Redemptorist priest faces ultimatum from CDF

Fr Tony Flannery

The Redemptorists in Ireland have voiced their concern over the "breakdown in communication” between their colleague Fr Tony Flannery and the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).

Fr Flannery who is 66, and was ordained more than 40 years ago, was removed from public ministry last February by the CDF pending the outcome of its inquiries into views he expressed in the Redemptorists’ Reality magazine. At least four other Irish priests: among them the BBC broadcaster Fr Brian D’Arcy were also censored last year.

Fr Flannery was a founder member of the 850-strong Association of Catholic Priests which is calling for reforms in the Irish Church.

In a letter published in the Irish Times on Monday, Fr Flannery revealed that the CDF has now asked him, through his Redemptorist superiors in Rome, to sign a public document accepting all Church teachings or face being barred from priestly ministry or "even worse" sanctions. He writes: "to give up on freedom of thought, freedom of speech and most especially freedom of conscience is too high a price for me to pay to be allowed minister in today’s church."

In their statement, the Irish Redemptorists said they were "deeply saddened by the breakdown in communication" between Fr Flannery and the CDF.

Describing Fr Flannery as "highly regarded and respected by many in Ireland" they add that there was a "very lively spirit of debate and dialogue" within the order.

The statement said that although it did not accept the priest's views on all matters, it understood and supported his efforts to listen to and articulate the views of people he met during the course of his ministry.

"It is of immense regret that some structures or processes of dialogue have not yet been found in the Church which have a greater capacity to engage with challenging voices from among God's people, while respecting the key responsibility and central role of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," the statement said.

The CDF has not yet commented.

To read Fr Flannery's letter in the Irish Times, see:  www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2013/0121/1224329102657.html

Source: Redemptorists/Irish Times/BBC/Wiki images