A LEADING priest has launched a broadside against the Catholic Church hierarchy, saying they are sticking their heads in the sand over a number of crucial issues, such as women priests.

Fr Joe McGuane, who is based in Youghal, Co Cork, warned that if the current church regime continued, Mass attendances in Ireland would soon be reduced to small groups of old women.

His comments came as relations between the church and the Government sank to a historic low after Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore confirmed the forthcoming shutdown of Ireland’s embassy in the Vatican.

The financial problems facing the church could leave some clerics “filling supermarket shelves at night or on the dole if they have bad backs,” the priest said.

In a hard-hitting assessment of the crisis that now faces the church, he warned: “The Papal Nuncio knows as much about the abuse-rocked Diocese of Cloyne as a cow knows about a holiday.”

Fr McGuane said that some Dublin parishes now had greater populations than some west of Ireland dioceses.

He said the Eucharistic Congress, to be held in Dublin next summer, was “designed as a distraction”, with interest in it — on a scale of one to a 100 — ranking as minus three.

He added: “Priests will have to drag themselves along to — I suppose — the Phoenix Park or Croke Park for a ridiculous jamboree, and dragoon as many parishioners as possible along with them.”

Fr McGuane told the Irish Independent that he took no pleasure in his assessment of the problems facing the church — but warned that those problems could only be overcome with honesty, courage and transparency.

He said a crucial issue now facing the church was the role of women.

“We are the only profession that excludes women; the only one who insists that it (the vocation) is for life.

“Unless we have married women, we will soon have tiny numbers.

“But then they will only be catering for a few, so I suppose there is no need to panic. Furthermore, there will be income only for a few.

Leadership

“Is it any wonder we are in the mess we are in? Seventeen years after the late Brendan Smyth was convicted of child sexual abuse, not alone are we still at square one but we have actually gone backwards.

“This is because of our dearth of leadership,” he said. “Our prelates are, by and large, incapable of initiative and innovation. They are almost entirely bereft of ideas. They have no idea what to do.”

The Diocese of Cloyne did not respond to Fr McGuane’s comments last night.

Fr McGuane — who is chaplain at the St Raphael’s Centre — insisted that the church’s problems started at the top.

“There have been proposals that all bishops appointed before Diarmuid Martin should resign. This would be useless while the present system of appointments is in place. Clones would replace them,” he said.

“They, in turn, would appoint similar clones to all positions and their characteristic would be blind knee-jerk unconditional obedience, no matter how stupid the instruction.”

- Ralph Riegel

Irish Independent

www.independent.ie

A priest in the scandal-hit diocese of Cloyne in Co Cork has urged his fellow clerics to speak out and defy the “culture of fear” that pervades the Catholic Church.

Fr Joseph McGuane has become the first ordinary cleric in Cloyne to comment on the child abuse controversies that rocked the diocese and the entire church in Ireland.

Fr McGuane – who is a chaplain in St Raphael’s Centre, a community hospital in Youghal – said ordinary people were very angry that “justice has taken a back seat”.

“The leadership has sailed us into a perfect storm and there must be a new way of thinking to get us out,” he said.

“The church is in a bigger crisis now than it was back in 1994 when the Fr Brendan Smyth scandal brought down the government.”

Fr McGuane argued that the church needed to totally transform itself and guarantee greater transparency.

But he acknowledged that ordinary diocesan clerics faced the task of rolling back “a culture of cover-up and dictatorship”.

“It would be a great help if my peers spoke out – sadly, I am the only one.

“There is a culture of fear within the diocese. Good people are afraid of the repercussions if they do speak out – it is hard to break ranks,” he said.

The cleric said that the emphasis within the church has been on authority and control from the top down, with desperately negative consequences.

Fr McGuane also hit out at former Bishop John Magee, who vanished weeks before the Cloyne report was published.

The whereabouts of the Newry-born bishop, a former private secretary to three Popes, is still a mystery.

In Dr Magee’s absence, Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel and Emly had to handle queries over the shocking revelations in the Cloyne Report last month.

Fr McGuane said it was now clear that Dr Magee should have resigned three years ago when Cloyne’s problems over its handling of clerical abuse allegations were first highlighted by the church’s own watchdog body, the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children (NBSC).

“I said back in 2009 that Bishop Magee should resign,” Fr McGuane said. “The head of FAS, the Taoiseach, the Financial Regulator and the heads of the banks all fell on their swords. Why should it be any different in the church?”

Fr McGuane insisted there was hope for the future and said men of “courage” like Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin have signalled the way forward.

