What an unholy row! Priest pens scathing 'farewell' poem to the gossips in his parish
In his 'parting gift', Father Pat Brennan blamed the unwelcoming demeanour of some of his congregation in England for dwindling numbers in the pews, slating the 'gossips' and 'those who tut for a living'.
In the blistering parting salvo, he describes them as 'the righteous, the clique, the worthy' and the reason behind his decision to leave Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry, after nine years. Pic: Holbrooks Residents/Facebook
The poem was published in the church's newsletter, alongside a message explaining that 'those few Fire who had been vocal in criticism in and out – Fr side the parish' had pushed him out.
Fr Brennan, who was born in the UK to Irish parents, said that while he was happy at Holy Family and proud of the church restoration work carried out while he was at the helm, he was aware 'you can't please all the people'.
In the poem titled 'Not I Lord Surely', he wrote: 'What makes people not come to church? Could it be the people who already go? The righteous, the clique, the worthy. Fr. Patrick Brennan. Pic: X
'The disdainful look given, the thought, 'You're in my seat'. The unfriendly, so that the stranger remains always so.'
The priest went on to blast 'gossip' that 'flows from holy lips' describing the perpetrators as 'a mix of disgruntled, unlikeable, entitled, offended, who don't want to know'.
'Better than you, holier too, tutting for a living, whispering about you know who,' he added. He said the behaviour can leave people feeling 'rejected' instead of welcomed and loved. Pic: Shutterstock
Maura Murray-Reeve, who has ties with the church in Holbrooks and shared the poem in a local residents' group on Facebook, said she was 'extremely disappointed' to see Fr Brennan felt 'pushed out'.
She said: 'Fr Pat has been the parish priest for almost ten years and he has always been very welcoming. It is disgusting to think that he was treated so poorly by a sad minority. They should be ashamed of themselves.'
She told the BBC she was 'embarrassed' to be part of the church that had treated Fr Brennan wrongly and said that it was important for him to share his experience.
'This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel,' Ms Murray-Reeve added.
The cleric received support online. Pauline Browne Spelman wrote on Facebook: 'It's so sad but true, I know people who go to church and act holier than thou but are really unkind to others and leave them out so this doesn't surprise me at all.'
Victoria Marie added: 'Such a shame, Fr Pat is such a lovely and welcoming priest.' The newsletter said the Archbishop of Birmingham had appointed Fr Charles Miller as the new parish priest, and that he will arrive at the end of this month.
The Archdiocese of Birmingham said in a statement: 'Fr Pat is an experienced and much-valued member of the clergy. He has been running three parishes for several years, which is a large workload. As part of new parish clustering, Fr Pat will continue as parish priest at Bulkington and Bedworth, and a new parish priest has been appointed to Holy Family.'
Fr Brennan, a priest for 33 years, did not respond to a request for comment.
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