Sir, – I agree entirely with the sentiment expressed by Sr Eileen Linehan (September 12th). I have read Fr Tony Flannery's recently published book A Question of Conscience and it read more like a James Bond movie in which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome acted in a manner reminiscent of the KGB or CIA, with unidentified correspondence, etc. It was simply bullying behaviour, aside altogether as to whether Fr Flannery was in order or not .
But why are concerned Catholics not free to voice their concern? Surely we have a moral and spiritual duty to speak out and how better than to join in solidarity with either the Association of Catholic Priests or the recently formed Association of Catholic Clergy in attempting to bring about reform? It is time both laity and religious faced up to the fear engendered by the hierarchy and say enough is enough , it is time for reform that will embrace honesty, love, compassion and forgiveness . And it is time for us to tell Fr Flannery and his silenced colleagues that they are not alone. The church, as the late Cardinal Martini remarked, is pompous , bureaucratic and 200years behind the times . Pope Francis is a ray of hope for us all. – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’SULLIVAN,
Sutton Park,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. That is why the Catholic Church tries to maintain control over what its priests preach and write about.
Priests such as Fr Flannery, Fr Sean Fagan and many others are a threat to the authority and control of the Catholic Church, hence the need for silencing and censoring. The church has to appear to be unchanging and infallible, so any discussion, disagreement, or dissent among priests or theologians has to be repressed.
A new low has now been reached, as Veritas, which is owned by the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, has banned Fr Flannery’s book from its shelves. – Yours, etc,
NUALA O’DRISCOLL,
Renvyle,
Co Galway.