A Brisbane priest says he will not be "bullied" by the Catholic Church and has vowed to hold services this weekend in defiance of an edict banning him from performing church duties anywhere in the world. The Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, on Friday imposed the ban on Father Peter Kennedy in the latest episode of his long-running dispute with the Catholic hierarchy.
Fr Kennedy was dismissed from St Mary's parish in South Brisbane in April over unorthodox practices, including allowing women to preach and for blessing gay couples.
He has since established a rival church and says up to 1,500 people attend the St Mary's in Exile services each weekend.
He says he will not be "bullied" away from his congregation.
"It's not so much me that I'm concerned about, it's the community," he said.
"But the community will stand strong. I know that."
In addition, the Archbishop has "revoked the faculties" of Father Terry Fitzpatrick, who also officiates at the new church.
Fr Fitzpatrick is formally attached to the Toowoomba diocese, but he can no longer say mass in Brisbane.
Fr Kennedy will no longer be allowed to officiate at weddings, preach or hear confessions.
He described the ruling as ruthless and vindictive and he says he will ignore it.
"I will continue to celebrate liturgies and eucharist," he said.
"Certainly it will make a difference about children wanting to be baptised, and certainly about weddings.
"I'll have to get a marriage celebrant's licence.
"But this man may be the Archbishop, but he has made, in the opinion of many of us, a very unjust decision."
Serious matter
Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Father Adrian Farrelly, acknowledged that suspension of a priest is a very serious matter.
"However, Fr Kennedy has consistently ignored a series of formal directives, following years of informal requests from the Archbishop to conform to universal Catholic practices," he said in a statement.
"Fr Kennedy's beliefs and practices have separated him and those with him from the church, local and universal, and caused confusion.
"The action of the Archbishop is a strong call to Fr Kennedy to return to accepted Catholic teaching and practice."
Fr Kennedy says he expects the church to take further steps against him.
"The excommunication will come. They will pursue this to the bitter end," he said.
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Source (ABC)
SV (ED)