St Mary’s priest in exile has been threatened with “penalties” by Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby if he continues to lead his congregation, ousted from their South Brisbane church in April. Father Peter Kennedy, who has presided for 28 years, gave up St Mary’s after a bitter battle over practices which were deemed “unorthodox” by the Catholic Church.
He’s since moved his 800 member church congregation to the upper floor of the Brisbane Trades And Labour Building.
These “unorthodox practices” included blessing gay and divorced people, using alternative wording and not wearing traditional garb.
In a letter to Father Kennedy, the Archbishop accused Kennedy of ‘causing further harm to the Catholic Church’.
“Unless you cease these actions and by a formal act repent and are reconciled to the Church, I shall impose on you penalties… not excluding dismissal from the clerical state,” Archbishop Bathersby wrote.
If Father Kennedy continues to lead his church, he could be stripped of his right to perform masses, marriages and other priestly duties.
This week the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, gave his blessing for the possible ex-communication of Father Kennedy.
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