 

Monday, 8 August 2011

www.belfasttelegraph

Cumann na Daoine Community Resource Centre welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment, Community and Local Government to their building at 4 Catherine Street Youghal Co Cork on Friday July 8th and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) were also welcomed as new tenants to this fine Community Resource Centre

It was with great enthusiasm that all involved in Cumann na Daoine welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment Community and Local Government on Friday last (July 8th) to Youghal and also to this fine 4 storey Community Resource Centre, formally known as The League of The Cross Hall.

Cumann na Daoine has 16yrs of history and were an extremely successful Community Development Project in their own right.  Now with the CDP programme gone into the Local Partnerships Cumann na Daoine will now be known as a Community Resource Centre and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) will now roll out the new Local Community Development Programme.

Biddy Phelan the longest standing member of Cumann na Daoine welcomed the Minister Phil Hogan,  Mayor of Youghal Eoin Coyne,  Deputy Sandra McLellan, Deputy David Stanton, Local Representatives and everyone else present to this wonderful evening and explained how she had seen many changes over the years and had seen Cumann na Daoine go “from strength to strength”

Dolores Corcoran Chairperson gave an excellent presentation on the background and history of Cumann na Daoine and how it all came to be. Dolores took the audience on a journey from March1995 to the present day.  From their humble beginnings in a small space in the community centre to the bigger premises at No 10 North Main street to their Community Resource Centre now in Catherine Street.

It was quite evident that Cumann na Daoine’s voluntary management committee over the years have put in tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment to get a Community Development Project for Youghal and to help develop groups and encourage services into Youghal for those in the community who needed them most.  Dolores acknowledged both SECAD and Youghal Credit Union “were the only financial supports to the group” in those early stages of development.

There have been many highlights for Cumann na Daoine and 2006 saw the group successful in obtaining the 1.16million from the dormant accounts which saw them buy the building they are in now formally known as The League of the Cross Hall.

Numerous individuals, groups and organisations use the building for all kinds of services, courses, training, and meetings.  Over the years many social groups have been set up and continue to meet, develop and plan activities.  Too too many to mention but are all very very important to Cumann na Daoine.  They look forward to continue to work with all groups and SECAD who are now new tenants within the building.

Cumann na Daoine look forward now to the future the organisation is being restructured and they have strengthened their management committee and all related sub groups.   They look forward to focusing on re-generating Youghal socially and economically by working with local people to develop local responses on issues with them.  Also to be recognised as a key community partner in Youghal by all agencies and Government Departments.

After 16yrs Cumann na Daoine will no doubt continue to go from strength to strength and continue to work with key agencies such as the HSE, RAPID, SECAD, FAS, VEC, Department of Social Protection, Age Action Ireland and Community Radio Youghal etc

All involved are to be commended on a truly wonderful event and they wish to thank everyone over the last 16yrs who were involved in any way and supported them as there would be far too many to mention.  THANK YOU ALL!!

Click on image to enlarge and see the Minister Phil Hogan’s visit to the Cumann na Daoine resource centre. Pictures by YOL

 

Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has welcomed retention of Cumann na Daoine services.

“Cumann na Daoine were established in 1996 and have been operating successfully in Youghal since then. In 2008 Cumann na Daoine developed a community resource centre in Youghal which hosts a large range of activities and services such as Community Radio Youghal, FAS, VEC, HSE, a women’s group, men’s group, an art group and a disability group. The centre also offers SECAD courses, aftercare cancer supports, GROW and an Older People’s Network.

“I understand that an agreement has been reached between Cumann na Daoine and South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) Ltd. This agreement will allow all existing Cumann na Daoine Services to continue to operate until the end of the current funding programme in December 2013.

“As part of a national integration strategy which began last year, responsibility for local community development programmes, such as Cumann na Daoine, is to be transferred to the relevant local development company, which is SECAD in this area. Both Cumann na Daoine and SECAD should be congratulated as they have worked very hard to reach an agreement which is suitable to both parties.

“I believe this agreement will retain all existing Cumann na Daoine Services in Youghal which have been a huge benefit to many people there. The agreement should also allow for a greater SECAD presence which should prove an additional boost for the people of Youghal. I wish both organisations every success in continuing and developing services in Youghal.

YOUGHAL ADULT EDUCATION NETWORK invites you to join us for a celebration of learning in Cumann Na Daoine, Catherine St on Tuesday the 12th of April.  Try your hand at new skills in a range of workshops  – from felt making to low impact exercising, compost demonstrations to computers, there’s bound to be something to catch your interest.  You might even enjoy a free mini facial from local ITEC Beauty Specialist Diploma students.  Dig up the past with the Youghal Heritage’s mock archeological dig- Warning: You may find Bones!!!

