Joseph Ryan - Press Release

In 2008 after a TV3 expose Mr Ryan appeared on a programme in relation to weddings blessings and this seemingly prompted a surfacing of many reports in regards to his activities.
Via his blogspot “Clerical Whispers” Mr Ryan released the following press release, along with a third person tale of how someone apparently attempted to blackmail him.

While we are lead to believe that Mr Ryan participates in a ministry (of which of course there is no proof of existence) and that he offers a compassionate hand to those who do not find marital aid with the RC church, it is however at a hefty price and sprinkled with the illusion of grace and the betrayal of many people who do not know his true personality and shady lifestyle.

Mr Ryan should at least be aware of the dangers when talking about morals and conscience – your words betray you and one day you will run from them no more.

Our points of critique rest in below his spuriously comments.

PRESS RELEASE
Ref: Fr Joseph RYAN
11th. March 2008 @ 2300hours
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE & CIRCULATION

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

I find it incumbent upon myself to make you aware of certain erroneous and misinformed aspersions being cast, not only on my ministry, but on my very priesthood.

Having being rejected from the seminary he was never ordained. He has repeatedly failed to supply any information in regards to this apparent ordination.

A journalist, working for a well-known Irish Tabloid newspaper, contacted me today, accusing me of working outside the remit of the law and of providing misleading information via my website.

These accusations I strenuously deny and shall hereunder endeavour to clarify those issues which he raised.

I am a validly ordained Catholic priest and my life is one of service to others and, through them, to God.

We appeal to Mr Ryan or anyone that may be in possession of information in regards to this ordination to come forward and enlighten us. Bearing also in mind that the only seminary reference that is present in his biography is that of St. Patrick a Roman Catholic seminary, of which he was rejected from. Lacking any other reference one is lead to believe that this is the extent of his training.

The Reformed Catholic Church of which he claims membership of was of last year dissolved after it was revealed it's leading bishop Phillip Zimmerman willfully aided a child sex convict and was a convicted con-artist.

My Website (http://www.cunamhde.com/) is not a form of advertising. The information contained on my Website is intended solely to inform couples, who wish to marry, of the options available to them. In certain cases, I am in a position to help couples who have been rejected or refused by the main-stream religious institutions.

We are unsure how this statement is grounded in fact as:
Telling people of the services he can provide.
Requesting that they contact him early to ensure there date is kept.
Requesting a hefty fee.
Such things constitute acts of advertisement and business.

My ministry is not a business of any form. Indeed, it is abhorrent to me that anyone should consider the Sacraments to be a ‘commodity’ which can be bought or sold. Simony, which is the trading of Sacraments, is a grievous sin in the eyes of God and is something which I affirm, on oath, I have never engaged in.

As with many of the e-mails we have received and our own contact with Mr Ryan, being requested to supply monies towards the fee and a deposit for the service of a blessing/wedding would in fact constitute Simony.

I am not currently in a position to perform the Civil Registration of Marriages, but can, at any time, subject to the provisions of the Liturgical Calendar, celebrate either the Wedding Mass or a Nuptial Blessing for a couple, on the understanding that such a ceremony provides no recognition in state law.

Who in fact granted him the religious faculties for this? He was rejected by the Roman Catholic Church and joined the RCC (Reformed Catholic Church) under the incardination of the fallacy that he was already an ordained priest. We are currently at a loss to substantiate his claim in any way beyond it being a blatant lie.

The celebration, on the contrary, is concerned solely with imploring God’s blessing on a union, freely entered into, by husband and wife. If a situation arises whereby a couple earnestly desire a combination of the religious blessing and state registration, then I defer to my colleagues who are Registered Solemnisers of Marriages and who appear on the General Registers Offices’ ‘Register of Solemnisers’.

Who are these mentioned colleagues? Our sources inform us of repeated marriage applications having being denied due to the error of Mr Ryan not being a Solemniser.

At this point, I should make it clear that an application was made on my behalf to Mr Kieran Feehily on the 23rd November 2007, nominating me as a Solemniser of Marriages.

This matter is now ‘sub judice’ and I can, therefore, make no further comment.

We however can. Seeing as it is now 2010 Mr Ryans application has not being successful and he does not appear on the Register of Solemnisers. Mr Ryans past criminal conviction may very well of played a part in this decision.

I have never charged a ‘Fee’ for the service I provide.

Those who have paid your hundreds of Euro for your service would disagree.

On the contrary, any money I request from a couple is to cover
Travel Expenses;
Overnight accommodation, where required;
Printing of Booklets for the Service and any other expense associated with the actual Wedding/Blessing itself.

Were I to travel from Ennis to Kinsale, for example, and spend two nights there, to celebrate a Nuptial Ceremony, then it would be unreasonable for any person to ask that I pay such expenses out of my own pocket. With this in mind, a detailed breakdown of costs involved is always given to the couple.

Being in receipt of the Social Welfare Disability Payment means Mr Ryan is also enabled to gain and possess a free travel pass. Therefore why is there a need for paying clients to also pay non-existent Travel Expenses? Booklets (another profitable service provided) and accommodation surely do not cost within the region of E500-E800 Euro?

Since my ordination as a priest, I have strived to live a simple Christian life. It is painful for me to realise that there those who would deny me my priesthood.

As highlighted above Mr Ryan's ordination as a priest is more then in questionAs painful perhaps as having a sham wedding? Being told multiple and conflicting tales of his religious faculties and dubious ordination? Claiming the stance of a victim does little to facilitate the point and leads people away from the real dangers cloaked beneath a shop bought collar.

A past interview with Sinead McGovern of the Galway Advertiser may also be used to highlight this point. Mr Ryan in a published article that appeared in the Sept 2th (03) edition stated that he had being suspended from the Roman Catholic Church (due to issues of conflict) but was still with full faculties. This of course is incorrect and only deepens the threads of deceit.

Equally painful is the realisation that my time and efforts are viewed with such contempt by those in positions of authority and power - those very people who have sworn to protect and nurture both body and soul.

We, like many others are merely providing a larger view of Mr Ryans activities. He is of course entitled to his spiritual ideals and religious expression, but in the spirit of openness surely such things should not be allowed to go unchallanged under the name and guise of a system he does not belong too and from his blog of 'clerical whispers' clearly seeks to undermine.

It is my sincere wish that this letter of clarification will settle any doubt in your mind, but if you have any questions or need further details about my ministry, I should be only too pleased to provide same.

Yet again Mr Ryans play on words, emotions and expectations have being present. We have in the past contacted Mr Ryan several times with no response and hope that this blog may usher in a time of honesty for him.

May God bless you,

May God also bless you,

Fr. Joseph Ryan
Mr Joseph Ryan/ Seosamh O'Riain/Sotto Voce

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