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OldId 712507951 edit

Michael Patrick O'Connor Cox (born 1945) is an Irish independent bishop. He is best known for ordaining the singer Sinéad O'Connor.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

In May 1998, Cox ordained Patrick Buckley as a bishop, using the principle of apostolic succession. According to The Tablet magazine, it was said at that time that Buckley's consecration was viewed as "valid but illicit". In September 1998, the Catholic Media Office of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales "has now said that it doubts that the bishop's episcopal consecration is valid" within the Roman Catholic church.[1]

In April 1999, Cox ordained O'Connor as a priest. Her ordination ceremony, after six weeks of theological study, was held in a Lourdes hotel bedroom. O'Connor then assumed the name of "Mother Bernadette Mary".[2]

"the breakaway Latin Tridentine church"[2]


In 2001, Cox planned to convert a 75-foot (23 m) commercial fishing trawler, called The Little Bishop, into "a mobile floating church, offering on-board marriages and baptisms to people around the British Isles."[3]


Cox planned to protest against the ship being sailed into Ireland by the pro-choice feminist group Women on Waves.[3]

In 2004, Cox's 84-foot (26 m) trawler, called The Patriarch, caught fire while underway and sank – the sinking "destroyed what would have been Cox's latest effort to grab headlines" in 2004 by planning to shadow "the abortion ship, Aurora."[4][5] Cox also planned to use The Patriarch as a church.



In 2011, Cox was a candidate in the general election for the Laois-Offaly constituency, coming last with 60 votes.[6][7]

In 2013, a District Court judge requested that the Garda Síochána investigate a marriage conducted by Cox for a 17-year-old Traveller youth and his partner.[8]

Civil marriages in Ireland require that the participants are over 18, or have a Court Exemption Order if this is not the case.[9]



Cox does not solemnise legal valid marriages.[a]

Cox states that such weddings conducted by him are religious, not civil, and that there is no religious reason why somebody 16 years old should not get married.[12]




I recognise their [Irish Traveller] customs and appreciate them. Anyone who asks why I do what I do – I tell them that I make it clear the wedding ceremony is purely religious. I do not register marriage with the state.

— Michael Cox, Voice of Travellers[12]

Cox insists on parental consent and parents being present at the ceremony."[12]

Lynch points out that Cox "has different opinions on issues such as women priests and marriage age" than the Roman Catholic Church.[12]



"Travellers have specific customs surrounding marriage, and often get married much younger than settled couples."[12]

"In Ireland, the minimum age you can marry is 18 years unless you have a Court Exemption Order."[12][b]

"Many Travellers get married younger than 18 and seek court exemption orders," according to Doorley and Lynch.[12]

According to David Lynch, in Voice of Travellers, Cox "plays a special role for some in the Travelling community. He is willing to marry young Travellers under the age of 18."[12][c]

Cox "remains popular," according to Lynch, although Cox "makes clear that such weddings have no legal basis" and "are not recognised by the Roman Catholic Church."[12][d]

Lynch wrote that "Cox maintains there is no religious reason why somebody 16 years old should not get married."[12]


"Cox also claims to have carried out high profile exorcisms and healing."[12]

According to Lynch, Cox "first hit the tabloid headlines over a decade ago when he carried out exorcisms at a Dublin Radio Station and later in Marley Park."[12]

Cox "claims to be blessed with healing powers."[12]

"He lives near his isolated rural church some miles outside Birr."[12]



  1. ^ "Home news". The Tablet. London. 1998-09-05. p. 29. ISSN 0039-8837. Archived from the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  2. ^ a b "O'Connor becomes a 'priest'". news.bbc.co.uk. London: BBC News. 1999-05-04. Archived from the original on 2002-10-24.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop pledges to sail from Fenit to block 'abortion boat'". tcm.ie. Cork, IE: Thomas Crosbie Media Archives. The Kingdom. 2001-06-12. Archived from the original on 2005-01-01.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMH2004-09-02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Sinking of 'holy ship' halts bishop's protest plan". irishtimes.com. Dublin. 2004-09-02. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  6. ^ Laois-Offaly - 2011 Candidates, RTÉ News, 25 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Rebel bishop runs in Laois-Offaly". Leinster Express. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. ^ Deegan, Gordon (19 December 2013). "Judge directs that 'renegade' bishop be investigated for marriage he allegedly performed involving a 17-year-old". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  9. ^ Government of Ireland. Citizens Information Board (2016-01-26). "Legal prerequisites for marriage". Dublin: Citizens Information Board. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  10. ^ Civil Registration Act 2004, s. 69 (, s. 69). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  11. ^ Civil Registration Act 2004, s. 70 (, s. 70). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Doorley, Julienne; Lynch, David (2008-11-10). "The happy couple" (PDF). Voice of Travellers. Monksland, Athlone, IE: Involve. pp. 22, 24–25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  13. ^ Okely, Judith (1983). The traveller-gypsies. Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge University Press. p. 153. ISBN 9780521246415.
  14. ^ "Press Release Census 2011 Profile 7 Religion, Ethnicity and Irish Travellers" (Press release). Dublin: Central Statistics Office. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  15. ^ Abdalla, Safa; et al. (September 2010). Kelleher, Cecily (ed.). Demography & Vital Statistics Part A of Technical Report 2 (PDF). All Ireland Traveller health study. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  16. ^ Government of Ireland. Health Service Executive. "Religious ceremonies". hse.ie. Health Service Executive. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  17. ^ Government of Ireland. General Register Office (2016-02-29). Kearney, Helen (ed.). "Currently active solemnisers list". welfare.ie. Roscommon: Department of Social Protection. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-29.

