Catholic priest admits he's a dad - and quits | Manchester Evening News

Catholic priest admits he's a dad - and quits

Mike Keegan

August 11, 2009

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St Joseph's Mission to Deaf People

St Joseph's Mission to Deaf People 1/3 Play Slideshow

A CATHOLIC priest stunned parishioners by revealing he had a four-year-old child - and then resigned.

Father Peter McDonough dropped the bombshell on the congregation at a sign-language mass for the deaf at St Patrick's Church, in Collyhurst, on Sunday.

The 54-year-old, who is deaf himself, has spent the last 27 years serving the region's deaf Catholic community.

Vicar General Mark Davies, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford, said Fr McDonough made the decision after a 'time of reflection'.

He added: "It was with great sadness that the deaf community and the whole Catholic community in Collyhurst learnt of Father Peter's decision on Sunday.

"Following much reflection and many conversations with his Bishop, Father Peter McDonough has reached this personal decision.

"The outstanding work of St. Joseph's Mission to Deaf People to which Father Peter dedicated so many years of his priestly life will continue to be fully supported by the Salford Diocese."

Fr Frank Parkinson will take over Mr McDonough's duties in September.

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Zimmerman, manchester (11/08/2009 at 20:51)

Its about time religion came into the 21st century ,these preists are human and should be seen that way.how can we expect these preists to lead us if they dont know what it feels like to have a family .

Maynard Kitchener Lampwick. Manchester., (11/08/2009 at 20:52)

Why did he choose to tell the Deaf and Non Speaking congregation, if he told the other congregation earlier, i'm sure they would have lynched him, Catholic Church My Left Foot...

Howard Stansfield (11/08/2009 at 20:59)

This is my first ever posting on this site, although i am a regular browser, particularly on the "footie" web pages.

To the Honourable Gentleman, Congratulations to yourself, your daughter and her mother.

I am of senior years and have witnessed first hand the "power of religion".

At the end of the day we all adulate our "own god" irrespective of religion, and "our god" was born of "a man and a woman".

as human beings what gives one particular authority, in the case "the heirarchy of your chosaed religion" the power to say to you "that shalt not be human".

I would rarther hear this story of you "fathering a child" than the 100's of stories we haer of others in your religion "abusing a child".

Go in peace with my blessing and support, i am not a religious person, but i am a father to 4 wonderfull children, and they mean more to me than any religion can ever do.

HS Stockport

DANEBANKBLUE, DB (11/08/2009 at 21:09)

This seems very sad to me.

morticia, worsley (11/08/2009 at 22:14)

He is not the first Catholic priest to father a child and will not be the last! He is only human after all.

Lucullus, Glossop (11/08/2009 at 23:27)

Is he now prepared to support the child and the child's mother? Is the Diocese of Salford prepared to support the child and the mother? It's all very well speaking so fondly of the priest and his services to the deaf community but what about some recognition of the mother and child? We all wish we could merely resign from our responsibilities and walk away.

Andrew Leeke (11/08/2009 at 23:50)

I can think of few things greater than having a child, and nobody should ever be ashamed for bringing a life into the world.

not only that, but he sounds like someone who has genuinely tried to help his community.

Any religious person who thinks he has done wrong by having a child and thinks he was right to resign, needs to consider what their priorities are.

joanne card, manchester (11/08/2009 at 23:55)

so.....................................................................................

joanne card, manchester (11/08/2009 at 23:55)

is that a problem, can some one explain...............................

cjs73 (12/08/2009 at 01:54)

Maynard Kitchener Lampwick, he signs the mass as he is deaf himself (it says so in the article). He didn't tell the other congregation because he doesn't do the speaking mass. Why would non deaf people react differently to this than deaf people anyway? The deaf people are the ones he works with, that's why he told them.

Supreme Being, Manchester. (12/08/2009 at 07:25)

"'time of reflection'. "

This took him 4 years to pluck up the courage to announce to the world.
The Catholic religion needs to move with the times and realise that if it doesn't, it risks becoming likened to another religion more famous for it's links to terrorism.

selfexiled (12/08/2009 at 07:34)

There is no doubt that the priest in question is a very dear and loved member of his congreation and is work with the deaf is also a valuble asset to the community in general,but and this is a big but.The Catholic church as a code of celibacy within its very core and regardless of what problems this causes in the prctice of the faith, it is after all something the prospective priests sign up for when becoming same.
The problem for the hierachy is ,should they let this go on or keep to the status quo and demand celibacy.I doubt that Rome would ever consider the idea in a hundred years ,so we have a loss to the church and the community on the intransigence of Religious belief and practice,whats new?

Steve an alternative view (12/08/2009 at 08:10)

Brings to the fore the hypocrisy of religion.

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (12/08/2009 at 08:12)

Surely being a father and a Father are not mutually exclusive - they shouldn't be!

steve wilson (12/08/2009 at 08:14)

as soon as I read this a Bowie sprang to mind;cannot remember the title but the relevant line is
"I`m only human).

dessie, manchester (12/08/2009 at 08:35)

there are probably thousands that could say the same thing!!!!!!

Jacqueline Mulcahy (12/08/2009 at 08:51)

Yes! priest are human and should be treated as such,they choose a vocation to serve GOD and i feel very sorry this man did not have the courage to be truthful sooner,This happened to a very much liked and respected young priest in our parish and then one Sunday he was not there and it appereard he had fallen in love and could live without this woman he was at least truthful from the start and he is now married with 2 children,The catholic church should wake up and allow Women Priests and allow priests to marry that way there will be no more lies and abuse.

Knowsleyman, Paphos (12/08/2009 at 08:51)

The most powerful thing God implanted in mankind is the desire to procreat.

This Priest has only followed what God implanted in him.

He has done nothing wrong at all, quite the reverse he has carried out God's will.

May I wish him, his ladyfriend and their son every good wish for the future.

MancunianHumbersider, Radcliffe (12/08/2009 at 12:54)

Re. The Catholic religion needs to move with the times and realise that if it doesn't, it risks becoming likened to another religion more famous for it's links to terrorism.

Supreme Being, I think you'll find that the Catholic Religion became famous for its terrorist links long before Islam. June 1996 and the Lucky Post Box on Corporation Street. Need I say more?

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (12/08/2009 at 12:59)

This would be great for a paternity test spot on the Jeremy Kyle show.

Kevin Fitzgerald (14/08/2009 at 19:20)

As three deaf members of Fr Peters congregation we can truthfully say that none of us deaf people are angry with him, we are heart broken because we have lost our much loved Priest, we cannot see how a hearing priest can take his place, how can we carry on without him? Only Fr Peter could preach to us in our own language; surely it is time for the Catholic Church to enter into the 21 century and revise the archaic laws that were laid down centuries ago..

Kevin Fitzgerald (14/08/2009 at 19:20)

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