Innuendo

O Come To Father Philip's Cell

The Boy's Of Rome They Know It Well!

A former monk remembered the salacious glee expressed by Abbot Brogan as he on occasions paraphrased and parodied this hymn.

Saint Philip’s Death.

Day set on Rome! its golden morn
Had seen the world’s Creator borne
Around St. Peter’s square
Trembling and weeping all the way,
God’s Vicar with his God that day
Made pageant brave and rare!

O, come to Father Philip’s cell,
Rome’s rank and youth, they know it well,
Come ere the moment flies!
The feast hath been too much for him
His heart is full, his eye is dim,
And Rome’s Apostle dies!

Come, O Creator Spirit! come,
Take Thine elect unto his home,
Thy chosen one, sweet dove!
"Come to thy rest,” he hears Thee say;
He waits not - he hath passed away
In mortal trance of love.

When Rome in deepest slumber slept,
Our father’s children knelt and wept
Around his little bed;
He raised his eyes, then let them fall
With marked expression upon all;
He blessed them, and was dead.

 One half from earth, one half from heaven,
Was that mysterious blessing given;
Just as his life had been
One half in heaven, one half on earth,
Of earthly toil and heavenly mirth
A wondrous woven scene!

 O Jesus, Mary, Joseph, bide,
With kind Saint Raphael, by my side
When death shall come for me;
And, Philip leave me not that day
But. let my spirit pass away,
Leaning, dear Sire, on thee.

(Father Faber)

Beer In The Woods

Alcohol consumption at the abbey in my day was reserved for feast days and special occasions. Never cans of beer in the woods! Is this traditional monastic formation?

One is reminded of the "Modus Operandi" of The Society Of St John SSJ, when Dom Gregory was known as Fr Dominic Carey. 

The systematic grooming of the boys of St. Gregory’s began with the introduction of alcohol and tobacco designed to lower the sexual inhibitions and moral resistance of potential victims.

and

Even after Hicks informed Fr. Urrutigoity that these nocturnal visits were causing problems, the practice of late night spiritual counseling and giving boys alcohol and tobacco continued.[21] There were also reports that students were purchasing marijuana off campus and smoking with their schoolmates at the Academy.[22]

Oh well, these youthful Farnborough monks are adults. I'm sure nothing like this goes on when the young Slovakian altar servers or The Oxford Oratory Scouts visit?

The Knox Room

A Double Room Within The Monastic Enclosure!

It's the room where Ronald Knox was received into the church and during my time was the Calefactory. It is the room recounted here from my final visit to date in 1995:

"He freaked me out by introducing myself to a lad he described as a former choir boy, all by ourselves, just the three of us, in the upstairs calefactory that was. Was it innocent? On the day of our profession I watched Richard Hesketh, a lad Cuthbert had known from his passionist days in Liverpool, drive quickly passed me on the Abbey drive. I recall his face. like someone hurt who couldn't wait to get out of there quick enough. Had Cuthbert invited him to display me, his latest? This is certainly what came to mind as I sat against the west wall of the calefactory with Cuthbert and this lad together under the far window. Was he doing the same to me? It was at that point that I vowed to myself if I ever heard of a minor being hurt, then I would tell my story. Unfortunately at the time, I neither considered how hurt I had been and therefore how hurt other vulnerable adults may have been. (I think anyone both taking a leap of faith and placing oneself under a superior, is consequentially vulnerable and safeguarding in this regard, needs to be examined!) "

 I have also been informed that at that time Cuthbert kept a selection of "Sword & Sandal" movies which he would show to young men with a view to assisting them with any matters which might....arise!

I both laughed, cried and felt abused all over again on seeing these photos and how Cuthbert has changed a monastery into at best, a Gentleman's Gay Club and at worst a hell hole of bullying and abuse! The Reality behind "The Charade Behind The Facade!"

 

 

 

(Straight behind the door in full view of the bed! No frosted glass!)

Holy Smoke!

When one thinks of Marijuana smoking in religious traditions one may think of Rastafarianism.

One may think of Indian Sadhus.

