Tony Flannery

This is a piece written for the Association of Catholic Priests website by Paddy Ferry from Scotland, which, apart entirely from the part referring to myself, is an excellent account of issues around priesthood, church, and development of doctrine.

Peadar, I was interested to read your post and your book recommendations for Tony re our Catholic priesthood. I would have expected that Tony has already read more than most priests. He certainly has helped me with some recommendations and I have also read all the books that Tony himself has written.

I got this letter some weeks ago in relation to the upcoming date of my golden jubilee of ordination. To say the least I was surprised and irritated by it; it was certainly insensitive.

My original suspension from ministry twelve years ago was imposed by my religious congregation, under pressure from the CDF in the Vatican. But now, things have changed in the Vatican with Francis in charge, and my reading of my situation is that my suspension could easily be lifted by my religious superiors, if they so wished.

This talk was my first in some considerable time, and dealing with more serious and weighty issues around faith and Church.

The crowd was large, estimated 200+, and the response was enthusiastic and highly engaged.

The question and comment section went on for over an hour after the talk. I was tired, but very happy with the evening. It gave me energy, and a conviction that I have something worth saying.