OldId 711904694 edit

"Although popular, the weddings have no legal standing and court exemption orders are required by the State."[1]

a 16-year-old future spouse was "not allowed get married in a Catholic church" because of her age.[1][e]


Cox performs wedding ceremonies, which "have no legal standing," for spouses as young as 16, as long as their parents consent and are at the ceremony.


Circa 1999, Cox and Buckley founded, what some news articles call, the "Latin Tridentine Church."[1]


Traveller practise child marriage.[3]

In 2002, Buckley "defended his right to give blessings to teenagers as young as 14, after it was reported he performed a ceremony involving a 15-year-old Traveller."[4]

"We have had cases like this before whereby the children actually believe they are legally married and it has taken a lot of effort to unwrangle everything," according to Father Stephen Monaghan, a Travellers' parish priest.[4]

There is a common thread of some kind of ceremonies involving children who are under the impression that they are married when they are in fact not.

  1. ^ a b Phelan, Andrew (2008-11-27). "Rebel bishop marries 16-year-old Shelly to her Polish sweetheart". herald.ie. Dublin: The Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  2. ^ a b CIC 1983, c. 1072.
  3. ^ Bond, Anthony (2012-05-21). "'We must confront travellers over children being forced into marriage', says prosecutor who stopped Rochdale sex gang". dailymail.co.uk. London: Associated Newspapers.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b Hooper, Niamh (2002-01-15). "Maverick bishop 'promoting teen sex' with blessing". independent.ie. Dublin: The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2016-04-01.

OldId 710871959 edit

Cox performed marriages of children below the legal age for marriage, which in Ireland is 18 years of age.

In a 2013 case, Judge Patrick Durcan of the Children's Court in Ennis, Ireland, described Cox as "a man who calls himself a bishop" and commented that "anyone who masquerades as a clergy man and who takes money from young people and imbues in them a mistaken belief that he has married them, is in my view committing the most serious offence."[1]

In a different 2014 case, Durcan "told the court 'it is disgraceful that a young man like this is duped into believing that he is married by someone who parades around and calls himself a bishop, but is not a bishop'." According to Durcan, Cox "has no function" in regards to marriage. "This man is not a bishop. He is not entitled to marry you so he is Mr Cox, not Bishop Cox."[2]

  1. ^ Deegan, Gordon (2013-12-23). "Bishop charged teenage couple €100 for 'sham' marriage, court is told". independent.ie. Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ^ Deegan, Gordon (2014-02-13). "Teen duped into marriage by fake bishop". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-19.

Humphreys 1999-04-26 edit

[1]

  1. ^ Humphreys, Joe (1999-04-26). "O'Connor donation disturbing - bishop". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-29.

Early life edit

Cox was an Irish soldier and a Dún Laoghaire harbour policeman.[1][2]


contracted marriage in the 1970s.[3]

annulled marriage pre 1997.[3]

divorced in 1999.[4]

His agent, freelance reporter Tom Higgins, discovered Cox at Dún Laoghaire in 1982 and began writing about him.[3]

Ministry edit

Cox exorcised demons from a radio station.[3]


Cox said his notoriety "took off like a bat out of hell" in 1995 after he was the subject of an RTÉ Television documentary.[3]


Cox planned in 1997 to include "a well of healing" at Cree.[3]


In April 1982, Cox organized the "Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church,"[clarify] as "his own religious order" according to Joe Humphreys of The Irish Times.[1]



"The church offered marriage annulments to people who became members."[1]


Cox offered Tridentine Masses at Monkstown, County Dublin in mid-1980s.[1]

Since 1995, Cox's church is the "shell of St. Colman's Church of Ireland chapel" near Birr.[3]


As of 1997 Cox lived in a mobile home.[3]

"Catholic laity may attend the Tridentine Mass, if allowed under the terms of the 1984 instruction (indult) of Pope John Paul II."[5]


According to Laighleis, none of Cox's Masses qualify as indult Masses.[5]

According to Laighleis, the Society of Saint Pius X "has totally repudiated" Cox.[5]

Cox "appears to be operating on his own initiative, and seems to believe the adjective 'Tridentine' can be employed as an excuse for his completely irregular ministry."[5]

Cox, a self-described "traditionalist,"[5]

Laighleis wrote that it seems to be "impossible to accommodate with Catholic tradition" "the agenda proffered by" Cox and Buckley.[5]

Cox's church is St Coleman's, in the townland of Cree, near Birr, County Offaly.[3][1][f]

Cox ministers to Irish Travellers.[7]

Cox started "a telephone confession service" in the 1990s. Callers "were charged £1 a minute" to use his premium-rate telephone number "and invited to leave details of any medical problems, for which a Latin Mass would be offered the following Sunday."[1]

The "healing and confession line" charged callers IR£1 per minute [8]


"Cox doesn't listen to many messages before they're erased, as he acknowledged in a midnight interview."[3]

"I don't know how many people are phoning at the moment. I might have a better idea when the money starts coming in," said Cox.[3]

"I give a valid absolution to all those who phone in whether I physically hear them or not."[3]




Another "project developed by Higgins" was a videotape titled "Heal Yourself, by the Miracle Bishop".[3]

Organization edit

what are the two or three organizations called?


