The Association of Catholic Priests has described the treatment of a priest in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore as ‘inappropriate, unreasonable and unacceptable’.
He alleges Richard Geoghegan, who served in Carrick-on-Suir and South Tipperary, ‘reluctantly signed’ his secularization papers confirming his departure as he ‘felt unsupported’ by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan.
This left the 54-year-old “without an income, homeless and dependent on a pittance of financial settlement”, the association said.
The group alleges that Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan removed Mr Geoghegan’s documentation that allowed him to officiate Mass without informing him, and then asked him to leave his diocese.
The controversy erupted earlier this week after Mr Geoghegan, from Dungarvan, confirmed his departure from the priesthood.
He tweeted that he had been “officially fired by Rome”, ending 28 years of service. He further alleged that Bishop Cullinan “was happy to be without” him.
I entered the seminary in 1987 at the age of 19.
I was ordained in 1993 at the age of 25:
On 7/1/22 I was officially fired by ROME.
On Friday 01/14/22 my Bishop was happy to exempt me.
I am a good man.
And he speaks of the shortage of vocations. 🙄— Richard Quinn Geoghegan🇮🇪 🥂🇺🇦🌻 (@RichardGeogheg9) January 16, 2022
However, Bishop Cullinan told the Mr Geoghegan left the priesthood “on his own accord” and asked Pope Francis for the secularization of the priesthood last March.
“At the meeting last March, Richard visited the diocesan offices, along with a chosen colleague, to sign the request to the Holy Father for laicization. On December 15, 2021, Pope Francis granted the petition of Richard Geoghegan, which means he is no longer a priest.”
This has been disputed by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) who say they accompanied him to a meeting with Bishop Cullinan, as he had been contacted by another priest in the diocese who feared that Mr Geoghegan was “expelled from the priesthood “. “.
This was “even though there were no official allegations or complaints against” Mr Geoghegan.
The group said they read the news of Mr Geoghegan’s departure with “dismay and sadness” and said they had previously supported him in the diocese.
A statement from the ACP said: “During the meeting, Richard expressed his wish to remain a priest in the Diocese. Bishop Cullinan replied that he knew Richard did not want this. The Bishop added that he thought it was better for Richard if he left the priesthood.In response, Richard said that he has never felt supported by the bishop since his arrival in the diocese.
According to the CPA, Bishop Cullinan “explained all the reasons why he thought Richard should go.
He further claims that Mr Geoghegan later discovered that the minutes of their meeting “were completely distorted” and contained only part of what the Bishop had said and nothing that he or the ACP member had said.
He added: “In 2021, Bishop Cullinan removed Richard’s ‘celebret’ – a card which recognizes that a priest is in good standing with his bishop – which meant Richard could no longer say mass publicly or officiate as a priest. than a priest.
“Because he felt unsupported and ‘unwanted’ by Bishop Cullinan, Richard reluctantly signed the secularization papers.”
Now, the ACP argues that “the treatment of Father Richard Geoghegan is inappropriate, unreasonable and unacceptable”.
Mr Geoghegan declined to comment when contacted earlier this week. Bishop Cullinan has been contacted for a response to the CPA statement.