Find out more about a range of courses from information stands, learn about supports available to learners and meet with members of Cumann na Daoine’s groups and others involved in learning provision in Youghal.

Free refreshments and homemade cakes by the students of Youthreach Youghal

There will be representatives from County Cork VEC, BTEI East Cork, Youthreach Youghal, Cumann na Daoine, Rapid Youghal, Youghal Community Gardens, Youghal Family Support Group, East Cork Traveller Advocacy Group, South and East Cork Area Development, Dept of Family and Social Affairs, FAS, St. Johns Central College, Tipperary Institute, CIT, Volunteer Service Oversees amongst others on hand all day to discuss how you can get involved in your own personal life long learning.

So please do come and join us between 10:00 and 1:00.

The launch of the society’s C.Y.M.S. Calendar 2011 recently took place in the main hall with guest FÁS supervisor Mary Carson. Speaking at the launch the President of the society Brendan Cooney congratulated all those involved in the making of the calendar and particularly thanked FÁS supervisor Mary Carson and Cathy O’Mahony, resource tutor with the Youghal Adult Learning Centre.

He said anyone who brings benefit to the organisation as William Swayne, Ray Phelan and Christopher Hennessy, who designed the calendar, also bring benefit to the wider Youghal community by their work. He heaped much praise on Mary Carson from FÁS who’s input to the work of the society did not go unnoticed and was very much appreciated. He also paid tribute to William and Anne Swayne for their support of the society. He thanked Michael Hussey who took the photos for the calendar and said the non-profit calendar may be purchased at the CYMS office or from any committee member.

In turn, Mary Carson, FÁS supervisor, said that she was delighted to be associated with the wonderful work that the Youghal CYMS do and could see this especially with the young teenager members as an invaluable place to go within the centre of our community.

The calendar is the brainchild of senior member William Swayne. This year the calendar’s theme focused mainly with photos of the junior snooker finalists in the various tournaments that were held over the 2010 season and also pictures of people with the World Snooker Trophy and world champion John Higgins during the fantastic snooker exhibition held at the society last year.

Friday December 17 2010 sees the launch of Youghal’s new community bus. Run by Youghal Community Transport Group (part of Cumann na Daoine), the bus will provide transport for older people and people with disabilities living in Youghal.  From January the bus will run two days a week – Thursdays and Fridays.  It will also be available for use by other community and voluntary groups in the town on other days.

Youghal Community Transport Group was formed in August 2009, with the aim of providing a community transport facility which addressed unmet needs of people with disabilities, the elderly and disadvantaged in Youghal.  The group is made up of local volunteers.  To support its initial work the group secured grant aid from SECAD to pilot a service and help establish the level of need and what type of service might work.  This grant enabled the group to start a pilot community  bus service every Friday.  The pilot started in December 2009 and proved a great success.  The service is open to people aged 60 years and over, and people with disabilities of any age.  They just join the travel club and can use the community transport service from their homes to and from the town of Youghal.  In less than one year the success of the club is obvious with over 100 members availing of this wonderful facility each Friday.

Demand for the bus was such that when the grant for the pilot phase ended the group themselves used their own resources to continue the Friday service.  However ongoing efforts were being made behind the scenes by the group for a permanent community bus for Youghal.  Now, one year after starting the pilot service, Youghal Community Transport Group is delighted to launch its own bus which will enable the service to operate two days a week from January – Thursdays and Fridays.

The bus was a kind donation from St Mary’s Senior Citizens Group in Knocknaheeny.  However the project has also secured great support from a range of other groups – including Youghal Credit Union, the HSE and FAS (who has allocated a Community Employment bus driver post to the group).

“ Youghal Credit Union Ltd. is proud to be associated with Cuman Na Daoine and the Community Bus. The role of our Credit Union is to reach out to all sectors of our local community. The provision of a community will benefit both the users and the local economy by allowing people to circulate and spend money locally. We are delighted to assist in satisfying a local need to allow affordable transport to all who require it.” – Julie Ni Chomhrai, Youghal Credit Union Promotions and Development Committee’s chairperson.

The people of Youghal have taken the bus to their hearts – they have supported the bus through town and church collections, a sponsored walk by VTOS Students at the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre to name just a few.  Other organisations and companies have provided supports – MC Autos are helping with bus repairs and Youghal GAA has kindly agreed that the bus can be parked there when not in use.