As of 1997 Cox made an "effort to form a church in an abandoned chapel outside Birr and fund it by offering confessions, faith healing and prayers on a pay-per-call phone line."[3]

As of 1997 Cox "hasn't even made peace with the handful of other Tridentine priests in Ireland, who belong to the Society of St. Pius X."[3]

As of 1997 "Cox recognizes no superiors and has no priests to command."[3]

In 1998 Cox describes himself as a "Tridentine" bishop.[9]


The ordination of Buckley as bishop by Cox in 1998 "can only be described as bizarre", Cantwell said. "It bypassed the [Latin] Church's law and was in fact carried out without any reference to the Catholic Church or indeed to any other Church."[9]


Cox "was ordained in 1987 by Roman Catholic clergy[who?] who were followers of the Tridentine church."[1][g]

"By this, he seems to mean that because he celebrates the Tridentine Mass, he must be a Tridentine Bishop."[5]


In 1999, Cox was "Ireland's most-famous member of the reactionary Tridentine wing of the Catholic Church."[3]

According to the Associated Press in 2004, Cox "says he was ordained a priest by a Vietnamese Tridentine bishop in 1978, then consecrated to become Ireland's only bishop of the Tridentine sect, which rejects Vatican II reforms and the authority of Pope John Paul II."[2]

According to the Associated Press in 2004, Cox had "been recruiting followers to a new sect he calls the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church."[2]


In 2015, Cox is described as the "Tridentine Bishop [...] who set up the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church."[10]

Wedding ceremonies edit

High Court Justice Elizabeth Dunne "ruled that the marriage, performed by the former Dún Laoghaire Harbour policeman who styles himself as Bishop Michael Cox, was not valid."[11]

Two settled Irish Traveller "cousins [...] eloped four years ago when she was 18 and were married by [...] Cox. The marriage is now accepted as invalid."[12]

"following an 'invalid' wedding ceremony"[13]

"[...] 'married' [...] in a ceremony conducted by [...] Cox following an elopement."[13]

Justice Elizabeth Dunne "said the couple had gone through a ceremony of marriage which had clearly been accepted by both parties as not a valid marriage."[13]

Ordination as priest edit

It was reported in 1996 that Cox was ordained as a priest in 1987 and as bishop in 1992.[14]

It was reported in 1997 that Cox "was ordained a priest by a Vietnamese Tridentine bishop in Switzerland in 1978."[3]

Ordination as bishop edit

It was reported in 1997 that Cox was "[consecrated as a bishop circa 1982] to become Ireland's only Tridentine Catholic bishop."[3]

Bishop Ciarán Broadbery consecrated Cox on xx April 1978.[15][16]

Cox was consecrated as a bishop in 1992.[1]


Both the minister of consecration and Cox individually incurred a disciplinary latae sententiae excommunication for the schismatic act;[17]

Cox was formally excommunicated after his ordination as a bishop.[18]

According to Walsh, Cox "was wondering about the possibility of making his peace with Rome. That apparently didn't work out."[3]

Cox was formally reconciled with the Catholic Church in 1992.[18]


"four years later the Irish bishops declared publicly that Cox was 'not in harmony with the Catholic church' after it was discovered that he was granting sacramental absolution to penitents over the telephone."[18]



The RCC "does not nor shall it recognize their ordination, and as regards all juridical effects, it considers them in the state which each one had previously."[19][20]

Cox consecrated Buckley in May 1998.[15][16][21] or June 1998.[1][7][22]


"Buckley, has excommunicated himself from the Roman Catholic Church by being consecrated as a bishop, a Hierarchy spokesman has said."[21]


In June 1998, Jim Cantwell, director of the Catholic Press and Information Office, said that Cox consecration of Buckley was valid but illicit.[21]


Both Cox, the minister of consecration, and Buckley, the recipient of consecration, individually incurred a disciplinary latae sententiae excommunication for the schismatic act.[21][17][h]

Cantwell "said the office of bishop 'is essential to the unity of the Catholic Church'. It breached that unity for a person to consecrate another bishop or to accept ordination on his own authority alone 'and without any mandate from the Holy See'."[21]

"Buckley and Cox are to found a society in which they will 'co-operate pastorally and which will welcome men and women of every persuasion'."[21]

"'We intend particularly looking at re-enacting the Holy Orders of those priests who have left and indeed we will examine the whole area of women's ministry in the church'," a 1998 statement from Cox said.[21]

