“Singing Priest”, Father Michael Cleary, and Bishop Eamonn Casey were the Church’s representatives chosen to greet Pope Saint John Paul II on the tarmac during his visit to Ireland.
That fact remains an issue that “has form” as they say in Ireland -- in other words, a bad history since it was only after their very prominent role during the Papal visit that their personal and sordid affairs revealed them to be liars and frauds.
Memories are long in Ireland. And as preparations for Pope Francis' visit progress, the memory of the two Clerics who greeted Pope Saint John Paul II have not dimmed.
Both men had made many pronouncements on the sacredness of marriage and the battle against those seeking a legal abortion and were seen as the most blessed among the Irish Clergy during the Pope’s visit.
All the while, they had had been violating their preaching about the evils of sex outside marriage, secret affairs, and secret lives.
Father Michael Cleary and Bishop Eamonn Casey had plenty to hide.
Both had fathered children and both covered up scandalous relationships that would tear the Catholic Church apart in Ireland when their stories were told.
Father Cleary was known as the “Singing Priest” who made a huge name for himself as an entertainer and a Cleric seen as being in touch with young people. He also led from the front on the 1983 abortion referendum, promising fire and brimstone and hell against anyone who went against the church's wishes.
Yet, he had commenced an affair with his housekeeper, Phyllis Hamilton. She was just 17 years old (he was 34) when the affair started. She bore him at least two children. A third child, a woman now living in Florida who is Hamilton’s third child, claims he was also her father but it has not been proven.
A friend of both Hamilton and Cleary said, “In October 1993. I met with Monsignor Alex Stenson at Archbishop’s house, who agreed to meet in confidence. I told him about Father Cleary, Phyllis and their two sons and their fears of public exposure. His view was that until Michael told the Church directly, the Church could not offer him, or anyone else that may be involved, any support.”
Bishop Eammon Casey had for years been courting Annie Murphy, a young American who visited him through family connections in Kerry. They had a torrid affair and a son.
Bishop Casey embezzled over $100,000 in parish funds to pay for his son’s (Peter Murphy) education. He refused to acknowledge him until his mother broke her silence.
With that reveralation, the dam burst of Irish Clerical scandals broke.
These were the two men of all the Clerics in Ireland who had been handpicked to meet Pope Saint John Paul.
It will be interesting to see who meets Francis this coming August.
Pope Francis is a popular pope, and he deserves a proper reception.
Please God, the Church will choose those who greet the Holy Father carefully, very carefully indeed.
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