IRELAND
Irish Times

Fr Tony Flannery

People regularly ask me how I am? The answer to that is complex, and I do not usually burden or bore my questioner by going into details about it. It is more than a year since I was forbidden to minister as a priest.

I miss being able to celebrate the Eucharist and I miss being able to preach. I know I can say Mass privately, but I seldom do, since I regard it as a community exercise. I mostly attend Mass with the people.

Having been out of ministry and in conflict with church authorities for an extended period of time has had a significant impact on my perspective on the church, but more fundamentally on my faith and my life.

Decision making

I have come to know a great deal about how the church operates, particularly in its management structures and…