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Last week it emerged that The Vatican has put Fr Tony Flannery under investigation over his perceived liberal views – including support for Enda Kenny’s criticism of the Holy See last year.
Here Fr Jimmy McPhillips, a priest in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan and a fellow member with Fr Flannery of the Association of Catholic Priests, argues that the Church needs to seriously reconsider its attitude to dissent.
I ARRIVED INTO the Parochial House after spending some time with Jesus in the Garden. It was Holy Thursday night. He didn’t know what He was facing. Maybe the ordeal of arrest, false accusation, condemnation, suffering, and death; for he had continued saying what the religious authorities did not want to hear.
He had just given us the Eucharist, ordained priesthood, His new commandment ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, and His example of humble service. I picked up my iPad to read the Journal as I do at the end of each day, and there in-front of me was the headline, ‘Priest confirms that he is under Vatican investigation’.
I am saddened that Fr Tony is now being censored. I also admit to feeling shock, anger, and a little fear. As a member of the ACP – like the other 900 plus – we too are now open to censorship or worse still being ‘silenced’.
While I may not always agree with what Fr Tony says or believes, I still respect and defend his right to hold those views and express them. Is this not part of what it means to be Christian? Are we as a Catholic Church not mature enough to listen to other opinions? We may not be a democracy, but we are certainly not a totalitarian regime!
As a ‘Northerner’, I ask can our Church not learn lessons from what has happened in this part of our homeland? The terrible conflict was brought to an end through respecting other people’s opinions, other cultures, and other traditions. Resolution was through respectful dialogue.
As a Church and institution, we have witnessed many changes over the centuries to our credit. We have changed positions many times. Former ‘sacred cows’ were dumped on the scrap heap of misguided practices and now are bad memories. Some present ‘sacred cow’ issues will change in time too. Many have already begun that great voyage. The argument for mandatory celibacy, for example, lost credence the day we accepted Anglican clergy into Catholic priesthood.
Leadership is integral to the Church to shepherd people socially, spiritually, and morally, and so our need to reflect. Perhaps in their thinking, the ‘Christi fideles laici’ have left us behind in many of these areas! Isn’t ‘Sensus Fidelium’ still the ultimate authority in Church teaching?
Censorship or ‘silencing’ is not a truly Christian way to encourage fidelity, resolve differences, or correct perceived errors in modern times. In fact, it can be counter –productive. It rarely has the desired effect in silencing alternative interpretations and opinions. It may force conformity, but seldom promotes truth or inner conversion. It may result in increased indifference and apathy among clergy and lay faithful.
Finally, my experience of growing up in the Northern conflict situation was that one man’s hero was another man’s terrorist. People like Tony Flannery may be our modern day prophets. We need both prophets and a new approach to resolving differences. Let us be a more listening leadership/Church, and less reactionary.
Fr Jimmy McPhillips is a priest in Killanny, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. This post originally appeared on the Association of Catholic Priests website.
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get out while you can father jimmy
Father do you really believe in talking snakes and virgin births? Really?
A wonderful article Father. So many valid points.
I fear that your words may fall on deaf ears though as the level of ignorance amongst the ‘non believers’ on this website is above normal levels. The majority seem to be incapable of opening their ears never mind their minds or souls. They prefer to continually knock the church rather than accept it is an important part of society.
Keep up the wonderful work and it’s great to see a member of the clergy approaching matters with the willingness to see both sides of the argument.
Just because someone doesn’t share the same beliefs as you doesn’t make them ignorant. This article was about different opinions being valid and should remain uncensored, something you seem to disagree with if it’s not a opinion from, as you say, a “non believer”.
Alice oh Alice, the reason that there are so many disbelievers is simple…. We have progressed in terms of education, as in educating ourselves, we have been subjected to all sorts of wonderful writings, books etc and now we are making our own conclusions…. It’s beyond laughable that you think there is a god, it’s amazing the amount of people who still believe a guy rose from the dead, walked on water, turned water into wine, brought Lazarus back to life…. Oh yes I personally believe there was a Jesus, of that I am sure there is no refuting but if you think for one second, now that I can make my own decisions that my life would be dictated by a dogma that says there are three entities in one and he was conceived by one of those entities and his mother was a virgin…. Me thinks little red riding hood is more believable, especially the bit where the wolf eats the gran……………………….