In 2005 Buckley wrote that "simony invalidates [...] orders."[15]

"I did not wish to be overly identified with [...] Cox's perspective. As a result of this," he "felt it necessary to align [himself] with another valid bishop."[15]


As late as April 1999, the Cox consecration of Buckley was described as illicit by some.[22]

But, Vincent Twomey, of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, wrote, in April 1999 that in his opinion, the consecration of Cox was not valid.[25]

"And yet the issues are undoubtedly serious, comparable to somebody setting himself or herself up as a judge of the Circuit or High Court. This would be seen as outrageous. The sad thing is that, due to the general collapse of our religious culture, almost anything in the realm of faith can be claimed by anybody – and be taken seriously by the public media. As a result, the issues themselves are inevitably, albeit unintentionally, trivialised."[25]

"Cox bases his claim to be a bishop on a succession that goes back to" Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục.[25] In January 1976, Thục "ordained several priests and bishops" at El Palmar de Troya, Spain, "acting, it would seem, on instructions from somebody claiming to be a visionary."[25]

In September 1976, Thục, and those he had ordained, were excommunicated.[25][26]


In 1983, the CDF reaffirmed the 1976 decree against Thục and those he ordained.[25][19]

The 1983 CDF notification affirmed that the RCC "does not nor shall it recognize their ordination."[25][19][20]

The 1983 CDF notification also states that, the RCC "regards all juridical effects, it considers them in the state which each one had previously."[19][20] "in other words as laymen or priests."[25] "Thus, in the eyes of the Church, we are dealing with [Mister] Cox, [...] Father [...] Buckley, [...] and, [Miss] O'Connor."[25]


The 1983 CDF notification "is one that is phrased in canonical terms" such as illicit and valid. "The former means that a public and solemn act of the Church, such as the administration of a sacrament, was carried out in contravention of the legal conditions set down by the Church."[25]

"Validity in this context belongs to the sphere of sacramental theology and affirms that a sacrament, though not executed in accordance with the legal conditions set down by the Church is nonetheless effective as a sacrament, that is, God's intended effect takes place."[25]

"An example would be a priest who has been suspended from exercise of the priesthood, yet gives absolution or celebrates Mass. His act would be gravely evil, in fact sacrilegious, but the unsuspecting faithful would still have received absolution or attended a valid Mass."[25]

The 1983 CDF notification "does mention the question of the validity of those ordained by [Thục] in an aside - effectively leaving it aside for further study. The Church is reluctant to deny the validity of any sacrament, irrespective of the circumstances, and generally takes its time before making an authoritative decision."[25]

"Central to the question of validity is the intention to do as Christ intended. It is unlikely that any sensible person could be persuaded that the antics of the Palmar de Troya cult could be seen to fulfil this condition," according to Twomey.[25]


Statements by Catholic Church edit

By May 1999, "[t]he Holy See has confirmed," according to Martin Clarke the Director of Communications for the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference in irishtimes.com, that "there is no justification for considering as valid the 'Episcopal ordination' received by" Cox or Buckley.[27][28]

"The Irish Bishops' Conference rejected that [Buckley was a valid bishop], however, claiming there was no justification for considering as valid the 'episcopal ordination' received by Buckley. The Vatican later confirmed this judgment [...]"[29]

The Los Angeles Times printed in 2000, that Cox's "title is not considered valid by the church, according to [Catholic Press Office spokesman Des] Cryan" in Dublin.[30]

Arguments by Buckley about consecrations by Thục edit

  • According to Buckley, from the premise (Paul VI excommunicated Thục) to Buckley's conclusion ("it was because" Paul VI "accepted that" Thục "had passed on valid episcopal orders without papal approval.")[31]
Cox was not consecrated by Thục.
  • "The fact that" Paul VI excommunicated Thục, according to Buckley "is itself evidence of validity."[31]
Buckley does not address difference between fact of ceremony vs validity of sacrament.
  • Buckley pointed out that the 1976 "You can only be excommunicated in this context by consecrating a bishop without a papal mandate."[31]



Arguments by Buckley about Broadbery consecration edit

  • Buckley asked in 1999, "Why was [Broadbery] laicised if he were not valid?"[31]
There is no reliable published account of this.
Since the Second Lateran Council, marriage contracted by a cleric is invalid.
Moreover, Paul VI stated in 1976 that ....
  • Buckley asked, if Broadbery, "ordained and consecrated at Palmar de Troya, was not validly ordained and consecrated, why did [Herlihy] laicise him before allowing him to marry?"[32]
the possibility of being in a clerical state is an impediment? to contracting a canonically valid? Latin Church marriage.
  • Buckley wrote in 1999 that Broadbery "has already been laicised by [Herlihy] and is now married."[31]


Buckley speculated in 2005 that Broadbery's "validity [was] obviously being accepted."[15]

