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LilyM
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Praise God for the good Archbishop!
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Paradox2080
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This is great news but I’m a little confused, does this mean that he’s excommunicated?
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LilyM
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I’d imagine he already IS automatically excommunicated with or without the Archbish making a formal announcment. As to whether he is formally pronounced excommunicated - wait and see.
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Paradox2080
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IMO this Bishop should have acted long before things got this bad.
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LilyM
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Considering how long it takes to get ANYTHING done in the Church, he’s not been too awfully long about it.
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bilop
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Amen!
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Catherine_S
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Thank you for the story Scottgun!
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Vince Knauth, also from St Mary’s leadership group, says it is not right that Father Kennedy is being singled out.
“Statistically this week 4,392 priests and deacons of the United States were subject to allegations of child molestation - that’s between 1950 and 2002,” he said.
"Two per cent of those were actually put behind bars.
"Peter [Kennedy] would be in better books with the Catholic church if he’d molested a child than what we’re doing here."
My two :twocents: worth!
*I think this is a **terrible **thing for Vince Knauth to say! *
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opiemuyo
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As much as I respect prests, perhaps it is a good thing to rotate them every few years to a new parish to keep things like this from occuring. 28 years in a parish is a career not a posting.
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Paradox2080
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Good call.
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Balance
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This is not great news, it’s a tragedy: a priest has been suspended and there’s the possibility that many Catholics will leave the Church.
It seems as if you’re overjoyed at what has happened at St Mary’s.(If I’m wrong in that forgive me - I’m just going on what you’ve posted.)
I think I know what you mean: you’re saying that it’s great news that error has been confronted and steps have been taken to deal with it; but I think you could be more sensitive and charitable with your comments.
It’s not “great news” that a priest’s parish appointment has been terminated and that a group of Catholics associated with him is teetering on the edge of schism: it’s terrible news. To seem to crow about it helps neither them nor you - nor the Church.
We should rather pray for Fr Kennedy, that he will submit to the Bishop’s authority, and for the parishioners of St Mary’s, that they will in humility remain in the Church. (I will say “remain in” rather that “return to” despite the fact that one could suggest that the community at St Mary’s have in fact already left the Church - it may be a fault in me but I like to assume the best.)
Bishop John, in his letter to Fr Peter: “I ask the priests, deacons, religious and people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane to pray for me and for all who belong to the Archdiocese, especially the community of St Mary’s in its present situation. In this matter I pray also that Mary the mother of Jesus will be our inspiration and guide as we seek her prayerful support for the healing of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and St Mary’s Parish.”
Let’s do that - pray for healing here - rather than indulge in a kind of cynical hard-heartedness or a rejoicing at others’ misfortune and suffering.
Bishop John also makes this comment:
“3. I sincerely hope that St Mary’s emphasis on social justice will remain. However such matters should be discussed with the new Administrator.”
St Mary’s was undeniably a challenge and inspiration to the wider Church with their unflagging dedication to the principles of social justice. We need these people in the Church! Which is why the kind of “hooray, see you later St Mary’s, take that” which some people may be indulging in (that comment isn’t aimed specifically at the posters I’ve quoted above, or anyone else, but at an attitude that sufaces on these forums occasionally).
Let’s pray then, that they remain in the one Catholic Church and put that dedication at the service of Christ and of the Bishop and people of Brisbane in a spirit of faithful and true social justice.
Let’s pray.
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LilyM
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He’s not suspended yet, and need never be if he recants the actions which will potentially sunder him from the Church.
And I’m not (and I doubt that anyone is) rejoicing over the threat of suspension, I’m rejoicing that the Archbishop has stood up for what has always been Church teaching, and asked the community to adhere to that teaching too. That’s the Church’s first and foremost task - to teach the truths of our faith clearly and unambiguously. The Church is above all here to minister to our souls rather than our bodies - that is what it does that no other institution can.
I’m glad, of course, that St Mary’s is involved in social justice issues. So are the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and many other worthy organisations - none of which are Catholic. While social justice doubtless is a critical function of every Catholic parish, it is not the be-all and end-all reason for its existence, neither should any parish emphasise social justice at the expense of passing on accurately the teachings of our faith.
The one distinguishing feature of St Marys SHOULD be that it loudly and proudly stands behind the teachings of the Church! If it doesn’t do so it fails in its fundamental task and becomes nothing more or different than these non-Catholic organisations.
As for those who would leave the Church over the suspension of this priest - truth be told, whatever they may call themselves, the moment they place loyalty to a misguided and misinformed priest over loyalty to the Body of Christ on Earth, they essentially cease to be Catholic. Such people basically have excommunicated themselves, and it doesn’t need a formal defection by them, or an announcement by the Archbishop, for that to happen.
It doesn’t mean we cease praying for these people, or cease working for their return to the Church, for a moment, but it doesn’t change the facts either.
It does no one any good to keep calling people Catholic if in truth and substance they are not. Just as it does no body any good to keep a diseased member or organ attached when the health of the body requires it to be removed.