One certainly does not think of Roman Catholic Benedictine Monks who purport themselves as being traditional and whose Abbot, David Cuthbert Brogan appears among signatories in letters that defend traditional church teaching!

Is that a joint / Reefa on the arm of the bench?

Sed post triennii tempus

The pope's Motu Proprio "Vos Estis Lux Mundi" quickened my heart for a short while last year and I re-submitted my complaint in the hope that this time a proper investigation might ensue. With the onus of responsibility being on any cleric or religious thus notified to report to ecclesiastical authority, I copied in many of the English hierarchy in the hope that this would help prevent cover - up.
 I was contacted by Arundel & Brighton safeguarding who pointed me in the direction of a support organisation and finally:

Dear Tom,

I am not entirely sure who to advise you to further your complaint with in the Benedictine Order, however I believe oversight may come from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Apostolic Life in Rome. Here is a link to the website where there is also a link to email them:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_profile_en.html

I do hope this helps but do get back in touch if you need further assistance.

This seemed to bring things full circle and I then ceased communication but did drop a line to Rome:

 Dear Cardinal Bráz de Aviz,

I have been trying in vain to get a response from The Abbot President Of The Subiaco - Cassinese congregation Abbot  Guillermo Arboleda Tamayo OSB or anyone with jurisdiction over Abbot Cuthbert Brogan and Farnborough Abbey regarding my historic experiences and deep concern that he and other members of that community, particularly former Society Of St. John SSJ priest Fr Dominic Carey, now Dom Gregory Carey OSB pose to young men.

 It was suggested by Philip Wright of Arundel & Brighton diocese UK, safeguarding, that you might be able to help?

Please find my recent attempts by way of this forwarded email and links charting and chronicling the two and a half years to date of my campaign.

Kind Regards,

Tom Wood

No response! 

I discovered Portsmouth has a "Vicar For Religious" so dropped the new one a line, who wrote back:

Dear Mr. Wood,

Thank you for your mail and kind words. Though my new job was announced it will take time to begin.  When I officially take up my position on Sept 1st I will follow up with you. 

Regards

FrDavid

Fr. David O'Sullivan <dosullivan@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk>   Still waiting!     Diocesan reporting mechanisms The law mandates that each diocese in the world sets up, by June 2020, "one or more public, stable and easily accessible systems for submission of reports" concerning sexual abuse.[1] As noted by Andrea Tornielli, "the legislation does not specify what these "systems" consist of, because it leaves operational choices to the diocese; and these may differ according to various cultures and local conditions". [3]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vos_estis_lux_mundi#Diocesan_reporting_mechanisms  About 3 months away from the deadline it would appear England & Wales arrangements will remain the same!  Here's one you can actually read, but I've left this picture deliberately! In August I was contacted by two former Farnborough novices who had only recently left. I discovered that in total 4 had left during 2019. During our communications I became even more convinced in my purpose and that Abbot Cuthbert Brogan and his malformed community pose a significant risk to the welfare both spiritual and temporal of prospective members and young males both home and abroad!  One of the men having noted my hitherto failure is pursuing our common purpose advisedly and chooses not to reveal themselves or their experiences here on the blog, at least for the time being. I sincerely hope they are successful in obtaining remedy. We wish all those harmed, healing and peace but this is only fully possible with Justice! We were shocked in the autumn to discover Brogan had been promoted to the position of Abbot Visitor. Our recent departures had been most distressed by the failure during a visitation by the previous incumbant, to address their concerns. Promoting Brogan to this position, one can only assume, is a deliberate attempt to further cover up and whether deliberate or consequential, further traumatises his victims! To top it all we were given painful evidence of the congregations care for victims in the form of a photograph of a complaint against Brogan sitting on his desk! Towards the end of the year we were contacted by another former F'bro monk with stories of the sadly familiar. Of particular note, much to our distress, were his account of the appalling treatment senior monks D. Magnus and Wulstan had to endure. Finally, I loved and still do love the very special "Thin" place that St Michael's Abbey / Farnborough Abbey is!  Running a facebook page for the campaign in addition to this blog risks tainting this and so I have re-branded it St Michael's Abbey Past & Present where we can celebrate the best of what F'bro was, is and can be.