Qld: Rebel priest says he's been freed from corrupt institution
By Tony Bartlett and Paul Osborne05 Jun 2009 5:38 PM
BRISBANE, June 5 AAP - A rebel clergyman says an order banning him from functioning as a Catholic priest anywhere in the world has freed him from a corrupt, irrelevant and ruthless institution.
Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby on Friday suspended Father Peter Kennedy from all priestly activities.
The decree follows 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 says he was expecting the order.
"There's one more big Roman missile coming our way I think, which will be excommunication for myself anyway," he said.
"Nothing has changed for me - our community at the TLC building will continue as normal."
Fr Kennedy said he will hold mass again on Saturday evening and Sunday despite the order.
"The congregation is increasing because people who've been excluded from the church or have walked away because they felt quite powerless - some of those people are coming back to us," he said.
"In fact some people actually say they're really happy to come down here because it's not a church building."
Fr Kennedy said Friday's edict had left him with a feeling of freedom.
"It's certainly freeing us up from a very corrupt and irrelevant and ruthless institution," he said.
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 Father 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," Father 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."
