Taoiseach urges Pope to review priest cases

By Stephen O’brien
Sunday Times (UK)
January 29, 2017

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/taoiseach-urges-pope-to-review-priest-cases-8mmgk8jvq

Kenny gave Pope Francis a number of letters from Ireland during his visit

Enda Kenny has asked Pope Francis to review the cases of five priests disciplined by the Catholic Church, in order to “improve the environment” for the papal visit to Ireland in 2018.

The priests — including Brian D’Arcy and Tony Flannery — were sanctioned over their views on married clergy and women priests on the orders of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) .

The taoiseach spoke to D’Arcy and Flannery before he met the Pope in the Vatican last November, and briefed D’Arcy afterwards.

Kenny gave Pope Francis a number of letters from Ireland, including one from Flannery and another from an alleged victim of clerical sexual abuse.

D’Arcy did not write to the Pope, but briefed the taoiseach about his case and suggested Pope Francis might deal with these “unfair” disciplinary sanctions before his visit.