Qld: Church bans rebel priest
05 Jun 2009 3:41 PM
BRISBANE, June 5 AAP - A rebel Catholic clergyman has been banned from acting as a priest anywhere in the world.
Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby on Friday suspended Fr Peter Kennedy from all priestly activities.
The decree followed Fr Kennedy's removal from the parish of St Mary's, South Brisbane, and his setting up of a group known as "St Mary's in Exile" at the Trades and Labour Council building near his former church.
Fr Kennedy was previously found to be out of step with the church for allowing women to preach the homily, using unorthodox prayers, having a Buddhist statue in his church and blessing same-sex relationships.
Archbishop Bathersby said in a statement he had suspended Fr Kennedy from "all priestly activities" and revoked Fr Kennedy's ability to officiate at weddings, preach and hear confessions.
He also imposed restrictions on Toowoomba priest Fr Terry Fitzpatrick, who works with Fr Kennedy.
The church's top legal officer, Chancellor Adrian Farrelly, said the suspension was "a very serious matter".
"Fr Kennedy has consistently ignored a series of formal directives, following years of informal requests from the archbishop to conform with universal Catholic practices," Fr Farrelly said.
"The Catholic Church has laws that regulate throughout the world the celebration of sacraments and pastoral care of people which Fr Kennedy has continued to flout.
"These present decrees are about ensuring that Catholics within the Archdiocese of Brisbane and beyond can continue to have confidence that the sacraments they are obtaining from all priests are celebrated validly and that pastoral practices and teaching are in harmony with accepted church directives."
Comment was being sought from Fr Kennedy.
