The case of rebel Redemptorist priest Tony
Flannery has reached a significant turning point. In recent days Fr.
Flannery announced his intention - to newspapers and in a public
conference – to ignore the disciplinary measures presented against him
by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Last Friday, Michael Brehl, the Canadian Superior General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, issued a declaration in which he expressed his deep regret for the actions recently undertaken by Flannery, also a member of the Congregation.
In his brief statement, the current Superior of the religious order founded by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, gives a brief summary of the whole affair: “In January, 2012, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith raised concerns about some of the writings of Fr. Flannery which were ambiguous regarding fundamental areas of Catholic doctrine, including the priesthood, the nature of the Church, and the Eucharist,” Brehl writes.
The priest “was instructed to undertake a period of prayer and theological reflection to clarify his positions on these matters. During this sabbatical period, he was instructed not to grant interviews or make public statements, and to withdraw from active involvement in the leadership of the ACP (an independent body of Catholic priests which had been called to address the paedophilia scandal in the Irish Catholic Church, Ed.), especially since the priesthood was one of the matters on which he was asked to clarify his position. He was also instructed to withdraw from active priestly ministry during this period of prayer and reflection.”
In his statement, Fr. Brehl “earnestly” urged his confrere “to renew the efforts to find an agreed solution to the concerns raised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith.”
Finally, he invited his “Redemptorist confreres of the Irish Province to join with [him] in praying and working together in the spirit of St Alphonsus to maintain and strengthen our communion with the Universal Church.”
The Superior General’s statement comes in the wake of other declarations – made mainly by his Irish confreres – which seemed to express a certain degree of support and understanding towards Fr. Flannery.