A serious and unjust state of affairs has developed over recent years in relation to the reputation and work of Mrs. Christina Gallagher.

On September 8, 2000 THE IRISH FAMILY newspaper was told by archbishop Neary’s office: “No declaration of any kind has ever been made by ecclesiastical authority in this archdiocese which might indicate that Mrs. Gallagher’s standing as a catholic is anything other than good.”

We wonder how, at that same time, the office of the archbishop of Tuam could issue this statement in Ireland yet in letters sent to bishops in the US, Australia and the Philippines and in response to telephone callers, could declare that she “is not in good standing” thereby undermining her good name without cause? We wonder what crime she could have committed?

This is the second time this kind of circulation has occurred. It took place in the year 2000 and now again in 2006 as Mrs. Gallagher attempts to establish Chain Houses of Prayer she is coming under renewed attack. It is most painful as well as injurious to Mrs. Gallagher to endure this destruction of character. It demonises her. She might as well be excommunicated. This undermining of Mrs. Gallagher’s reputation by stating that “she is not in good standing” has resulted in phone calls threatening her life. Such a threat is not to be taken lightly.

The Houses being put in place at present are being prepared by the local people. Mrs. Gallagher’s role is merely to guide them. Being ‘not for profit’ these Houses are of no financial benefit to Mrs. Gallagher. Despite insinuations to the contrary, her reputation is being destroyed once again.

In fact when archbishop Neary sent the letter to the bishops in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and the Philippines in 2000 stating that Mrs. Gallagher had been going throughout their countries soliciting money, she had not been out of Ireland for two years before that letter went out or three years after and had not solicited money from anyone in Ireland or anywhere else, nor had anyone solicited funds in her name. The funds that came in to help fulfil Our Lady’s requests came in response to people reading the messages of Our Lady and prayer.

Contrary to an impression conveyed, Mrs. Gallagher has always been, and desires always to remain, obedient to Church authority. The only reason she closed the House in 1998 was that it was being stripped of the sacraments. Archbishop Neary, by insisting that the Blessed Sacrament be at the House of Prayer only for private adoration and that Mass be provided only occasionally, effectively suppressed the House of Prayer and rendered it unable to function as it was originally intended. Christina was faulted with closing the House in 1998 but it was only because the regular Mass and the sacrament of penance were already removed and the clear intention was to privatise the House. Mrs. Gallagher always maintained she never objected to the House of Prayer being integrated into the local parish and diocese. She only ever desired that diocesan authority provide for it a structure in canon law which would enable it to fulfill the purpose for which it was initially established and that people would be permitted to come.

It was due to the archbishop taking away the sacraments in 1998 that a person from the United States arrived with a television crew to invade the privacy of Mrs. Gallagher and set about destroying her. The shock of removing the sacraments and a malicious attempt by a few people to destroy her good name brought on the heart attack she suffered that same year. In addition to destroying her reputation, does the archbishop now wish to draw further physical harm upon her? Has she to turn to the civil law for protection?

One wonders if archbishop Neary realises she is suffering from a number of illnesses at the moment and due to the previous heart-attack does not need further stress – which could prove fatal. Would the archbishop want the life of Mrs. Gallagher on his conscience or would he even care?

As we look at these malicious attacks again threatening Mrs. Gallagher’s health and safety, we cannot help wondering if they are going to be allowed to continue and be the means of her death? Considering the treatment meted out to Fr. Gerard McGinnity, her Spiritual Director now vindicated, we would hardly be surprised.

Mrs. Gallagher cannot understand how the archbishop can say throughout the United States that “there is no evidence of the supernatural being at work” when, in fact, the highest calibre of documented medical proof (provided by consultants including a professor of medicine) exists for four healings i.e. stating that there is no scientific, medical or psychological explanation for their occurrence. Over 500 healings have been reported and are on file. Yet on September 8, 2000 Archbishop Neary’s office told the IRISH FAMILY newspaper “The archdiocese has not carried out any investigations with regard to any claims on the part of people that have been healed of life-threatening illnesses as a result of contact with Mrs. Gallagher and her work. No plans exist at present to conduct such investigations.”

The Directors and Trustees of Our Lady Queen of Peace House of Prayer
September 2006