Priests left to ‘run own fiefdoms’ after ordination

An outspoken cleric has claimed the vast majority of priests, once ordained, almost become a law unto themselves until “the proverbial hits the fan”.

Fr Michael Commane, a long-serving member of the Dominican Order, said it was his opinion that priests in Ireland managed to run “their own little fiefdoms” and, after ordination, it was quite likely that they would never be asked to attend a retraining course.

He revealed that in almost 40 years in the priesthood, not once had a superior or a bishop asked him what he might think about central issues of his faith.