IRELAND
Irish Times
Patsy McGarry
An Irish priest censured by the Vatican has cast doubts that his future or the futures of other clerics in his situation will improve following last week’s meeting between Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) colleagues and bishops.
“Experience leads me to have little hope or expectation from the meeting,” Fr Tony Flannery said.
He is among six Irish priests censured by the Vatican in recent years for their more liberal views on issues such as contraception, priesthood, women priests and homosexuality.
Others include Fr Brian D’Arcy, Fr Gerard Moloney, Fr Owen O’Sullivan, Fr Iggy O’Donovan and Fr Seán Fagan.
A member of the ACP delegation, Fr Seán McDonagh, told the bishops at the Maynooth meeting that the six priests’ treatment by the church was seen as a source “of great scandal by many Catholics in Ireland”.
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