Arguments by Buckley about Cox consecration edit

  • "Cox resides in the Diocese of Killaloe."[31]
According to Buckley, Bishop William Walsh of Killaloe wrote in a letter: "My understanding is that [...] Cox was ordained to the priesthood by a Catholic Bishop. His ordination would therefore be valid even if unlawful as the said Bishop was acting without approval of the Holy See. My understanding is that [...] Cox was later consecrated a bishop by a Catholic Bishop. His consecration as bishop would be deemed valid even if unlawful because the said Bishop was acting without the approval of the Holy See."[31]
  • "For many years now the Archdiocese of Dublin has been trying to convince [...] Cox to apply to be laicised."[31]
"Why would the church want to laicise a man who is not in valid Holy Orders?"[31]
Loss of clerical state within the Latin Church is a change in his rights and obligations within the Latin Church.
Cox is not a cleric within the Latin Church so he has no clerical rights or clerical obligations within the Latin Church.
Paul VI stated in 1976 that


  • Buckley asked in May 1999, if "Cox was not validly ordained and consecrated, why [Walsh] said that he is?"[32]
What Walsh wrote, and Buckley quoted in April 1999, was subtly different. Walsh wrote that in Walsh's "understanding" if the sacraments were conferred by Catholic bishops then both the ordination and consecration "would be deemed valid even if unlawful."[31]
If the two premises, that the bishops were Catholic, change then the two conclusions change.



  • Buckley asked in May 1999, if "Cox was not validly ordained and consecrated, [...] why does the Archdiocese of Dublin ask him to be laicised?"[32]
Peader Laighleis, chairman of Ecclesia Dei Ireland, wrote in 1998 that Cox had not approached the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei "which has the brief of reconciling disaffected traditionalists with the 'institutional' Church."[5]
Moreover, Cox was formally reconciled with the Catholic Church in 1992.[18] By that time the CDF pronounced in 1976 and 1983 about Thục ordinations.
"The validity of [...] Cox, [...] has been recognised by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin," according to Buckley.[15]
"the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, [had] urged [Cox] to apply for laicisation," according to Buckley.[15]
Buckley confused the act of urging "to apply for laicisation" with the granting of a laicisation rescript.


Arguments by Buckley about Buckley consecration (1st ritual) edit

John McManus, Media Liaison Officer for the Diocese of Down and Connor, replied: "I have to state categorically that this is untrue." According to McManus, McManus pointed out to Walsh that Buckley first announced his consecration in News of the World.[33]


  • Buckley asked in May 1999, if Buckley "was not validly consecrated, why did the Church ask me to go to confession to another Irish bishop and have him get Rome to secretly relieve me of episcopal orders so that my consecration would never become public knowledge in Ireland?"[32]
Buckley made his consecration public by announcing it in June 1998.[34]
internal forum () vs external forum ()
  • Buckley asked in May 1999, if Buckley was "not validly consecrated, why has the Church said that I am 'automatically excommunicated'?"[32]
"One can only be excommunicated in that context by being validly consecrated a bishop without the so-called papal mandate."[32]
The act is the delict regardless of its validity.
  • Buckley wrote in 1999 that he was "ready to defend" his ordination "at a public enquiry before" bishops of the ICBC.[32]
This is a straw man since no one has challenge the validity of his ordination. Buckley has right to challenge the validity of his ordination.[35] Buckley was absolute ordination in 197?.
  • Buckley wrote in 1999 that he was "ready to defend" his consecration "at a public enquiry before" bishops of the ICBC.[32]
Buckley has right to challenge the validity of his consecration.[35] But, "a public enquiry" is not the canonical process and the ICBC is not the competent forum.
  • "When I was consecrated a bishop by [...] Cox last May it was suggested to me by members of the Hierarchy that I approach [...] Walsh for confession and confess I had become a bishop without a papal mandate."[31]
Buckley was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.
Every delict is a sin. Confession is the sacramental act for a sinner to repent, confess, and reconcile with God. It "it entails the desire and resolution to change one's life" (CCC 1431).
The sacramental act is not the same as the juridical act of reconciling with the church.
absolution is reserved for the Apostolic See.[17]

Arguments by Buckley about Buckley conditional consecration (2nd ritual) edit

According to Buckley, Buckley was conditionally consecrated by Peter Paul Brennan in February 1999.[32][15][i] Buckley wrote in 1999 that he was conditionally consecrated as a "precaution" because Buckley was "conscious" that Cox "was somewhat of a 'loose canon'" and "that the Church could get to" Broadbery.[32]

Primary documents edit

possible footnote and/or placed into other articles

1951 decree edit

In case a man, who is neither named nor expressly confirmed by the Apostolic See, is consecrated as a bishop, even if compelled by grave fear (1917 CIC c. 2229, § 3, 3 °), both the bishop, of any rite or dignity, and the recipient incur ipso facto excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.[37]

1976 decree edit

1983 notification edit

The penal sanctions from the 1917 Code of Canon Law (1917 CIC) canons listed in 1983 notification are:

