Leading Irish Catholic priest ashamed to wear a collar after litany of abuse scandals
Says he finds religious inspiration in human life and not Catholic Church politics
Published Saturday, September 10, 2011, 7:42 AM
Updated Saturday, September 10, 2011, 7:42 AM
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Belfast priest Father Aidan Troy
Photo by Suicide Ireland
Father Aidan Troy says he is devastated by the fact that clerical sex abuse may have led to people committing suicide. Speaking at a suicide prevention conference in Dublin he said he finds it “difficult” to put on his white collar every morning.
The Belfast priest, who has served for 40 years, said, “Who knows how many good people lost their light in their life because of the clergy."
Fr Troy acknowledged the positive role the Catholic Church had played in Ireland’s history but focused on the problem of clerical sexual abuse and the effect that it has had on the public’s psyche.
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Speaking about the Irish Catholic Church he said “Underneath that undeniable goodness, there is decay, sin, criminality and an inability to deal with ordinary decent human living…Over 40 years as a priest, it was a privilege to wear my collar. Now I find it difficult to go out with my collar on every morning."
He was also critical of the way in which the Catholic Church has dealt with the clerical abuse scandal.
He told the conference that his own inspiration doe s not come from the internal world of the Catholic church and its politics. “I don't care whether it's the government or the Vatican who are right in their diplomacy. My inspiration comes from the value of human life, the prospect of human life."
Fr Troy is best known due to the daily demonstrations by loyalist at the Holy Cross Girl’s Primary School in Ardoyne, Belfast ten years ago. He shielded the Catholic school girls at the center of the protests.
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jacersagain | Sep 15, 2011, 09:07 PM EDT
I understand Fr. Troy’s torment. A few weeks ago, A/Bishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin appeared live on Irish TV news (called News at 6.01; for those who do not know, at 6.00pm, the prime Irish TV station recognises the Irish people's need to pause for the prayers called by the Angelus bells, broadcast for minute, so the 6pm News is broadcast live a minute later). Dr. Martin spoke with clearly anguished tears in his eyes as he spoke about a few priests who “the other day” were at the graveside of a fellow priest that they had just buried when a group of people coming from a burial of their own in the same graveyard passed by them, shouting abuse at them “Shame on the lot of yez” and other less printable abuse words etc... These were elderly men, said A/Bishop Martin and he knew each one of them personally as good priests without a taint. It pained him greatly (his tears and anger emotion flowed at this moment, live on TV) that such good priests were being castigated for the sins of a few. No wonder some priests feel afraid to wear the collar in Ireland. I’d say to any priest who feels ashamed to wear the collar: “Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you. Get on with it; wear the priest collar with all the privileged humility that Christ gave you to wear it. No need to hang your head in shame of those who let Christ, and especially YOU, down... you have not let down Christ”. That’s what I say... strongly, with all the faith I have in Christ.
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Pittsburghkid | Sep 11, 2011, 08:05 PM EDT
The man has no humility. He is standing up before the world and saying look at me. I'm above the Church. Are you proud of me? I'm proud of me. I will go to heaven before the Pope.
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Abused.N.I | Sep 11, 2011, 05:05 AM EDT
If Father Aidan Troy really stands by his claim that he is ashamed to wear his collar because of the litany of scandals. Then why does he not do the right thing and make a stand against the church,resign from it. Let him show the whole world that he is prepared to give up his priesthood for the lack of action from the church in the wake of the child abuse.(or is this just another ploy from the church to take away the focus of child abuse).
We survivors of child abuse are fed-up to he teeth with people coming forward from the church,time and again,saying they are fed-up from what's going on in it.
If they're really sincere,then they will do what the rest of us,former Rome Catholics did,And that's=come out from among them.
Its the only way,for as we've seen time and again,what the church is really like,And you Father Aidan Troy,know this more than most.
