, but it doesn’t challenge the ACPI’s perception that Francis is one of their own. The Pope has already re-stated the traditional teaching regarding the ordination of women. So Mary McAleese’s introduction to Father Flannery’s book won’t cut any ice there.

At one time, the Church of England was known as the Conservative Party at prayer. I wonder if the ACPI don’t see an inherent disadvantage in being labelled Fine Gael at prayer, especially given the behaviour of their accepted political masters in government since 2011?

Father Iggy's Parting Shot

Before I say anything further about the departure of the Very Rev Ignatius O’Donovan OSA, let me remind people that Father Iggy, as he is universally known, is an Augustinian and the Augustinian Order has a constitution. Under that constitution, a friar may serve as a prior for four years and may serve for a second consecutive term in the same house. Following this, he may go on to serve as a prior in a different house and return back to the original house for another two terms as prior. Alternatively, he may step back to be an ordinary member of the community in the house he has served as prior for eight years, but this could be difficult for his successor, so it is normal to move priors on after eight year. Father Iggy has served as prior in the Augustinian community in Drogheda and now he is moving on. But not without making a couple of points first.

The Irish Independent salute him with a report of his last Mass in Drogheda which was attended by 1500 people, including Moslems and Baha’is from the town. Just has the Indo would only be called a pinko liberal rag by some mad barking fascist on the extreme right, hearing the Worshipful the Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Richie Culhane, said he believed that Father Iggy was leaving because

ultra-conservative elements within the Church have forced the hierarchy to push Iggy further afield and out of Drogheda here.

The Mayor continued:

I hope and pray to God that you are never silenced.

And then he concluded to a standing ovation :

I will call on the hierarchy ‘Give him back to us.’

The Mayor may be forgiven his lack of understanding of both Canon Law and practice within the Augustinian Order, but I wonder why no one notes the irony of a Fine Gael member complaining of ultra-conservative elements. Then Enda Kenny referred to the radicalism of the Roman Church in his elitist narcissistic and dysfunctional speech.

Father Iggy himself originally tried to distance himself from the conspiracy theories around his transfer, that he was looking forward to a sabbathical, but he couldn’t resist some performance to the gallery:

I cannot leave here today without making some reference to a distinguished colleague of mine in the priesthood. I speak of Fr Tony Flannery. If I had not been made aware first hand of the details of this case I could not have given it credence. Even hardened veterans are shaken by the murkiness of the devious world of ecclesiastical politics. How has it come to this, that a great and good priest like Tony, who has dedicated his life to the preaching of the Gospel is persecuted with a zeal that is as pathological as the paranoia that feeds it?? How has it come to this, that intolerant and extreme right wingers – encouraged apparently by certain authorities, and career-orientated priests can meet in solemn conclave to determine who is guilty of what these people label heresy? How has it come to this that sincere thinking Catholics are walking away from our Church believing that the battle for sane Catholicism is lost?

I still believe and am strongly of the conviction that Catholicism is compatible with modern culture. I deeply welcome the arrival of Pope Francis. So we dream on. I cling to my foolish dream when to paraphrase the words of the late Fr George Tyrell, himself a victim of oppression, “when the Catholic people represented by their bishops and their Pope will assemble not to decide and impose points of theology, ethics and politics under the threat of excommunication, but to proclaim the gospel of God’s Kingdom upon earth as it was proclaimed by Jesus Christ; to preach unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, charity in all things”

Dear Lord, it’s hard to get away from these extreme right wingers. A now departed friend of mine used to sign his e-mails as a “proud member of Hilary’s vast right wing conspiracy”. Listening to the Mayor and to Father Iggy, one would think it reached Drogheda with a vengeance, but I haven’t seen much evidence of it.

Father Ignatius O'Donovan OSA

Fr Iggy’s 15 minutes of fame was the Easter Sunday Mass in 2006 where he invited local Church of Ireland rector, Rev Michael Graham, to “concelebrate”. He told Patsy McGarry in The Irish Times that he miscalculated the consequences for all involved and the genuine hurt it caused

This is the event he is most closely identified with. Most of you will be aware Mary McAleese taking communion in Christchurch Cathedral shortly after her election.

There was an incident I was made aware of where a curate serving in a large Irish town administered communion at an Anglican service in 2004 which passed beneath the radar, but Father Iggy’s Mass in Drogheda was flagged by the media beforehand.

