Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby is expected to act soon to remove a rebel Catholic priest's authority to officiate at weddings and baptisms. Father Peter Kennedy agreed to step aside from April 19 as administrator of St Mary's Catholic Church in South Brisbane after a mediation agreement was reached with the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Fr Kennedy came under fire for unorthodox practices such as having a Buddhist statue in the church and allowing women to preach the homily.
He has angered the archdiocese once more for starting his own congregation not far from the church, called St Mary's in Exile.
Chancellor of the Archdiocese Father Adrian Farrelly said Fr Kennedy's move to separate the St Mary's congregation would have serious consequences.
He said the archbishop may revoke Fr Kennedy's priestly faculties - that is his authority to perform weddings, baptisms, preach and hear confessions.
"The timing of the response depends on the archbishop but it would be sooner rather than later in light of Fr Kennedy's latest actions," Fr Farrelly said.
"If Fr Kennedy was to officiate at a marriage after the removal of this faculty, the marriage would be invalid in the eyes of the church.
"We certainly don't leap to excommunication as a first response ... however the removal of Fr Kennedy's priestly faculties would be still a very serious disciplinary measure."
Fr Kennedy has said he will apply to become a marriage celebrant if the church strips him of his powers.
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Source (SMH)
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