Yahoo! News
February 21, 2009
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/australian-news/5335972
A priest at the centre of a row involving a Brisbane Catholic parish says he is surprised by reports threats have been made against the city's Archbishop.
Police have confirmed a threatening letter mentioning St Mary's parish was sent to the inner-Brisbane home of Archbishop John Bathersby yesterday.
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| Father Kennedy - "I am not going to resign and I am not going anywhere either." Photo by ABC TV News |
St Mary's is at the centre of a controversy after priest Father Kennedy was sacked by church authorities for refusing to back down on unorthodox practices, such as allowing women to preach and blessing gay couples.
Father Kennedy has even attracted the stern eye of the Vatican itself.
He is refusing to leave the church and says he was surprised to hear about the police investigation.
"I find that hard to believe that there would be," he said.
"Of course obviously we wouldn't in any way condone that behaviour.
"I'm not denying that there may have been a threat but it's unbelievable."
A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane said the threat was received at the Archbishop's office on Friday.
"It made mention of St Mary's, but that's now in the hands of police," the spokesman said.
He refused to confirm whether the letter was written by someone who supported the sacked 71-year-old rebel priest, or a supporter of the Catholic Archdiocese.
St Mary's congregation of 700 has a unique ministry in the inner-city suburb of South Brisbane, widely acknowledged as a haven for the poor, the marginalised, Indigenous people, homosexuals and broken families.
Replacement moves in
Father Ken Howell has been appointed to replace Father Kennedy, and the two recently met face to face.
At that meeting, Father Kennedy refused to hand over the keys to the parish buildings, including the church, and told Father Howell that he would officiate at all masses this weekend.
But he has now cancelled Sunday morning mass in an attempt to ensure there is eventually a safe and peaceful transition in the parish.
Father Howell was earlier advised by the Queensland Police Service not to attend this weekend's masses at St Mary's for his own safety.
"I have also been contacted by a number of people, saying they would like to attend the services but are hesitant to do so because they are concerned about their own, and their families' safety," he said.
Despite the threat Archbishop Bathersby said the Brisbane Catholic Archdioceses' priority was to ensure the proper transition of the parish to the new administrator.
"In this difficult situation, I believe a sensible next step would be to have an experienced, independent and eminent mediator meet with the Archdiocese and Father Kennedy to attempt to achieve a peaceful and dignified outcome," he said.
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