You might remember Father Peter Kennedy who was pulled from his Australian parish but refused to leave because he’s too busy blessing homosexual couples, allowing women to preach, and selling books that questioned the divinity of Jesus.
You might also remember that the UFO cult, the Raelians, rallied to his aid. And you likely remember that he compared himself to Jesus Christ because He too did unorthodox things and was persecuted.
Well, you’ll definitely remember this. The new priest who was supposed to take over and say Mass Sunday had to cancel. Why? Because a bomb threat was called into the Archbishop so the new priest stayed away for fear that his presence would incite violence.
Well, now CathNews is reporting:
Sacked St Mary’s South Brisbane administrator, Fr Peter Kennedy says his lawyers will this week challenge his dismissal in the civil courts unless Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby, who had earlier received a bomb threat, reverses his decision.
The Australian reports Fr Kennedy will this week continue his fight against the Brisbane diocese in the civil courts unless he is reinstated, after he rejected mediation talks and conducted Sunday Mass for more than 1,500 parishioners at St Mary’s church…
Yesterday’s hour long service was a celebration in defiance, with Fr Kennedy leading the Mass in prayer and hymns, including the protest song We Shall Not be Moved, before imploring Archbishop Bathersby to visit the church.
“It is sad he is not here today because if he was here, he couldn’t possibly move against this community,” Father Kennedy told the service. “We are a Vatican II community – at least, we try to be.”
I personally missed the part about bombs in Humanae Vitae but I guess I didn’t read it as carefully as Fr. Kennedy.
Archbishop Bathersby had incredibly already agreed to an independent mediator which strikes me as more than a little odd but incredibly charitable.
But Fr Kennedy would have none of it, saying any mediation must include the church community -you know, the ones that called in a bomb threat. He said, “If the archbishop wants to mediate, he has to mediate with the community…He has unjustly sacked me and in sacking me he has sacked the community.”
I fear this thing might get uglier before it gets better. Pray for a peaceful resolution.
February 25, 2009 at 2:49 am
Here in New York, Cardinal Egan was having a dispute with pastor whose parish was going to be closed. The pastor refused to leave despite repeated urging and orders. So the Cardinal invited him to come to the Chancery to talk it over. While the pastor was on his way there, the Cardinal sent some people to the parish and padlocked the church and rectory. Case closed, literally.
It’s a New York style solution, and not very “pastoral”, but maybe it would work down under.
February 25, 2009 at 3:39 am
Translation: “I am the community and the community is me!”
February 25, 2009 at 4:46 am
Unfortunatly this is what happens when problems aren’t nipped in the bud. Now Archbishop John Bathersby is going to have to play St. Nicholas. Not nice St. Nick, but the St. Nick that punched a heritic bishop during the Council at Nicea.
The good archbishop is going to have to be “unpastoral.” Which will really be more loving then letting this all happen.
February 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm
It’s so nice to see that Fr. Kennedy is taking his promise of obedience to the Bishop so seriously.
February 25, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I wonder if 1500 folks really presented themselves for Mass at a suburban parish. And if so, how many were Catholic, and how many were simply the usual suspect S$#@ stirrers?
February 25, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Anon- DOn’t know much about Australia, bub Suburban parishes here in the US can be HUGE.
Growing up, ours was a medium sized DC-suburb parish, and we easily had 1000 people at the most popular Sunday Mass. (Which is why my family used to aim for the LEAST crowded….)
So if some people skipped other Masses to make the one bigger, 1500 is totally believable….
February 25, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Well, we know the Raelians showed up.
February 25, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Hm, I think the bomb threat thing was in Lumen Gentium, right next to the section about being a law and authority unto oneself, and just after the long passage where the focus of worship is properly the people and their defiance.
I mean, who ever thought GOD was the point of Christianity? How orthodox of us!
February 25, 2009 at 4:12 pm
While the pastor was on his way there, the Cardinal sent some people to the parish and padlocked the church and rectory. Case closed, literally.
Bwahaha! Change the locks on him!
It seems counter-intuitive, but Fr. Kennedy’s statements reminiscent of Puritan shrillness. Shaming everyone else but no shame for him. And above all, never admitting any wrong. If you bleed a patient and he dies, then obviously you didn’t bleed him enough.