“This is more than just a bus – the service gives older people and people with disabilities the independence to go out and do what they want to do – whether it’s shopping, meeting friends, going to the doctors or drawing their pension” – Tony Phelan, Chair of Youghal Community Transport Group.

When the bus is not operating for Travel Club members on Thursdays and Fridays it is available for use by other voluntary groups in Youghal.  Our Community Bus driver may have some additional hours available to drive your group on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  But these hours are very limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  To make maximum use of the bus, groups are encouraged to provide their own driver.  Volunteer bus drivers must have a D1 licence and be aged between 25 and 70.   Priority will be given to groups supporting the elderly, people with disabilities, groups supporting young people and other voluntary groups.

So, if you are aged 60 or over, or have a disability, why not join the travel club and use the community bus on Thursdays or Fridays (starting January).  Or if you are involved in a voluntary group and would like to find out more about using the bus then call Cumann na Daoine, tel 024 91900.

People turned out in great numbers to attend Youghal’s Lifelong Learning Festival event in Cumann na Daoine recently.  The day provided a great opportunity to chat with FAS, CIT, UCC, Co Cork VEC and other education providers to find out about learning opportunities for all ages.

Workshops proved a great  success and  participants enjoyed making paper flowers with the East Cork Traveller Advocacy Group, sampling needlework techniques with the Youghal Family Support Group, and learning how to  make the most of container gardening.

Many people opted to enjoy a mini facial given by local ITEC Beauty Specialist students currently studying at the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach centre.  Those attending the day found it great fun and above all were surprised at the range of learning opportunities available – full and part time, locally and in Cork, there really is something for everyone.

For further information please contact:

Elmarie McCarthy

Project Co-Ordinator

Cumann na Daoine CDP

Catherine Street

Youghal

Co Cork

Tel 024 91900

Click on image to enlarge

Learning takes centre stage on Wednesday 24 March in Cumann na Daoine with a day filled with free workshops, displays, information stands and talks.  Organised by the Youghal Adult Learning Network, this special day showcases the variety of learning opportunities available both in Youghal and in Cork City.  Free workshops provide an opportunity to try your hand at a range of skills – from paper flower making and gardening to computers and mobile phones; there is something for everyone. Photo: Michael Hussey YoughalOnline.com

The event is part of the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival and provides a chance to find out more, meet with adult learners, guidance counsellors and have a go at new skills.  The festival’s motto is Investigate, Participate, Celebrate – so join us in Youghal and:

Investigate – representatives of FÁS, UCC, CIT, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, St John’s Central College, Dept of Social & Family Affairs, Co Cork VEC Adult Guidance Service, Co Cork VEC, Cumann na Daoine, SECAD and Youghal Family Support Group will all be present to answer your queries about courses available and supports for adult learners.  Staff from the DSFA and the County Cork VEC Adult Guidance will give a special briefing session on returning to learning

Participate – watch or join in some of the many free workshops taking place throughout the day.  Learn about gardening, computers, paper flower making, needlework and how to make the most of your mobile phone.  Other workshops focus on coping with adult dyslexia and how parents can support a child’s early learning.  Why not end the day relaxing with a special yoga workshop?

Celebrate – above all enjoy the day – learning should also be fun.  So enjoy coffee and a scone prepared by Youthreach students, have a mini facial from ITEC Beauty Specialist students, and celebrate the wealth of learning opportunities available.

For further information contact Cumann na Daoine, 024 91900

Click on image to see the 2009 event

Members of the Youghal Adult Education Network are delighted to join in the celebrations during the 2009 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival with 2 days packed with free workshops, talks, displays and performances for young and old.  Now in its 6th year the festival has mainly been limited to Cork city – but this year Youghal is taking the initiative to bring the festival to Cork County.

On Tuesday March 31 the focus is on the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre,  with a programme which includes briefing sessions on how adults return to education, as well as hands on workshops in beauty therapy, ceramics, organic gardening and family learning.  While visiting the centre why not visit the information displays and enjoy the art exhibition, or enjoy coffee and scones in the morning prepared by Youthreach students. On Thursday April 2 the festival moves to Cumann na Daoine’s new building on Catherine St.  Call in any time from 10am – 2pm to visit displays of art and craft as well as information stands from UCC, FAS, Pobalscoil na Trionoide and the VEC adult guidance service.  Chat with fellow learners and members of Cumann na Daoine’s many groups, or join in free workshops on paper flower making or cake decorating.  The afternoon Features performances from the Windy Lane puppet theatre.

Kino Korner is a mini film festival which will feature screenings of short films of community interest – many linked to Youghal.   Kino Korner films will be shown in both venues on March 31 and April 2. Read more