Irish Bishops Advise Priests with Children how to Face up to Responsibilities

[ComplineSanFran]

There are two parallel stories this week about the children of priests - one coming out of Boston (bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/08/16/father-father-children-catholic-priests-live-with-secrets-and-sorrow/mvYO5SOxAxZYJBi8XxiaqN/story.html) and now the Bishops of Ireland are saying that their priests must face their responsibilities to their children.

My understanding is that in the US, many women were given payment to raise the child(ren) in exchange for confidentiality. Others were just left to raise the children on their own. Does anyone know if studies have been done on this particular topic in conjunction with the sexual abuse cases?

I know a woman who had children from a US Bishop however that was a good 30 years ago, and they all were whisked away, never to be heard from again. I assume the church took care of the family financially. I hope the church is not banishing people anymore. Obviously, in Ireland, change is on its way.

It’s hard on everyone and I feel badly for the families as well as the church as they try to sort this out - albeit in hindsight.

npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/22/545243614/irish-bishops-advise-priests-with-children-how-to-face-up-to-responsibilities?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170822

 

[MaryT777]

"He’s not alone in another respect, too. While he had expected pushback from Catholic authorities, he has nevertheless gained at least one powerful ally in his quest: Diarmuid Martin, archbishop of Dublin.
“I pray that COPING will be able to find ways which will bring the children of priests and their natural parents together for the benefit of both,” Martin is quoted as saying on the site
(clipped from the above article)

I think the above is a good start. Their children have a right to know their Father. The Catholic Church chooses to make very strong pro family stances on the necessity of the children to have a Mother AND Father and I think it’s good the problem is out in the open and can be discussed and the problem addressed.

Mary.

 

[phil19034]

I wonder what percentage of these situations were directly hidden by the priest, the woman, and her family so the Bishop and parish wouldn’t find out?

Back in those days, old-school lay Catholics were often willing to hide scandalous situations involving priests to protect the Church, the parish, & the family’s reputation.

 

[AdamP88]

This is utterly ridiculous.

I don’t even know why our Bishops are making this an issue. It’s not. It’s a pity the Bishops wouldn’t make more statements encouraging men to enter priesthood than commenting on something that has happened maybe 4 times in the last 50 years in Ireland.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Ridiculous?

You think it’s happened only four times in 50 years in Ireland?
Which four times are you talking about?

Well, there is Bishop Casey’s child. I wonder who the other three are…

My guess is that in Ireland, especially, there are hundreds.

I’m glad that the gentleman - a son of a priest - met with the Pope and has set up his international website to help with others like him. It’s good that help is there.

 

[MaryT777]

Ridiculous?
You are saying the welfare of a child is ridiculous?

This is for sure a step in a positive direction. To be against contraception and non-marital sex, then to father a child only to hide it away and never see it or take proper care of it…how awful. That is much, much worse than the use of contraception and having sex.
A man who does not believe in abortion, and then turns away from the child while he preaches about love and kindness and charity and family?
I see no difference.

You think it’s happened only four times in 50 years in Ireland?
Which four times are you talking about?

.

Well said. My first thought was to laicize these priests so they can support their children in some manner financially. I can’t imagine supporting a child adequately on a priest’s compensation and be a part of the child’s life.

Imagine the public scandal of that though. There is Father giving a homily and his child he had while he broke his vow of chastity, etc. is sitting in the pew with his mother. That would be bizarre.

That said our God is a God of forgiveness so I realize my first thought is too harsh.

I’ll leave it to the officials of the Church to handle this differently in the future.

Mary.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Well said. My first thought was to laicize these priests so they can support their children in some manner financially. I can’t imagine supporting a child adequately on a priest’s compensation and be a part of the child’s life.

Imagine the public scandal of that though. There is Father giving a homily and his child he had while he broke his vow of chastity, etc. is sitting in the pew with his mother. That would be bizarre.

.

Shades of The Scarlet Letter, eh?

 

[MaryT777]

Shades of The Scarlet Letter, eh?

You guessed it.

 

[AdamP88]

Ridiculous?
You are saying the welfare of a child is ridiculous?

This is for sure a step in a positive direction. To be against contraception and non-marital sex, then to father a child only to hide it away and never see it or take proper care of it…how awful. That is much, much worse than the use of contraception and having sex.
A man who does not believe in abortion, and then turns away from the child while he preaches about love and kindness and charity and family?
I see no difference.

You think it’s happened only four times in 50 years in Ireland?
Which four times are you talking about?

.

Don’t put words in my mouth. I never said the priests should not have to face up to their responsibilities.
But frankly, the church in Ireland has bigger problems. If you think there are hundreds of cases then you should be prepared to back up that assertion.

 

[pepipop]

This is utterly ridiculous.

I don’t even know why our Bishops are making this an issue. It’s not. It’s a pity the Bishops wouldn’t make more statements encouraging men to enter priesthood than commenting on something that has happened maybe 4 times in the last 50 years in Ireland.

 

[poche]

Well said. My first thought was to laicize these priests so they can support their children in some manner financially. I can’t imagine supporting a child adequately on a priest’s compensation and be a part of the child’s life.

Imagine the public scandal of that though. There is Father giving a homily and his child he had while he broke his vow of chastity, etc. is sitting in the pew with his mother. That would be bizarre.

That said our God is a God of forgiveness so I realize my first thought is too harsh.

I’ll leave it to the officials of the Church to handle this differently in the future.

Mary.

He can request a laicization without making a public announcement about what specific sins he has commited.

 

[gus]

I wonder what percentage of these situations were directly hidden by the priest, the woman, and her family so the Bishop and parish wouldn’t find out?

Back in those days, old-school lay Catholics were often willing to hide scandalous situations involving priests to protect the Church, the parish, & the family’s reputation.

Back in the day and still today this silence is still practiced throughout the entire world unrestricted by cultural norms
The Church is a tiny microcosm.