father lonigan is the main roman catholic priest at st. margaret mary's church in harmony. over the course of the program's nine years he has heard the confessions of many of the people of harmony; but, as a priest, he is unable to reveal any of these secrets. father lonigan lost his sight in a fire many years ago when he tried to save the statue of the angel at st. margaret mary's; in 2004 it was revealed that alistair crane had deliberately set the fire, attempting to murder the priest after he had made a confession and began to fear that father lonigan would reveal his crimes.