Thread: Time Running Out for Illegal Priest

Time Running Out for Illegal Priest
June 26, 2008
By April Drew



TIME is running out for the Donegal Priest who has been told he must leave the country by July 1 because he has been out of status in South Dakota for the past number of years.

Fr. Cathal Gallagher, 58, is to leave the United States next Tuesday if the Department of Homeland Security doesn’t re-open his case in time. Gallagher, who has served three parishes in South Dakota for the past ten years is upset that he is to leave the place he fondly calls “home.â€

The Catholic Church has THOUSANDS of priests & nuns on religious visas in the US and they know the procedures to keep their status legal. Someone dropped the ball on this priest, wonder why? Oh well, he needs to go back and re-apply if he wants to come back in.

Originally Posted by miguelina

The Catholic Church has THOUSANDS of priests & nuns on religious visas in the US and they know the procedures to keep their status legal. Someone dropped the ball on this priest, wonder why? Oh well, he needs to go back and re-apply if he wants to come back in.

You are absolutely right...the Catholic Dioceses, one of which I am a member of, have solid administrators and legal staff who make sure routine matters such as the legal status of visiting Fathers is maintained.

I read the article...didn't seem to think much of it except two things:

1. We are hearing the Diocese/Father's interpretation of what is going on - not so much the DHS side.

2. Something about the following quote has me wondering if DHS discovered something:

"“I really don’t know. Japan thinks I’d go back there but Ireland calls too but then again it’s not the Ireland I knew years ago,â€