Garry O'sullivan: Muzzling of the Church's Liberal Wing Is Bizarre

Irish Independent
April 27, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/garry-osullivan-muzzling-of-the-churchs-liberal-wing-is-bizarre-3094244.html

FATHER Brian D'Arcy was the inspiration for the character that would eventually become comedian Dermot Morgan's Fr Trendy, which later morphed into Fr Ted.

The recent clampdowns on him and other Irish liberal priests can only be described as 'Ted-esque' such is their bizarre nature and timing.

But there is nothing 'Ted-esque' about Fr D'Arcy, perhaps Ireland's best-known priest, a celebrity in his own right.

Fr D'Arcy is an intelligent, articulate man and priest, who knows his people and whom his flock know as a warm, caring, loving and, above all, honest and courageous figure.

This is a priest who physically got sick when he read the Murphy Report on abuse.