@Paul and Dave, thanks for proving my point about the ignorance and unwillingness to open your minds. You guys never let me down.
The reason I don’t believe is because my mind is open……
Please explain how my previous comment shows my closed mind?
Opening minds? To what? Anti-conception? Evolution? Rights of gay people?
Church is solely responsible for holding society back, treating its members the same way it did 1000 years ago – as unintelligent, blind followers with no mind or opinion of their own, who will do anything so that life after this was better. In fact religion and church are responsible for more dead than both world wars put together.
Wake up sweetheart.
@Dublincity-I don’t know where you heard that the church is anti-conception, but as far as I know it’s quite fine with conceptions. Otherwise how else would we all be here?
And by calling me sweetheart I think you are the one who may be living in the past.
The catholic church condemns the use of artificial contraception completely ! They just want more catholics born,Why do you think family’s had anything up to 15/20 kids in a family 50 yrs ago ? It was only in the late 70′s when married couples were able to get the pill or condoms ect or do you not even know about the “Condom Train” from Belfast back in the 70′s the catholic church hold on the state was quite something else,
“Non believers”…….would rather be labeled one of those than remain an associate of an organization that has at its head a man who actively facilitated in the release of Brendan Smyth into our community. Whatever credibility you guys had as an institution no longer exists. Probably best you get used to it.
The catch and release mentality demonstrated by your beloved institution when it came to the discovery of sexual predators within your clergy speaks volumes. It has little enough to do with what people choose to believe where an expression of their faith is concerned, it has more to do with what the nation belatedly discovered about an organization you appear so willing to defend.
Protecting child-rapists, lying to the worlds poor about condoms causing HIV, the denigration of women, incitement to hatred against gay people. These are just a few current items on a long list and If they aren’t enough to make you too want to “knock the church”, then there’s something wrong with you.
The people you write off as being closed-minded are just as open minded as you, they’re just more discerning about what they allow to flow into their minds through that opening. They demand evidence and reason.
It’s good to be open-minded, just not so open-minded that your brain falls out.
Where do keep your soul Alice? :)
Level of ignorance among non believers :-). Now you’re cracking me up.
@Alice
“I don’t know where you heard that the church is anti-conception, but as far as I know it’s quite fine with conceptions”
It certainly is. Check out Bishop Casey and Fr Michael Cleary, for example.
As long as you believe that people are this magical specie, chosen personally by god to run universe, with help of this horrible, corrupted to bone hierarchy of priests and cardinals, or that the almighty god, who, apparently created mountain tops and deeps of the ocean, really cares whether or not you eat meat on Friday… And you asking are you mature enough?!
There are much more issues than maturity when it comes to Catholicism and religion in general. All malevolent institutions and political regimes comprise of a large degree of delusional worship of imaginary deities or attribute imaginary characteristics to real leaders as well as evidence denial. They generate false irrational hope and trust in their leaders. Then the leaders abuse this trust and censor and punish criticism and stigmatise those who do oppose them. It is textbook institutional mind control. So much so that it managed 84% to claim this as their belief. Institutions like this cannot be accountable for the reasons mentioned above.
Cyril
As you might be aware I was curious myself about this 84% figure that claimed to be RC in the census?? I recently asked a rather ‘staunch’ Roman Catholic what he thought about this, given the empty seats in the church an’ all. He scratched his head and rubbed his chin and prodded his toe in the dust for a while before suggesting that they were relatating it to their ‘cultural background’! Then he regards me suspiciously for a minute or so before adding ‘sure is’nt your surname Murphy’! That was me being put in me place no doubt!!
I really feel sorry for you Alice. Paul & Dave put forward educated arguments as to why they do not believe in your fantasy ‘religion’ of hypocrisy and untruths. You replied with insults and ignorance proving why it is the fearful & uneducated who still believe…(uneducated in the sense of opening ones mind to the facts as they are)
Insults? Where did I insult anybody?
Stop the trolling as usual Oisin.
Dave seemed to equate education with increased atheism. If you look at the worldwide picture, the vast majority of people believe in some sort of god and many millions of those are highly educated. Believing in God is not a sign of ignorance or a lack of knowledge. The facts just don’t support that claim.
