Monday, August 23, 2010

Pope's visit could be overshadowed by exile of Birmingham priests

The Pope’s historic visit to Britain is in danger of being overshadowed by a growing row over the exiling of three members of a religious community he is due to visit.

Benedict XVI will beatify the famous Victorian convert to Rome, Cardinal Newman, as the highlight of next month’s trip and will also go to the Birmingham Oratory which he founded.

But the small Roman Catholic community in Edgbaston and its parishioners are in turmoil after three priests were forced out to separate monasteries across the world.

Father Philip Cleevely, Father Dermot Fenlon and Brother Lewis Berry – known as the “Birmingham Three” by supporters – have been told “to spend time in prayer for an indefinite period”.

It comes less than a year after Father Paul Chavasse, the Oratory’s Provost who had been in charge of the Cause to canonise Cardinal Newman, was sent to America by the Vatican representative who is investigating the Oratory following a “chaste but intense” relationship with a young man.

The Oratory has refused to explain why the three priests have been sent away – one is now in America, another in Canada and the third is going to South Africa – prompting worshippers to write an open letter to the church authorities.

It states: “We have seen the inexplicable removal of two priests and a brother who have exerted themselves heroically in the defence of our Catholic families.

“We have every right to a coherent explanation of what is going on, and an assurance that these priests and brother will be returned to their ministry with us forthwith.”

Another letter from parishioners urges the return of the three in time to witness the Pontiff’s private visit to the Oratory or the open-air beatification Mass in Cofton Park, south of Birmingham, on September 19th.

“Their absence during the beatification of their founder would represent not only a grave matter of personal injustice to them, but an insult to His Holiness.”

Their cause has also been taken up by Ruth Dudley Edwards, a crime writer, who has described them as victims of a church faction “which favours the old weapons of authoritarianism and concealment”.

Father Felix Selden, the Apostolic Visitor of the Holy See who is investigating the Oratory, said in a statement published this week: “I now again request that the Oratorian Community in Birmingham be allowed to continue its work without hindrance. The Apostolic Visitation that has been taking place at the Birmingham Oratory has been chiefly concerned with the Community’s own internal life and discipline.”

Oratory sources insist the three have not been found guilty of any sexual wrongdoing, but say the community was "disintegrating" through internal arguments and that the priests and brother had to be sent away to help repair the damage.

SIC: TCUK