FOUNDER OF THE Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery is under investigation by the Vatican for his liberal views.
Fr Flannery confirmed to TheJournal.ie that the Vatican had contacted him to inform him of the investigation.
The Irish Catholic newspaper reported earlier today that the priest had to cease writing his monthly column in the Redemptorist Reality magazine as a result of the investigation.
Last summer, Fr Flannery welcomed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s criticism of the Vatican’s handling of the child sex abuse scandal in Ireland.
The association, which has been described as a ‘dissident group’ by more conservative members of the Church, was also critical of recent changes to the Roman Missal. It has called for radical changes in the Catholic Church, including an overhaul of how bishops are chosen and its theology on sexuality. Some of its priests also agree with priests being allowed to marry and the ordination of female priests.
While in Ireland last month, the Apostolic Visitation said it observed a “certain tendency” for priests to hold opinions that conflict with those of the Magisterium, the Catholic Church’s teaching authority.
They stressed that dissent from the formal teachings of the Church were “not the authentic path towards renewal”.
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