A PRIEST banned by the Vatican from public ministry after criticising the Catholic Church over issues including homosexuality and contraception is to defy the ruling by saying Mass.
Fr Tony Flannery was suspended by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in 2012 for expressing his liberal views in a religious magazine.
Among comments made by the Galway cleric was the suggestion women should be ordained as priests.
Fr Flannery has remained outspoken since his suspension, and said he will lead a service on Sunday January 22 at a community centre in east Galway.
He said the celebration of Mass was not in the “ownership” of the Vatican, adding: “It belongs to the believing communities.”
The Irish Times reported on Tuesday that Taoiseach Enda Kenny also delivered a letter from Fr Flannery to Pope Francis when he met the pontiff in November.
In it, the priest referred to the Church’s credibility in Ireland being damaged by child sex abuse scandals, and appealed for Pope Francis – who was elected a year after his suspension – to deal with priests disciplined by the CDF in a “more just fashion”.
