Sir, – It seems extraordinary that a so-called Catholic parish council would offer an invitation to an individual who has taken positions fundamentally at odds with core teachings of that church ("Bishop cancels talk by liberal priest Fr Tony Flannery", August 22nd).
I actually don’t blame Fr Tony Flannery. But I don’t have much respect for an individual who remains within an organisation he patently disagrees with. And not on trivial issues either.
My main criticism would be directed at the parish council. I’m sure within the diocese of Cloyne there are many orthodox Catholic priests who would be more than willing to address the council.
The name that comes to mind immediately is that eminent theologian, and son of Cork, Fr Vincent Twomey. Fr Twomey has ably defended the faith in recent times, when it most definitely wasn’t the popular or profitable course of action.
The so-called “silenced” priests seem to have much easier access to the media, and much more sympathetic treatment, than the likes of Fr Twomey.
So congratulations to Bishop Crean; hopefully he has set a precedent for our other shepherds to step up to the mark. – Yours, etc,
ERIC CONWAY,
Navan,
Co Meath.
A chara, – In her attempt to diminish the importance of the reporting (August 21st) of the silencing of Fr Tony Flannery, Mary Stewart (August 25th) suggests that "surely it is reasonable to assume that those who do remain [in the Catholic Church] accept its teaching" and that "no one is coerced into remaining".
This is quite simply untrue, as I found out when I attempted to have my name removed from the annals of that august organisation in 2010.
The so-called "actus formalis defectionis ab Ecclesia catholica" (formal act of defection from the Catholic Church), mentioned in canons 1086, 1117 and 1124 of the Code of Canon Law, is no longer permitted, so that all who are baptised (few of us have any say in the matter) must continue to be Catholics unless we manage to have ourselves excommunicated.
My own dismissals of Catholic Church teaching published on this page in the past have proven to be insufficiently serious to require excommunication. – Is mise,
GREG SCANLON,
Shannon,
Co Clare.