Irish Priest under Vatican Investigation for Liberal Views

By Michael Kelly
Irish Catholic
April 5, 2012

http://www.irishcatholic.ie/site/content/irish-priest-under-vatican-investigation-liberal-views


Founder of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) Fr Tony Flannery is under Vatican investigation for some of his liberal views The Irish Catholic newspaper has learned.

Fr Flannery, who is a well-known author and retreat-giver, has ceased writing his regularly monthly column in the Redemptorist Reality magazine. The Irish Catholic understands that this is as a direct consequence of the Vatican’s intervention. It is the first time in 14 years that Fr Flannery’s regular column has not appeared.

It comes just two weeks after the report of the Apostolic Visitation noted what it described as “fairly widespread” dissent among priests, religious and laypeople from the teaching of the Church.

The move against Fr Flannery is likely to signal a more hardline approach from the Vatican when it comes to dissent from the Church’s teaching.

It is understood that while Fr Flannery has the support of his superiors in the Redemptorist Order, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome has expressed disquiet about some of his articles and publications.

It is believed that the views which have come under most scrutiny are Fr Flannery’s opposition to the Church’s ban on artificial birth control and his support for the ordination of women.

Fr Flannery provoked dismay in the Vatican last summer when he publicly backed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s attack on the Vatican in which Mr Kenny misquoted Pope Benedict XVI and accused the Vatican of trying to thwart abuse inquiries in Cloyne Diocese. Mr Kenny has still not substantiated the latter allegation despite a request from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to do so.