And I’m not (and I doubt that anyone is) rejoicing over the threat of suspension, I’m rejoicing that the Archbishop has stood up for what has always been Church teaching, and asked the community to adhere to that teaching too. That’s the Church’s first and foremost task - to teach the truths of our faith clearly and unambiguously. The Church is above all here to minister to our souls rather than our bodies - that is what it does that no other institution can.
I’m glad, of course, that St Mary’s is involved in social justice issues. So are the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and many other worthy organisations - none of which are Catholic. While social justice doubtless is a critical function of every Catholic parish, it is not the be-all and end-all reason for its existence, neither should any parish emphasise social justice at the expense of passing on accurately the teachings of our faith.
The one distinguishing feature of St Marys SHOULD be that it loudly and proudly stands behind the teachings of the Church! If it doesn’t do so it fails in its fundamental task and becomes nothing more or different than these non-Catholic organisations.
As for those who would leave the Church over the suspension of this priest - truth be told, whatever they may call themselves, the moment they place loyalty to a misguided and misinformed priest over loyalty to the Body of Christ on Earth, they essentially cease to be Catholic. Such people basically have excommunicated themselves, and it doesn’t need a formal defection by them, or an announcement by the Archbishop, for that to happen.
It doesn’t mean we cease praying for these people, or cease working for their return to the Church, for a moment, but it doesn’t change the facts either.
It does no one any good to keep calling people Catholic if in truth and substance they are not. Just as it does no body any good to keep a diseased member or organ attached when the health of the body requires it to be removed.
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Scottgun
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I agree. Throwing out pedohile priests has become the anti-Catholic version of Godwin’s Law.
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rpp
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This is so sad. Where is the priestly humility?
Full story here with links to related articles.
I suppose that last line, the quote form the priest, says it all.
Full story here with links to related articles.
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Paradox2080
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Yes, you are correct in your assumptions as to the meaning behind my statement however i don’t hold such a charitable position on this matter as you.
I have been following this issue for some time now and am convinced this so called priest and his so called Catholic parishioners lost the faith long ago. Fr. Kennedy has fallen victim to the devil and as a result has led many astray.
Yes this is a tragedy but i am very happy steps are been taken to expel him and all those that follow him in error. They have all chosen very poorly.
Former Fr. Kennedy is getting exactly he deserves IMO!
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Aramis
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Even 10 years is probably too long. 6 years, then rotate, for single priest parishes…
Fr. Kennedy needs to reevaluate his role in the church. The bishop ending his appointment formally is a simple matter of reclaiming the building, since the parishioners ceased to be Catholic some time ago.
Fr. Kennedy needs to reevaluate his role in the church. The bishop ending his appointment formally is a simple matter of reclaiming the building, since the parishioners ceased to be Catholic some time ago.
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T700
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babesinarms
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As much as I totally disagree with Fr. Peter Kennedy’s theology and his outright public display of disregard for church teaching on matters of utmost importance, such as the Trinity, this unfolding saga is being closely watched by many Catholics here in Australia.
As many of you are aware, our Catholicism is very liberal in comparison to America, particularly in Brisbane. What is happening at St. Mary’s is an extreme example of how many Catholics here want the church to become more relevant in this day and age. We have had the likes of history and science help us unearth a great deal about our understanding of the bible and the times in which these people lived there. We now can add psychology to this equation to get a fuller, more rounded understanding of what it means to be human, and therefore a sinner. And in this, we come to understand the message of the salvation that Jesus brought for each individual.
Times are changing. I believe Father Kennedy has gone off the deep end in his understanding of this change, but I can’t help but feel that this extreme has been needed to address the irrelevance of the Church as being pastoral.
As many of you are aware, our Catholicism is very liberal in comparison to America, particularly in Brisbane. What is happening at St. Mary’s is an extreme example of how many Catholics here want the church to become more relevant in this day and age. We have had the likes of history and science help us unearth a great deal about our understanding of the bible and the times in which these people lived there. We now can add psychology to this equation to get a fuller, more rounded understanding of what it means to be human, and therefore a sinner. And in this, we come to understand the message of the salvation that Jesus brought for each individual.
Times are changing. I believe Father Kennedy has gone off the deep end in his understanding of this change, but I can’t help but feel that this extreme has been needed to address the irrelevance of the Church as being pastoral.
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LeroyCRHP
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It is sad to see any church go through this event. I hope they reconcile quickly. This is like hearing that a good friend may be headed toward a divorce, we need to pray for them but keep the rules in place.
Who’s responsibility is it to rotate Priests?
Who’s responsibility is it to rotate Priests?
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Aramis
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If Australian Roman Rite Catholics are liberal in comparison to American Roman Rite, then it’s time to retire the lot of them…
Quite simply, the majority of visible liturgical abuse seems to arise in the USA; some places far worse than others…
I have to ask, then, in which ways are they liberal?
Social policy?
Women in Ministries?
Sexual issues?
Liturgical praxis?
(I’ll also point out that the Eastern Rite parishes tend to be somewhat less liberal overall than their Roman Rite neighbors, and liturgically FAR less liberal. Do the Red, Say the Black.)
Upon first reading about Fr. Kennedy, I immediately thought CoE low-churcher with a High Church style building… It was nearly inconceivable to me to see someone so flagrantly desecrating the Mass and still being a Catholic Priest.
I truly do not see how such a mind works…
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