@Marie Conroy Byrne… Dave did not equate atheism with education one bit… I simply said that we are more educuated , have more access to other beliefs or disbeliefs , can read more books on creationism , atheism etc…. The catholic church on the whole relied on uneducated, subservient, unsuspecting people, the catholic church pillaged, murdered , hung, beheaded, brainwashed ignorant tribes ( ignorant to the fast growing revolutions around the globe) into believing that there was one God, they stole there precious metals, goods , spices CHILDREN… At a more local level, they closed there eyes to the most horrific abuse and slavery of Irish citizens, they played chess with dirty, perverted sociopaths… My reasons for not believing in God are based of science…. My reasons for not believing in the Catholic Church, well, look around you…..
Maria: ‘The facts don’t support the claim.’ That’s rich coming from someone who believes in Fairy Tales
The Vatican is like any other tyrannical and totalitarian dictatorship, they will not tolerate criticism or questions. They teach their lies and myths as truth,they deserve nothing but ridicule and contempt.
It took hundreds of years and two splits in the church before they finally started holding sermons in the native languages of their followers, so I doubt they’ll adapt to the changes needed for them to survive anywhere in the next millennium.
It is nice to see a column like this. The truth is that if Jesus happened to come back in some imaginary story, those fundamentalist Catholics would be first in line to crucify him again so much would they hate what he says. Life cannot be known. A thought or doctrine cannot contain life. A belief does not make it so. Faith is just a reoccurring thought. All of this is just happening by itself for it’s own sake. There is no purpose to life. Life is it’s own purpose. There is no new age thinking. There is no God deciding on one hand that condoms are bad and to make a star explode on the other. There is only life. And it is a complete and utter mystery despite all the stories you all tell yourself and all of the things that you have read. Life cannot be reduced to a doctrine. It is utterly free by itself and yet it also includes utter imprisonment. The catholic church is as relevant as an atheist. Both hold beliefs close representing who they think they are. What is always missed is the mystery of what is pouring through the senses. The ordinary is extraordinary.
Gimme some of what you’ve been smoking :)
People should stick to referring to the article instead of bashing believers. As an atheist I’m happy to let people believe or not in what they will.
I think Fr Jimmy is spot on with his article. The church needs to listen instead of dictate, or it’s decline will come quicker than expected.
The Vatican is like a political party, preaching the party manifesto throughout the world. Father Tony is off – message. In politics he would be quickly told to follow the party line or get chucked out of the party. I don’t think the Vatican is out of order wanting its message preached its way.
As a young Catholic mother I’ve struggled with my beliefs over the last few years. I believe in the fundamental rules of how we should treat each other and I try to teach my children these. However I believe the church is seriously corrupt and broken. I feel it needs to review its policies and approach in this modern world where women have equal rights. The Church is there to serve the people instead of the people serving the church.
They didn’t listen to the children either.
Hi all, thanks for your comments. Just a reminder to please stay on topic – we like a good debate but let’s keep it civil.
You can read our full comments policy here – http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/ – but this bit seems relevant: “If you’d like to trade insults about any author or user’s political, religious or geographic background, please take it elsewhere.”
Interesting article Father. Interesting too to note thar you follow ‘The Journal’ each day. Would you by any chance inclined to favour us with your imput in the comments section at all? Particularly in relation to religious matters…
Just asking me being nosey like.
Ouch! Straight away someone didn’t like me asking that.
Gee but the thumb downers have strange impulses on this discussion thread!
My condolences John. Unfortunately they rarely seem to comment.
Thank you Brendan.
My puzzlement arises as I have not been abusive and have addressed the author by his appropriate title. I just genuinely asked, given his own claim to be a regular reader of ‘The Journal’, has he ever, or would he perhaps like to, debate with us on matters close to his heart, so to speak.
I done this in the spirit of the headline under which the author has written his article. What’s wrong I wonder?
We may never know
Well done Father on speaking out against attempts to silence genuine and important criticisms of the Church.
Unfortunately discussion and debate is often driven by and in reaction to the loudest and most hardcore voices. I’m glad to see the previously silent majority finally speaking up and pushing for a Church that is more in keeping with Christ’s teachings about humility and love.
