Tony Flannery

Time to reinstate Fr Tony Flannery

COLUMNS 12 JANUARY 2023

DE FACTO

JUSTICE NEEDED Fr Flannery was removed from public ministry eleven years ago because of his writings on women’s ordination, the Eucharist and teachings on sexuality.

De Facto
Liamy MacNall

It is time to reinstate Redemptorist Tony Flannery as a priest in good standing.
Fr Flannery was removed from public ministry eleven years ago by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), as were others over the years, because of his writings on women’s ordination, the Eucharist and teachings on sexuality.

I have been impressed by the way Archbishop Eamonn Martin has handled the Synodal Process in Ireland. He has shown an openness, a willingness to listen and to take on board the views of the people that has been impressive. The document that went from the Irish Church to the Vatican is testament to that. It contains most of the issues that we in the reform movement have been campaigning for.

As I sit down now to write my reflections on Benedict/Joseph Ratzinger, it is about twenty four hours since his death was announced, and I have heard and read many people commenting and giving their assessment of this man, and of his contribution to the Catholic Church. I think it is fair to say that I am one of the Irish people whose life has been most significantly effected by his attitudes and his exercise of power.