The well-known Passionist priest, Fr Brian D’Arcy, c.p., is to stay
on as rector of the Graan Passionist Monastery in Enniskillen, Co.
Fermanagh.
Notwithstanding the recent controversy in which the Vatican's
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith expressed concern about his
writings, he has been re-appointed as superior for a fourth term.
He
has already been Superior at the Monastery for twelve years and his last
term finished in May.
Since then, he has awaited the outcome of the
deliberations of the Provincial, Fr Pat Duffy, c.p.
The order’s Provincial and Council have now approved personnel appointments, including the re-appointment of Fr D’Arcy.
Commenting on his re-appointment, Fr D’Arcy said, “I’m delighted, I
didn’t think I would be staying. I was quite content to move on if
that’s what they wanted, but they said that they’d be happy to keep me
on.”
“They were very kind, they said that I was doing a good job and
they’d like to keep me here, he said. I had a position in my local
community, and they didn’t want to lose that, Fr D’Arcy added. I only
found out at the weekend. I was quite content to move on if that’s what
they wanted, but they said that they’d be happy to keep me on.”
In July, Fr Brian was one of a number of prominent speaks at a rally
in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, in support of the billionaire Quinn family
and who generated some controversy for their attendance.
As well as managing the monastery in Enniskillen, Fr D’Arcy, who is a
native of Belnaleck, Co. Fermanagh, presents a religious slot on BBC
radio and writes a column in the Sunday World newspaper.
His views have
sometimes challenged orthodox Church positions and this culminated in
the Vatican issuing an instruction to his order that his journalistic
and other writings were to be viewed before publication.