A chara, – Both Fr Tony Flannery’s article and Patsy McGarry’s news report (January 21st) neglect to include Fr Flannery’s most contentious statements regarding the priesthood published in Reality magazine in 2010.
Fr Flannery denied that the priesthood originated with Christ, but more likely had its origin in “a select and privileged group within the community who had abrogated power and authority to themselves, interpreted the occasion of the Last Supper in a manner that suited their own agenda”. If, as Fr Flannery seems to think, the priesthood doesn’t come from Christ, but is instead a 2,000- year-old hostile take-over of the Gospel, why would one want to identify as a priest or be part of the leadership team of the “Association of Catholic Priests”? – Is mise,
Sir, – I wish to express my anger and deep disgust at how the Vatican is trying to silence Fr Flannery. The Vatican’s attempts to silence this good priest are despicable and cannot be justified. It will be a grave injustice if they succeed. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – For many years I have had the pleasure of listening to Fr Tony Flannery’s sermons in the Redemptorist Monastery in Esker, Co Galway. Fr Flannery, with his intellectual rigour and questioning spirit combined with his kindness, humanity (and humour), has long represented for me the very model of a liberal, progressive Catholicism – the kind of church of which I would be proud to be a member. His imminent ex-communication fills me with great sadness. I want to protest but have no idea how to do this.
A humble shareholder in a multinational company can at least make their thoughts known at the annual general meeting. As a member of the Roman Catholic Church I appear to have no voice. I have just sent an e-mail registering my protest at the treatment of Fr Flannery to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. I fear that I have little hope of receiving a reply. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – John B Reid (January 22nd) suggests Fr Flannery lacks intellectual courage and humility “to follow the rules of the club”, ie the church.What an arrogance! It is a poor club that forbids its members to debate and discuss its own rules.The institutional church seems determined to drive out those who have remained loyal, but questioning, despite that church’s scandalous shielding of many of the perpetrators of abuse and their retention as members of “the club”. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – How dare John B Reid accuse Fr Tony Flannery of lacking the courage of his convictions by not becoming a Protestant (January 22nd). Fr Tony is entitled to remain in his church, a church that is in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, semper reformanda, always reforming itself, and to play his part in this process.
Only those who share a very narrow concept of obedience, owing more to 19th-century absolutism than to trust in the Gospel, would think otherwise. – Yours, etc,