  1. "Bishops who ordained other bishops, as well as the bishops ordained, besides the sanctions mentioned in [1917 CIC] canons 2370 [1983 CIC canon 1382] and 2373 [1983 CIC canon 1383], 1 and 3, of [1917 CIC], incurred also, ipso facto, excommunication most specially reserved to the Apostolic See as stated in the Decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office of 9 April 1951 (AAS XLIII, 1951, p. 217 f.) The penalty contained in [1917 CIC] canon 2370 [1983 CIC canon 1382] applies also to assisting priests, should any have been present."
  1. "In accordance with [1917 CIC] canon 2374 [1983 CIC canon 1383] priests illicitly ordained in this way are ipso facto suspended from the order received,"[j]
"and they are also irregular should they exercise the order ([1917 CIC] canon 985 [1983 CIC canon 1041], 7)."[k]
  1. "Finally, as regards those who have already received ordination in this illicit manner, or who will perhaps receive ordination from them, whatever about the validity of the orders, the Church does not nor shall it recognize their ordination, and as regards all juridical effects, it considers them in the state which each one had previously, and the above-mentioned penal sanctions remain in force until repentance."


  • 1983 CIC Canon 1015 §1: "Each person is to be ordained to the presbyterate or the diaconate by his proper bishop or with legitimate dimissorial letters from him.".[39]
  • Canon 1383: "A bishop who, contrary to the prescript of can. 1015, ordains without legitimate dimissorial letters someone who is not his subject is prohibited for a year from conferring the order. The person who has received the ordination, however, is ipso facto suspended from the order received."[40]
  • 1983 CIC Canon 1013: "No bishop is permitted to consecrate anyone a bishop unless it is first evident that there is a pontifical mandate."[41]
  • Canon 1382: "Can. 1382 A bishop who consecrates some one a bishop without a pontifical mandate and the person who receives the consecration from him incur a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See."[17]
  • 1983 CIC Canon 1384: "a person who illegitimately performs a priestly function or another sacred ministry can be punished with a just penalty."[42]
  • 1983 CIC Canon 1385: "A person who illegitimately makes a profit from a Mass offering is to be punished with a censure or another just penalty."[43]
  • 1983 CIC Canon 1041, 6 .

2004 reply from Ratzinger to Murphy-O'Connor edit

In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), replied to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, about a request by Broadbery for declaration on the nullity of his ordination. Ratzinger wrote that the CDF decreed in the 1983 notification on "the illicit ordinations of El Palmar de Troya" and does not address "the particulars of individual ordinations."[20] Ratzinger requested that Murphy-O'Connor communicate a prescript to Broadbery from the 1983 notification.[20] The CDF prescript is:

Finally, as regards those who have already received ordination in this illicit manner, or who will perhaps receive ordination from them, whatever about the validity of the orders, the Church does not nor shall it recognize their ordination, and as regards all juridical effects, it considers them in the state which each one had previously, and the above-mentioned penal sanctions remain in force until repentance.[19][20]

Other examples edit

Edward N. Peters lay summary of Peter Vere's 2001 advisory opinion is: "Those confirmed under Abp. Thuc's 'lineage' should be conditionally re-confirmed."[44][45]


Edward Yarnold wrote in 1994 that:

Few theologians would now wish to defend a narrow "pipe-line theory", which would base the bishop's authority on the historical succession of episcopal ordinations alone without reference to the succession maintained by the Churches themselves; few would attempt any theological justification for episcopi vagantes (clandestinely consecrated bishops without recognised sees).[46]

Fay, Liam (1997). Beyond belief: a mind-blowing pilgrimage through religious Ireland. Dublin: Hot Press Books. ISBN 9780952494751. reviewed in "No clerical errors". 1997-05-31.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Ordination of O'Connor edit

Cox "maintains there is no reason in scripture why there cannot be women priests."[47]

O'Connor gave "as 'an act of charity' to set up a healing centre for Ireland's travelling community in County Offaly."[48]

According to BBC, Buckley, "called the donation 'disturbing' and said there was a question of whether simony - the act of purchasing a sacrament - had taken place."[48]

In an interview for Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) from Lourdes, O'Connor said: "It would be a lie to say I bought by priesthood. This man would not have ordained me for any money if he had not know I had a true vocation."[48]

O'Connor gave IR£150,000 to Cox who ordained her.[48]

"The £150,000 donation had originally been intended for a healing centre for Travellers in Bishop Cox's ministry in Birr, Co Offaly."[49]

[l]

simony

Cox said that he would return the money to O'Connor.[49]

Cox "did not doubt" O'Connor's motives.[1]

Cox "offered his church" to O'Connor and "she has vowed to take over when I'm gone."[1]

Buckley wrote in 2005 that he "was unhappy about the circumstances surrounding Sinead's ordination."[15] "Cox later said that he returned the cheque to Sinead."[15] "I was very afraid of simony — the buying of holy orders."[15]

Cox said: "I would never prostitute my holy orders."[49]

Sequence of consecration edit


parked notes edit

about Thuc 1976 ordinations:

. News & views. Commonweal. 104. New York: Calvert: 34. January 1977. ISSN 0010-3330 https://books.google.com/books?id=Uz4dAQAAMAAJ. ... the Vatican declared that the consecration and ordinations by Thuc were null and void. In effect, the Vatican decree meant that the men involved are still lay persons. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)


timeline and a source for links:

