A senior church leader has warned action could be taken against rebel priest Father Kennedy for thumbing his nose at the Catholic hierarchy by leading a "St Mary's in Exile'' congregation. Brisbane archdiocese chancellor and canon lawyer Adrian Farrelly has also questioned Fr Kennedy's often proclaimed commitment to inclusiveness by suggesting the sacked St Mary's administrator made more traditional worshippers feel unwelcome at the parish.
He also scoffed at suggestions the St Mary's parish was in exile.
The comments came after Father Kennedy presided over his final service at the St Mary's parish church in South Brisbane before new administrator Ken Howell takes over the parish.
Up to 1000 people attended the service on what Father Kennedy described as a historic day.
Most of the parishioners followed Father Kennedy 200 metres down the road to the Trades and Labor Council building on Peel Street where worshippers took communion.
Archbishop John Bathersby sacked Father Kennedy from his role as parish administrator after declaring he was "out of communion'' with the Catholic Church.
The outspoken priest drew criticism from the church over his unorthodox liturgical practices, the wording of baptisms, allowing women to preach and allegedly blessing gay couples.
Father Farrelly said Father Kennedy had not been stripped of his priesthood, but the church could take action if his new services conflicted with Catholic traditions, including the wording of liturgies and baptisms.
"If you're deciding to do your own thing, it's hard to say: 'Yes, that would be Catholic','' he told brisbanetimes.com.au.
Father Farrelly said there was some disappointment within the Catholic Church at Father Kennedy's actions in leading his congregation to a new building, as it was creating "division'' in the church.
"What he's done now is a very public act and it's an act that's seen as moving away from full communion with the local church,'' he said.
"The parish of St Mary's continues. St Mary's is not going anywhere. It is staying put. It's been there since 1893.''
Father Kennedy this morning repeated his comments that the church needed to move with the times and be more inclusive.
However, Father Farrelly said the church community led by Father Kennedy was not as inclusive as he claimed.
He seized on radio comments in which Father Kennedy lashed out at "ultra-conservatives'' who had come into the St Mary's parish and complained about the practices that occurred.
Father Farrelly said the rebel priest had suggested the people complaining were not part of the St Mary's community - suggesting there were "limits to inclusion'' and "you can't be a member of his community if you're an ultra conservative''.
Father Farrelly also hit back at claims traditional church practices were not relevant to modern people. He said such comments denigrated the work of other Catholic priests and parishes who were also working for the community and helping people. He added that everyone was welcome in the church.
Father Farrelly was cautious about commenting about what penalties might be handed down to Father Kennedy for snubbing the Catholic hierarchy and operating his own services without the church's permission.
"It sounds almost like he wants to be ex-communicated,'' he said.
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(Source: BT)