Needless to say, most Catholics don’t see the problem. Why would they? For over forty years, ecumenism has been presented as the highest virtue (especially in the context of the poor analysis that. Catechesis has been weak in the schools and the lines have been blurred to those Catholics of an older generation who know their faith. Priests are even confused. I recall the interviews given by Father Iggy not long after the Easter Sunday Mass in 2006 and he seemed to me to be at sea in regard to the distinctions between Catholic and Anglican belief on the Eucharist. When he talks about the genuine hurt, could he be referring to his Augustinian confreres Fathers Noel Hession and Richard Good who were presented with the concelebration as a fait accompli and had to share in the fallout.

Was Father Iggy aware that two German priests were suspended for distributing communion to Lutherans at the Katholikentag in Ulm in 2004? Probably not. Does he know anything about intercommunion between Catholics and Orthodox? He should, but I would be surprised if he did. I recall in the late 1980s, a delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church visited Ireland at the height of the Glasnost era. When they visited Maynooth, a deacon brought the chalice over to the Metropolitan of Odessa during Mass. The hierarch refused it, as was inappropriate for him to take communion from a Catholic minister. Catholics and Orthodox share an understanding on the Eucharist which neither hold in common with the Reformation Churches. This includes an understanding, rooted in the theology of St Augustine, that communion is a sign of unity. Even Martin Luther would have appreciated this.

Father John Hennebry is on the left above.

To return to the vast right wing conspiracy, the decision to transfer Father Iggy rests with his ordinary. This is the current Irish Augustinian provincial, Father John Hennebry. Father Hennebry is anything but a right winger. But no doubt some scapegoat will be found.

Research vs Opinion: Father Flannery makes political points on others' pain

Just glanced through this week's The Irish Catholic today and my eye fell on the front page headline 'No evidence' celibacy leads to abuse

The headline is taken from a quote from Professor Philip Jenkins who re-iterates what he has being saying for years based on his own extensive studies in the area: there is

no evidence whatever that Catholic or other celibate clergy are any more or less likely to be involved in misconduct or abuse than clergy of any other denomination - or indeed non-clergy or secular professionals dealing with children

This is from a specialist in history, criminology and religious studies, whose CV might be seen here and who has published a number of studies in the area.

Professor Philip Jenkins

Consider this is the light of one of Ireland's most vocal "silenced" priests, Rev Anthony Flannery CSsR (yes, it's Tony Flannery again), who seems to think

nobody within the official Church has looked at the deeper issues and seriously asked the question why so many priests and religious did these things, because it raises fundamental questions about the lifestyles of priests.

Can they say with any degree of definiteness that the fact that so many priests abused children is not connected to celibacy and clericalism and the whole style of life that a priest is forced to live today? I don't think they can and until such time as the Church authorities face up to that and seriously discuss it and investigate it, the problem will not go away.

Father Tony Flannery CSsR in the distinctive Redemptorist cassock

This may look ok to the naked eye, but Professor Jenkins would ask for

the evidence on which they base that opinion. "Everybody knows" does not constitute social scientific evidence.

In other words, Father Flannery may be throwing out a catchy sound byte, but he doesn't know what he's talking about. I've been down this road before. Father Flannery's confrere and fellow "silenced" priest, Father Gerard Moloney CSsR published an editorial in the Irish Redemptorist magazine Reality making the connexion between celibacy and child abuse, and also using the crisis to attack Benedict XVI's liturgical reform. I and a good number of other people wrote to Father Moloney about this and I enclosed a copy of an article I wrote on the topic in an earlier Brandsma Review based on research in the area. To be fair to Father Moloney, we received courteous replies. However, given the amount of research there is on paedophilia by clergy of all denominations and of secular professionals dealing with children and I will cite Philip Jenkins and Leon Podles as particular authorities who have studied several churches and several cultures over many years. Neither these nor any other scholar in this area I have read would back up Father Flannery's assertions. This is area is fraught with controversy. To take a look at the struggle a support group has in a different denominational context, visit the Awareness Center website.

As a parent, it pains me to say this, but the most significant factor in where paedophiles are found is easy access to children. As a Catholic it pains me to say the conduct of Catholic Church authorities in this regard across several countries and continents has been appalling and has done immense damage to the Church's mission. That this happens in other denominations is quite irrelevant as I expect more from what I believe to be the Church of Christ and from a priesthood I believe to be instituted by Christ Himself, which is an area Father Flannery has a problem with and which is why he has restrictions on his ministry. But to make, as many dissenting clergy do, a political point out of the pain of the victims and their families through unqualified linkage of paedophilia and celibacy adds to the pain. If he's not prepared to read up on the subject, he should close his mouth.

