Priest calls out 'entitled' parishioners in poem

Father Pat Brennan has been at Holy Family Catholic Church for nine years

A priest has called out the behaviour of some "entitled" parishioners by writing a poem in his final newsletter to the congregation as a "parting gift".

Father Pat Brennan, the parish priest at Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry, suggests dwindling numbers in the pews could have resulted from "the righteous, the clique, the worthy" as he confirmed he was leaving the post after nine years.

The poem describes "disdainful" looks given by some parishioners when someone had sat in "their seat", "gossip flowing" and people "tutting for a living, whispering about you know who".

The BBC has approached Father Brennan. The Diocese of Birmingham said he would continue running two other parishes.

In his poem, entitled 'Not I Lord Surely!', he writes how words of love were "ignored" and suggests some people's "first instinct" at the sentiment "go in peace" was instead "time for war".

"Then think again, ask am I the reason people flee, am I to blame, is it me?" the poem continues.

"Rejected… this is how for some it can feel.

"Yet each person who steps inside should be…Welcomed, accepted, loved, forgiven, this is the mark of the Lord's own seal."

'Fondest memories'

Separately to the poem, the priest wrote in the newsletter that he had been "very happy" during his time at Holy Family Church and met some "wonderful people", but that those who had been "vocal in criticism in and outside the parish" had contributed to his decision to leave.

"Despite those few, I will keep the fondest memories in my heart and am grateful to have been parish priest here," added Father Brennan, who said he was marking 33 years of priesthood at the weekend.

Maura Murray-Reeves, who has ties with the church in Holbrooks, said after reading Father Brennan's words she wondered if others had endured similar experiences.

"Being at Holy Family for 40-odd years we've had other priests and there's always been some [questions] as to why have they left," she said.

"I can't imagine a priest is going to say something like that or vocalise that if it wasn't true, he'd have no reason to."

She added that she was "embarrassed" to be part of the church that had treated Father Brennan wrongly and it was important for him to share his experience.

"This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel," Ms Murray-Reeves said.

'Experienced and much-valued'

The newsletter states the Archbishop of Birmingham has appointed Father Charles Miller as the new parish priest, who will arrive at the end of July.

In a statement, the diocese said: "Father 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, Father Pat will continue as parish priest at Bulkington and Bedworth and a new parish priest has been appointed to Holy Family."