@ the headline.
Because burning bushes makes much more sense.
Just for the record…. burning bushes are a completely normal thing to happen in a desert. It’s so hot the bush catches fire. Science. Use a better example if you want to insult Christianity. Or better still maybe don’t say anything insulting.
Come on, really. A burning bush in the desert is one thing, talking flora is quite another. It is hardly an insult to question the existence of a talking plant., I know some plants, when ingested, might lead one to believe that other plants possess that ability. Perhaps Moses was suffering a little with dehydration is all. Science.
ah, Jonathan so nice of you to insult me. I’ll have you know I’m possibly the funniest person I know. Voted class clown by my english teacher in 1991. I’m also not religious in the slightest. I have a faith, but I’m not religious. And yes there is a big difference.
Hairy date….good point. I was pointing out the fact that a typical straw man argument was used. ‘a burning bush’ – cue guffaws and laughs from people when in fact nothing of the actual story is touched on. Know what I mean?
The burning bush story is nothing to do with this article, but I will say that all stories like it are all hinged on whether you believe in God or not. Believe God made us then you’ll have no problem believing he can talk through a burning bush. Don’t believe in God you’ll think it’s the most ridiculous thing ever.
I do find it fascinating at how easy it is for everyone to rag on christianity (I’m not talking about the church – you can talk about that all you like). This priest is asking for a more rational approach and for priests to be able to question aspects of the church which is a great idea and rather than take it for what it is people use it as an opportunity to mock peoples beliefs. Put an article about a muslim cleric on the journal and if people responded in the same way as they do to christianity, the comment section would be closed.
Fr. Jimmy,
I grew up in Carrick and you were and are a role model for how much good priests can do in a community. I feel that I can’t adhere to the Catholic religion anymore as their opinion on homosexuality, contraception etc is totally at odds to what I believe. However, although terrible terrible things have happened in Ireland and abroad in the Catholic Church’s name, I am glad that we still have priests like yourself who are brave enough to stand up for what they believe is right, and who are still relevant to the communities that they work in. Thank you.
What do you expect from the worlds longest running autocratic system?
Unfortunately censorship has always been a part of the Church’s manifesto. Up until the 1970′s Catholics were not allowed to read the Bible (http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/did_the_catholic_church_forbid_bible_reading.htm) and even now it isn’t something the Vatican want you to do. It’s kind of like Wanted where only Morgan Freeman is allowed to interpret the messages on the Loom, quite a smart plan, anything he said was taken to be straight from the Loom, just like anything the Church said was believed to be straight from the Bible.
So they got away with saying divorce was wrong (even though the bible says it’s ok in the case of adultery), Mary was ever-virginal (even though she had rakes of kids after Jesus) and there’s nothing in there about contraception (even though primitive contraceptives pre-date even the books of Genesis at 3000BC). If the Church gives up censorship all the smoke and mirrors will fall down and they’ll have nothing left to preach about.
Good to see there is so much respect out there for what people believe or don’t believe in…..now that’s open mindedness in action!
Why should anyone’s beliefs automatically merit any respect? (Their right to *hold* a belief, sure.) Grow up! (That’s my belief.)
“grow up”….. retort of the year. Thanks for backing up my argument with your comment and just to confirm, I respect your beliefs.
Deirdre and Grainne are to be commended for their honesty, sincerity and total lack of gratuitous vitriol.
Those who viciously decry the Catholic Church would not have the courage to do the same to Islam or any other such religion.
I fail to see their cited ‘education.’ Would like to see their credentials and academic qualifications!!
Any idiot can be abusive, denigrating and obnoxious.
@ Ferg Breen
Is a talking burning bush normal in the desert? Just wondering. Check your book of exodus, it seems to think so.
See my reply above…
Is 60 or 70 years not a small price to pay for enteral happiness,
And also to receive eternal damnation and torture in hell,
Just one of hundreds off issues I have about this evil institution
The catholic church listen to nobody and answer to nobody. Organised religion leads to murder. Not killings, just murder. This God of theirs has a lot to answer for but…he’s catholic, so he listens to nobody and answers to nobody
Cyril butler said it all in his first comment. The rest is just waffle.
Who is ‘we’?
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