EMBATTLED priest Father Peter Kennedy collapsed and was rushed to hospital last night. It was only hours after leading an emotional final Mass at St Mary's South Brisbane.
With St Mary's full to overflowing during the 5pm Mass, 71-year-old Father Kennedy again exhorted his followers to continue as a congregation.
However at some point after the service Father Kennedy fainted and was taken by ambulance to hospital about 7.45pm.
It is understood he was taken to Brisbane's Mater Hospital but was not admitted.
The fall was not serious but is indicative of the ageing priest's fragility as he enters the most trying week of his pastoral life.
Father Kennedy last Thursday told The Courier-Mail he intended to continue attending services at St Mary's after his termination date but said Dean Ken Howell, appointed interim administrator by Archbishop Bathersby, was "welcome" to lead the Mass.
"I don't intend to lead the Eucharist, I would simply be there," he said.
A statement released from Archbishop Bathersby's office last night said he was sad to hear Father Kennedy was unwell.
The priest's administration was terminated over complaints it was no longer "in communion with the Roman Catholic Church".
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Sotto Voce
(Source: GRCN)
A big thumbs down to the Catholic Church hierarchy in Brisbane for sacking the visionary Father Peter Kennedy.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, anyone who dares to put into practice the teachings of Christ is condemned by the Church.
Father Kennedy has been relieved of his position as parish priest of St. Mary's, South Brisbane for being a true embodiment of God's grace. His cardinal crime was the exercise of acceptance, love and true inclusivity, welcoming all to his church. The good Father Kennedy is known for blessing gay couples, encouraging the active involvement of women in sacramental activity and even acknowledging the power and importance of religious traditions other than his own.
In 20 years time priests like Father Kennedy and parishes like St. Mary's will be the norm in Australia.
For now the Church must hang its head in shame and Archbishop Bathersby must prepare himself for an eternal place in the rogues gallery of the religious wicked who tried to stem the tides of love and compassion and stake a claim for legalism and all that is wrong in organised religion.
The Church has really made a terrible error in this case. As Macauley so brilliantly pointed out, the great genius of the Catholic Church through the ages has been in its ability to absorb its rebels. Simply shifting over and making a place for even the most radical ideas has meant that the Church has remained dynamic, varied and unified for a very long time.
But perhaps this is just a temporary blip, similar in kind to the excommunication of the Blessed Mother Mary Mackillop. Perhaps in a hundred years time we'll be celebrating the beatification of Father Kennedy. I think there's a very real possibility of that.
Father Kennedy is a great man, and has single handedly done more for the reputation of the Catholic Church than almost any other cleric in recent memory.
Bathersby is the meat in the sandwich between Pell and Ratsinger. This is apparently Ratsinger's second attempt to sack Kennedy. The first time he was told by the previous Archbishop of Brisbane he would resign if they went ahead with this. Now Bathersby an old friend and fellow seminary student of Kennedy has been told to move Kennedy on. Such is Church politics and the way of the conservatives.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't people who choose to ignore the central teachings of the Bible just go off and start their own religion? This fellow makes some of the most outrageous claims I have ever heard from a "Christian". Claiming that there is no supporting evidence of Christ's existence (Australian Story ABC 25/5/09)is astounding and simply untrue...Josephus - a secular historian living in Rome at the time of Jesus wrote enough about Jesus and his followers to support/corroborate his existence. There are many other examples of such writings. The man clearly wants to reject the teachings of Christ and create a religious movement centred on "Kennedyism". That is fine. Just don't call it Christian. He rejects much of what the New Testament teaches. Perhaps the orange garments of the Buddhist monk would be more appropriate - and would fit nicely with the little Buddhist idol that he seems to like so much.
ReplyDeleteIn my part of the world, we would say the good father suffered a case of the 'vapors' - a common symptom of an overly dramatic if weak psyche.
ReplyDeleteAs a priest myself let me be unequivocal in saying that if some of my brother priests cannot reconcile their person convictions with Church belief for whatever reason, I believe that they should quietly leave the ministry. Repeatedly & publicly challenging one's employer is not the path to sanctity or peace.
We will miss you and no doubt groan over the redistribution of work loads to cover your former flock that will afflict us all. But it is preferable than constantly having to answer for your eccentricities and heresies.
Go in peace... but go.
Fr. Tim Moyle
www.frtimmoyle.blogspot.com