The Priests Confession Using Sign Language, Deaf Catholic Tells Flock He Has Fathered a Child before Quitting Church, James Tozer, Mail, August 13, 2009

The Priest's Confession: Using Sign Language, Deaf Catholic Tells Flock He Has Fathered a Child before Quitting Church

By James Tozer
Mail
August 13, 2009

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205995/The-priests-confession-Using-sign-language-deaf-Catholic-tells-flock-fathered-child-quitting-church.html

Brace yourselves: Father Peter McDonough shocked his hearing impaired congregation when he confessed to having a four-year-old son with his lover

As his congregation of deaf Roman Catholics prepared to head home after Mass, the priest indicated that he had something to tell.

Then, using sign language, Father Peter McDonough dropped his bombshell.

The 54-year-old priest - who is himself profoundly deaf - admitted that he had secretly fathered a son, now aged four.Standing in the pulpit, he informed the stunned worshipers he was quitting the church after breaking his vow of celibacy.

Yesterday, parishioners were coming to terms with the revelations of the respected priest who for 27 years had dedicated his life to bringing the church's message to deaf followers.

Father McDonough was ordained as a priest by Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to the UK in 1982 and went on to lead St Joseph's Mission for Deaf People in Collyhurst, Manchester.

He delivered the news last Sunday at the weekly service - attended by dozens of deaf worshipers - at St Patrick's Church, which is the inner-city district.

After saying Mass using sign language as usual, he asked them to sit down as he had something to tell them.

He then announced that the service would be his last, informing the congregation: 'I've got a four-year-old son.'

Father McDonough said he planned to get a new job to help him support the boy and his mother and then spent the next two hours explaining his situation to them.

Monsignor Mark Davies, vicar general for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford, said: 'The reaction was obviously shock but most of all sadness.

'There was many tears as well. The context of what was said was his struggle, to see how best to fulfill his responsibilities to the child.

'He's spent 27 years dedicated to looking after the deaf community.'

Yesterday, officials at the diocese said he had taken the 'personal' decision to step down after a 'time of reflection' and after speaking to the Bishop of Salford, the Right Reverend Terence Brain.

Neither the mother's identity nor that or their son have been disclosed. But she is believed to be someone he met through his church work rather than a member of his congregation.

The child is now aged four and a half and will start school next month.

Monsignor Davies added: 'Father McDonough has left the church and is now taking time to consider what to do next.

'He's looking towards fulfilling his responsibilities as a father to the child - one of the first things he will do will be look for paid employment..

'It was very much his decision. He finished on Sunday and he is looking at his life.'

Parishioners yesterday spoke of their amazement at the news.

James Kenny, 85, of Collyhurst, said: 'This will come as a big shock to everyone. He's let down the Catholic community.

'People are confessing to him - I've confessed to him - and he's been carrying this big secret. What faith can you have in someone like that when it's not say as I do but do as I say? He's been here for years and should have done this as soon as he knew about the child.'

Another parishioner said: 'I am extremely surprised. He always came across as very pious and very proper and as a very good priest.

'I thought he was devoted to his religion and devoted to his calling. I am very disappointed.'

Mother-of-three-Kathleen Maguire, 40, added: 'He seemed like a nice man. Priests are human beings too. 'I don't think it's right that they're not allowed to marry and have kids just like the rest of us.'

Father McDonough, who has been deaf since he was three, held sign language masses every Sunday morning attended by up to 70 worshipers from around the diocese.

He also held services and conducted visit to deaf churchgoers elsewhere in Lancashire. The importance of the vow of celibacy for Catholic priests was reaffirmed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, but some in the church believe it should be relaxed to permit them to marry, not least in the hope that it would boost recruitment.

Father McDonough was not available for comment yesterday. His duties will be taken over by Father Frank Parkinson.