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Church Accused of Using Fbi-style Tactics to Watch and Silence Priests

By David Raleigh and Colm Kelpie
Irish Independent
April 7, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/church-accused-of-using-fbistyle-tactics-to-watch-and-silence-priests-3073843.html

Fr Adrian Egan, pictured in St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick, has backed Fr Tony Flannery

Priests are being subjected to FBI-like attention from Catholic "agents" who want to silence anyone brave enough to voice their own opinions from the pulpit, a leading cleric claimed yesterday.

Fr Adrian Egan -- the head of the Redemptorist Order in Limerick -- criticised the Vatican and publicly backed Fr Tony Flannery, who is being investigated by Rome because of his liberal views.

Fr Flannery, an Athenry-based Redemptorist, who is the founder of the Association of Catholic Priests, has for the past 14 years written his opinions in the Redemptorist Order's 'Reality' magazine.

However, the Holy See has now intervened, and his monthly column has been discontinued.

In a brave show of public support for his "friend and colleague", Fr Egan said he was "hugely disappointed", "dismayed", "flabbergasted, shocked and amazed" at the move by the Vatican.

"I'm speaking on my own behalf and not for the Redemptorist order. I see nothing to be gained from silencing Tony. It doesn't sit well in today's culture and it doesn't benefit anyone. He (Tony) is articulating what he is hearing on the coal-face from ordinary people."

The move against Fr Flannery comes just weeks after the report of the Apostolic Visitation said there was a tendency among some priests in Ireland to hold theological opinions at variance with the church.

Fr Flannery declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Independent yesterday.

He said he wanted "time to reflect on this".

Fr Egan described the Vatican's actions as "a problem".

"The reality, too, is that, there are people sitting in churches on a daily basis that are almost listening to hear you express an opinion that might be seen as dissenting and they will report you.

"It's a little bit back like maybe in the Hoover days in America, where there are kind of agents all around the place that are willing to lift a phone, or write a letter, to a local bishop or the Vatican, and say, 'so and so did this', and it may be of the most minor thing, and yet, they can be taken seriously."

Drawing a parallel with the crucifixion of Jesus, Fr Egan said: "I want to be able to articulate what I feel and what I think about. We are now celebrating Holy Week this week and, in many ways, Jesus was a victim of those who wanted to silence him . . . They wanted rid of him.

"There is a sense of that here -- this is not how you deal with people who you disagree with," Fr Egan added.

Fr Egan said he personally shared many of Fr Flannery's views about having open public debates on sexuality, women priests and married clergy.

'Support'

"He certainly has my support and I'd be surprised if he doesn't have the support of the vast majority of his colleagues and of the congregation."

He said the Vatican's stance against Fr Flannery: "isn't just a challenge to Tony, really. It's a challenge to anyone who wants to preach the good news and to do it in a way that is true to the spirit of the Gospel."

Fr Flannery is a part of the Association of Catholic Priests, set up as a forum for priests to discuss issues in the church.

Clogher priest Fr Jimmy McPhilips said he was "saddened" that Fr Flannery was being "censored".

"I also admit to feeling shock, anger, and a little fear. As a member of the Association of Catholic Priests -- like the other 900 plus -- we are now open to censorship or being 'silenced'."

 

 

 

 

 




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