Gerald Archibald, Edmonton, AB

Some years ago, I heard the begin- nings of a sad story involving a very popular and forward thinking Redemptorist priest in Ireland, Father Tony Flannery. He has written several books about the state of the Catholic Church, the role of conscience, several issues such as married priests and women priests among others. He also was the co-founder of the Irish Associa- tion of Catholic Priests.

His troubles started in 2012 when the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) in the Vatican took issue with some of his writings. The CDF is perhaps the most powerful institution in the Vatican with the mandate of assuring the catholicity of church teaching.

The CDF noted in one of his books and in the column he writes for Reality (an Irish publication), Father Flannery was not staying true to strict Catholic orthodoxy. They met with the Superior General of the Redemptorists also based in Rome, and instructed him to commu- nicate with Father Flannery in order to recant his ‘positions’.

The result was Father Flannery was suspended from priestly functions and instructed not to go public about this affair. After some reflection, Father Flannery did go public and informed the public what happened and that this matter was a matter of conscience for him.

Early this year, the Redemptorists in Ireland sent in a formal request to the Vatican asking that the suspension of Father Flannery be lifted, thinking that there was a change of climate in Rome. They were wrong. Finally, in 2020, Father Flannery received a letter from the Superior General o f t he Redemptorists informing him he had to agree to recant his positions on four positions before his suspension be lifted. These positions or views had to do with the following:

1. Women ordination
2. Homosexual teaching
3. Teaching on gay relationships
4. Gender theory

Father Flannery instinctively knew he could not in conscience renounce his position on the first three areas identified by the CDF. As for the fourth on gender theory, he knew nothing about and has never written anything to do with this topic. As a result of his refusal to recant his views, he was removed from the priesthood. Tony Flannery has however, continued to write, and has just released his latest book, From the Outside. It is truly a shame that the Catholic Church, through the CDF, continues in its old ways of stifling debate on issues that many Catholics (if not the majority) wish to discuss and hear arguments ‘for and against’ or positions in-between.

As Father Flannery wrote in the October 20th edition of the Irish Times: “We are surrounded by mystery, if we can open our eyes and ears to see and hear. In my opinion the serious mistake the church has made, which dates as far back as the fourth century and contin- ues to our day, is that it tried to tame the mystery by encircling it with definitions and rigid doctrines.” It’s no wonder young and old are leaving the Church in droves.

I have been in contact with Tony offering him moral support through all of this. In his statement to the Irish Times, he said “I now accept that the

Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith may well have done me a favor when they intervened in my life eight years ago…” All this is very ironic, as Pope Francis recently stated that the church will now recognize gay civil unions, and that Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich stated on September 24, 2020 that his is ‘open’ to women becoming priests (LifeSite News). The church seems in disarray!

Tony Flannery has just released his latest book: From the Outside: Rethinking Church Doctrine. For those of you who wish an audio link to the official release of this book, please find the link below. I found the remarks by Tom O’Loughin and Tony’s comments extremely uplifting and inspiriting.

https://www.associationofcatholic priests.ie/2020/10/audio-tony- flannerys-book-launch/

After what happened to Tony Flannery, I and others believe he may now be more influential than ever in bringing change to a Church in decline.