Loughnan, F. John (2004-09-26). "Reply to Fr. Patrick Buckley a.k.a. Thucite Bishop Pat Buckley". jloughnan.tripod.com. Chirnside Park, Australia. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. [self-published source]



Notes edit

  1. ^ According to the Civil Registration Act 2004 Section 69 (10)(b), "conduct[ing] a marriage ceremony in such a way as to lead the parties to the marriage to believe that he or she is solemnising a valid marriage" if the person is neither a registered solemniser nor has "a temporary authorisation" is according to Section 70 (2) a summary offence.[10][11]
  2. ^ "Most countries have declared 18 as the minimum legal age of marriage. Despite the sanctions on 'child marriage', however, more than 100 million girls are expected to marry in the next decade, according to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund."[12]
  3. ^ According to Judith Okely, "there is no large time spans between puberty and marriage" of Travellers. Okely wrote in 1983 that the typical marriage age for females was 16–17 and the typical marriage age for males was 18–19.[13] As of 2011 Census of Ireland 2011 the average age of an Irish Traveller was 22.4 and 52.2% were aged under 20. Yet only 252 15-19-year-old enumerated Irish Travellers identified themselves as married.[14] In contrast, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DEHLG) of ROI "definition of a [Traveller] family includes unmarried Traveller men over 18 as a unit" because, according to Abdalla et al., "it is understood that they will marry at this age and require an additional unit of accommodation."[15]
  4. ^ "While a religious marriage ceremony can be performed." According to Health Service Executive (Ireland), "in order for the marriage to be legal" the solemniser "must be on the Register of Solemnisers."[16] As of February 2016 Cox is not listed on the Register of Solemnisers maintained by the General Register Office of Ireland.[17]
  5. ^ Can. 1071 §1. Except in a case of necessity, a person is not to assist without the permission of the local ordinary at" A marriage "which cannot be recognized or celebrated according to the norm of civil law" or of transients or minors "when the parents are unaware or reasonably opposed."[2] "Pastors of souls are to take care to dissuade youth from the celebration of marriage before the age at which a person usually enters marriage according to the accepted practices of the region."[2]
  6. ^ Cox's church is a former Church of Ireland church building 53°03′46″N 7°51′39″W / 53.0627°N 7.8608°W / 53.0627; -7.8608[6].[3]
  7. ^ "There is no Tridentine Church as such," and according to Peader Laighleis, "Cox describes himself as a 'Tridentine' bishop."[5]
  8. ^ People who "possess the efficient use of reason" and "have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it" are bound by its ecclesiastical laws.[23] A baptized person is in full communion with the Catholic Church through "the profession of faith, the sacraments, and ecclesiastical governance."[24]
  9. ^ The standard, in the Latin Church's 1983 Code of Canon Law (CIC) canon 845 §2, is if "a prudent doubt still exists" after "a diligent inquiry" is completed to determine whether the orders "were actually or validly conferred, they are to be conferred conditionally" because according to canon 845 §1 they "cannot be repeated" and according to canon 290, "validly received, sacred ordination never becomes invalid."[36][35]
  10. ^ [38]
  11. ^ "Those who place an act of orders reserved to clerics constituted in sacred orders, either while they lacked such orders or while they were prohibited from the exercise of same by canonical penalty, whether it was personal or local, medicinal or vindicative" are irregular by delict.[38]
  12. ^ In contrast to the IR£150,000 figure in most sources, Buckley wrote that an IR£80,000 cheque "was in circulation."[15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Humphreys, Joe (1999-04-27). "Ordination conducted by Tridentine bishop once of harbour police". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Irish floating church sinks in flames". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald. Associated Press. 2004-09-02. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Pogatchnik, Shawn (1997-02-16). "Rogue bishop offers pay-by-the-call phone confessions". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Seattle Times Company. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
  4. ^ "Rebel bishop wins divorce after 28yrs; I'll re-marry if I meet the right woman". The Mirror. London. 1999-02-13 – via HighBeam Research. He was ordained a Tridentine priest in 1974 and became a bishop four years later. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Laighleis, Peader (1998-06-18). "Tridentine bishops". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  6. ^ Government of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. "Saint Colman's Church of Ireland Church, County Offaly". buildingsofireland.ie (database record). Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  7. ^ a b Kantz, Matt (1999-05-07). "Singer Sinead O'Connor ordained in France". National Catholic Reporter. Kansas City, MO. Retrieved 2016-03-29 – via HighBeam Research. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Irish bishop rings up curtain on phone confession service". Los Angeles Times. Reuters. 1996-11-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Tablet1998-06-20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Healy, Tim (2015-07-21). "Two sisters of woman (50) who left €240k estate to 'close friend' dispute will in High Court". independent.ie. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  11. ^ "High Court decides where a young woman should be buried". emigrant.scoilpac.com. Galway, IE: Irish Emigrant Publications. 2005-05-22. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  12. ^ Hogan, Eugene (2005-05-21). "Husband and two children stay away from tragic wife's burial". independent.ie. Dublin: The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  13. ^ a b c Managh, Ray; Hogan, Eugene (2005-05-18). "Parents win court battle to bury their daughter at chosen site". independent.ie. Dublin: The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  14. ^ Cleary, Catherine (1996-11-14). "Phone bishop looks after the penitents and the pounds look after themselves". irishtimes.com. Dublin. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Buckley, Patrick (2005). A sexual life, a spiritual life: a painful journey to inner peace (autobiography). Dublin: Liffey Press. pp. 186–187. ISBN 9781904148685. Here Ciarán Broadbery is spelled "Kieran Broadberry".