Neanderthal Politics

In the essays presented to Father Brendan Purcell, there is an account of evidence to suggest that politics was already a feature of society at the time of Neanderthal Man. Interesting.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources here in Ireland, Pat Rabbitte wishes to replace the television licence with a broadcasting charge, which everyone is liable to pay. When challenged that not everyone has a television and not all of these possess i-pads or i-phones, he said in characteristic arrogance that he doubted such cavemen existed in Ireland.

As a matter of fact, people who don't rely on television do exist in Ireland and given that they read and communicate more than your average TV addict, Mr Rabbitte was made look very silly in a series of letters on the topic in The Irish Times, a paper which is normally quite enthusiastic about the Labour Party. Wouldn't be the first time. That politicians break election promises is a given, but Mr Rabitte admitted that promises were made despite an awareness that they couldn't be kept.

But has the Minister ever read the Parable of the Cave in Plato's Republic? It is the chained cave dwellers that are compelled to watch the unreal images on the wall and they that laugh at those who see the real world and try to convince them otherwise. The correspondence reminds me of that and suggested one politician has yet to move beyond the Neanderthal stage.

Backlog on blog

I have not been active of late as I have been trying to correct the situation where the magazine was frequently late. At the moment, the September-October draft is with the printer; last year, I believe I sent it to the printer on some ridiculous date like 9 November. I am pretty hopeful that the November-December will be available in the first half of November; last year I had it out just in time for Christmas on 19 December (which given when the September-October appeared, was a real achievement). So, all the energy has gone into the hard copy magazine while the blog languished in neglect and the website disappeared. These are matters which will be addressed soon, or else the magazine will be neither early nor late as it will not appear at all.

July-August Brandsma Review

Courtesy of my friend Hibernicus on the Irish Catholics Forum http://irishcatholics.proboards.com/thread/722/brandsma-review
Contents summary for the July-August BRANDSMA
Peadar Laighléis' editorial requesting the ACPI to clarify their position on abortion - reproduced in the post above
The Editor's Desk discusses devotion to the Precious Blood (notes it was promoted by Bl.John XXIII), regrets that Nick Lowry is currently not writing for the BRANDSMA due to a disagreement, and asks for prayers for the soul of Marie Celine Morgan
Tom O'Gorman of the Iona Institute spells out the problems involved in the ongoing push to legalise same-sex marriage (both in its presentation of sex differences as illusory and in its implications for religious freedom) and appeals for more effective opposition to it.
Éanna Johnson contrasts Pope Francis' frequent references to the reality of the devil with the unsatisfactory treatment of devils and angels in the ALIVE-O religious education programme for schools, and describes the widespread ignorance and confusion on the subject of devils and angels produced by bad catechesis.
Part I of an article by Fr Aidan McGing CM criticising Darwinism (in the sense of natural selection being a purely random process without any inner teleology).
Monika Barget reviews some post-feminist German publications (by women authors) on the problems created for family life and the long-term wellbeing of society by the downgrading of marriage and family (by both feminists and laissez-faire capitalism).
Peadar Laighleis discusses the Russian Revolution as represented in contemporary Russian literature (with special emphasis on Bulgakov's THE MASTER AND MARGARITA) and notes a dark and destructive side which is often downplayed.
Hibernicus criticises Desmond Fennell's new book THIRD STROKE DID IT as simplistic and despairing in its analysis of Western civilisation or post-civilisation.
Fr Brendan Purcell offers a reflection on the Transfiguration through the life of the focolarina Fiore Ungaro.
Hibernicus offers some reflections on how pro-lifers are demonised by certain commentators, on the need to document the history of the Irish pro-life movement to give pro-lifers a clearer sense of what it has all been about (the pro-choicers are taking care to set down their own version of events for propaganda purposes) and how some poorly-chosen tactics play into the hands of those doing the demonising.
Letters; Eric Conway discusses a recent anti-Church rant from Senator John Crown, and Fr Anthony Scully dissects Herod Endipas's recent equivocations and weasel words concerning the PLP (i.e. abortion) Act.
Hurling Shots from the Ditch comments on the contributions (generally of the minus variety) made by various deputies and commentators during the abortion debates, including Herod Endipas's selective use of John F Kennedy's speech on the relationship between his political role and his Catholicism.