The church will never listen or co-operate with anyone,they whole-heartily believe they are above mans-laws. They believe,they,and only they speak for God and should not be held accountable to any Government.
So we survivors are awaiting your answer=are you going to do the right thing,or are your words just what they are=Words.
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Abused.N.I | Sep 11, 2011, 05:04 AM EDT
If Father Aidan Troy really stands by his claim that he is ashamed to wear his collar because of the litany of scandals. Then why does he not do the right thing and make a stand against the church,resign from it. Let him show the whole world that he is prepared to give up his priesthood for the lack of action from the church in the wake of the child abuse.(or is this just another ploy from the church to take away the focus of child abuse).
We survivors of child abuse are fed-up to he teeth with people coming forward from the church,time and again,saying they are fed-up from what's going on in it.
If they're really sincere,then they will do what the rest of us,former Rome Catholics did,And that's=come out from among them.
Its the only way,for as we've seen time and again,what the church is really like,And you Father Aidan Troy,know this more than most.
The church will never listen or co-operate with anyone,they whole-heartily believe they are above mans-laws. They believe,they,and only they speak for God and should not be held accountable to any Government.
So we survivors are awaiting your answer=are you going to do the right thing,or are your words just what they are=Words.
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Collette2 | Sep 10, 2011, 05:32 PM EDT
So why didn't his conscience cry out to be acted upon and stand up and be counted, 40 years a Belfast priest is along time.
I'm not into to these "latter day saints" I'm afraid.
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eiriamach | Sep 10, 2011, 03:12 PM EDT
@mamaginnty, that comment you've made a few times and at 12:27PM, about the pope forgiving the children who enticed abusive priests: The Onion, an on-line satire, ran a spoof on this topic some years ago. They like to parody people who abuse power (like at the Vatican). I know about the parody, "Pope Forgives Molested Children," May 22, 2002, but I have not found any news item about the pope's actual comments to children. Is it on line?
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barneyjo | Sep 10, 2011, 01:17 PM EDT
@mamaginnty - I take your point about priests in general, but I have to say in the case of Aidan Troy, has stood in harms way to protect children, during the Holy Cross Siege in Belfast. Along with another Passionist Priest, Gary Donegan, he walked with the Holy Cross Kids every day, using his body to shield kids from missiles, stones, condoms filled with either Urine or excrement, or both. I knew the man for many years. And he made mistakes as a senior member of his religious order However I witnessed him having to endure what I describe above and I know that his heart was and is in the right place. In large part, he was responsible for bringing the Holy Cross Protest to an end. He is one of the very few priests of whom I can say that with certainty.
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Sherdru | Sep 10, 2011, 01:10 PM EDT
Quite understandable.Some priests have a lot to be shamed about.
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mamaginnty | Sep 10, 2011, 12:27 PM EDT
Fr Troy...yes a good priest in that he helped the nationalists in the north of our country but no matter what, EVERY priest who ever joined the catholic church KNEW what was going on. He mentions feeling devastated maybe because if he and the other ( good ) priests had spoke up years ago it may have saved some of these poor abused people. How can this be the true religion when a pope can make a statement saying he forgives the children 5 to 15yrs old who's sinful ways enticed the ( good priests )I believe in God but not in this crowd who have ruled robbed and brainwashed for decades.
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PaulFagan | Sep 10, 2011, 11:34 AM EDT
Agree with citizen69, McNamara31 & IAPRINCESS.
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citizen69 | Sep 10, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
There were many suicides around his old parish in Ardoyne, Belfast, even some in his church grounds. He's seen a lot of families devastated this way.
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McNamara31 | Sep 10, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT
We have to support the good priests. The world needs them more then ever.
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IAPRINCESS | Sep 10, 2011, 09:54 AM EDT
This man (priest) thinks just as I do. It is good to know that I am on the right track and I pray for Fr. Troy that he will find joy eventually in his job as a priest. The church has so much to answer for and the priests with integrity are suffering greatly.
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