A founder of the Association of Catholic Priests, Fr Tony Flannery, has confirmed that he is being investigated by the Vatican for his liberal views.
Today's Irish Catholic newspaper reports that the Vatican intervened directly to stop the Redemptorist author contributing his monthly column in his order's Reality magazine.
In July, Fr Flannery supported Taoiseach Enda Kenny's criticisms of the Vatican over its handling of clerical child sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, at Holy Thursday Mass in the Vatican, Pope Benedict warned that he will not tolerate his priests disobeying essential teachings.