  16. ^ a b c d Jones, Rob Angus (2012). Independent sacramental bishops: ordination, authority, lineage, and validity (Kindle ed.). Berkley: Apocryphile Press. Kindle locations 1583–1588. ISBN 9781937002237.
  17. ^ a b c d CIC 1983, c. 1382.
  18. ^ a b c d "Irish priests excommunicated". National Catholic Reporter. Kansas City, MO. 1998-07-17. Retrieved 2016-03-29 – via HighBeam Research. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b c d e Catholic Church. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1983-03-12). "Notification". L'Osservatore Romano (English ed.). Vatican City (published 1983-04-18). p. 12. Archived from the original on 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2016-03-29 – via vatican.va. Translation of "Notificatio qua pœnae canonicae episcopis qui illicite alios episcopos ordinaverunt illisque hoc modo illegitimo ordinatis denuo comminantur". Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). 75 (4): 392–393. 1983.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Ratzinger, Joseph (2004-01-28). "[Reply about request by Ciarán Broadbery for declaration on the nullity of his ordination]". Letter to Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. Vatican City. Prot. N. 83/82-18350. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29 – via ciaranbroadbery.ie. Here Ciarán Broadbery is spelled "Kieran Broadberry".
  21. ^ a b c d e f g O'Sullivan, Roddy (1998-06-15). "Excommunication follows after priest is made a bishop". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  22. ^ a b "Sinead O'Connor 'ordained' by schismatic sect". catholicculture.org. Trinity Communications. Catholic World News. 1999-04-26. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  23. ^ CIC 1983, c. 11.
  24. ^ CIC 1983, c. 205.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Twomey, Vincent (1999-04-27). "Difficult theological questions raised by O'Connor 'ordination'". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  26. ^ Catholic Church. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1976-09-17). "Decree concerning certain unlawful priestly and episcopal ordinations". L'Osservatore Romano (English ed.). Vatican City (published 1976-09-30). p. 1. Archived from the original on 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2016-03-29 – via vatican.va. Translation of "Decretum circa quasdam illegitimas ordinationes presbyterales et episcopales". Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). 68 (10): 623. 1976.
  27. ^ Clarke, Martin (1999-05-06). "Official view of ordinations". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  28. ^ McGarry, Patsy (2013-10-24). "Former Catholic bishops' spokesman Fr Martin Clarke dies". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Retrieved 2016-03-29.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ Barry, Cathal (2014-01-09). "Call to ban rebel 'Bishop' Buckley from weddings". irishcatholic.ie. Dublin: Irish Catholic. Archived from the original on 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  30. ^ Rourke, Mary (2000-06-20). "Sinead O'Connor declaring herself a Catholic priest focuses new attention on the debate over the role of females within the church". News, trends, style and buzz. Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Buckley, Patrick (1999-04-29). "Disputed Ordinations". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Buckley, Patrick (1999-05-10). "Disputed Ordinations". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  33. ^ McManus, John (1999-05-14). Written at Belfast. "Disputed ordinations". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference McManus1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ^ a b c CIC 1983, c. 290.
  36. ^ CIC 1983, c. 845.
  37. ^ Congregation of the Holy Office (1951-04-09). "De consecratione episcopi sine canonica provisione" [Concerning consecration of bishops without canonical provision] (PDF). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). 43 (5). Vatican City (published 1951-04-21): 217–218. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-03-27.
  38. ^ a b Peters 2001, c. 985 7°.
  39. ^ CIC 1983, c. 1015.
  40. ^ CIC 1983, c. 1383.
  41. ^ CIC 1983, c. 1013.
  42. ^ CIC 1983, c. 1384.
  43. ^ CIC 1983, c. 1385.
  44. ^ Peters, Edward N. (n.d.). "Annotations on CLSA advisory opinions". canonlaw.info. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  45. ^ Vere, Peter J. (2001). "Canon 845: the validity of Confirmation administered outside of the Church". Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions. 3. Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America: 216–218. ISSN 1543-4230.
  46. ^ Yarnold, Edward (1994-07-09). "In line with the Apostles". The Tablet. London. pp. 878–879. ISSN 0039-8837. Archived from the original on 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  47. ^ Cite error: The named reference DoorleyLynch2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  48. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference BBC1999-05-04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  49. ^ a b c Ingle, Roisin (1999-04-29). "O'Connor halts payment to bishop who ordained her". irishtimes.com. Dublin: The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-04-01.