Fr. Peter Kennedy / Archbishop John Bathersby
Posted on 02/10/2009 9:42:38 AM PST by NYer
.- Archbishop of Brisbane John A. Bathersby has urged a disobedient priest not to take members of his parish into schism, saying the separation of Christians is “contrary to all that Christ prayed for.”
Father Peter Kennedy, 71, is the administrator of St. Mary’s Church in South Brisbane. He has allegedly rejected the divinity of Jesus and has denied the virginity of Mary.
“Can you possibly think any individual can believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary,” the priest said, according to the Courier Mail. He claimed that the article of faith may have been credible in “the medieval times” but is not believable for modern people.
The priest also argued that Archbishop Bathersby has a “very fundamentalist theology.”
According to the Courier Mail, Father Kennedy said he didn’t have faith in the Pope but wanted to remain an active Catholic priest.
“You've got to be relevant to people's lives - Jesus broke the rules all the time for the sake of the people,” he claimed.
In a Friday letter, Archbishop Bathersby responded to Fr. Kennedy’s Jan. 12 letter asking to meet for further discussion.
“I see no reason to do so. I have repeatedly asked for changes but you and the community have not budged an inch,” the archbishop wrote. “Moreover South Brisbane’s instant disclosure of my letters and comments in the media gives me no reason to enter into discussion.”
The archbishop said there is doubt about the validity of many baptisms performed at the parish and announced that he would name a special day at St. Stephen’s Cathedral to perform and certify baptisms for parents or adult converts who are concerned about the validity of St. Mary’s Church baptisms.
Archbishop Bathersby’s letter notified Fr. Kennedy that he will be removed as parish administrator by Saturday, Feb. 21.
“I would like to add, without trying to exert pressure, that if you wish to retire from active service as a priest, the Archdiocese will assist you as it does with other Archdiocesan priests who retire,” he wrote.
Announcing that Dean Ken Howell of St. Stephen’s Cathedral will be replacing Fr. Kennedy, the archbishop said regular Masses will be celebrated at the parish and the sacraments will be available.
“Church goers attached to St Mary’s are most welcome to continue, as well as those who wish to return to the parish or those who wish to become new parishioners,” the bishop added.
Expressing hope that St. Mary’s emphasis on social justice will continue, he also said he hoped “sound Marian devotion” will be promoted at the parish “as was normal in the past.”
“I will do whatever I can to facilitate and encourage this devotion,” the archbishop continued.
Noting that Father Kennedy has claimed he may lead others into a breakaway sect, Archbishop Bathersby said he cannot stop the move.
“However those who follow you should realize that they will not be in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or the Archdiocese of Brisbane,” he advised.
Archbishop Bathersby said the decisions gave him no satisfaction whatsoever.
“The separation of Christians is contrary to all that Christ prayed for. Nor does such division promote the Kingdom of God. You have had ample time to make a considered decision. Please God the division that exists at the present time will be healed in the future, probably not in my time.
“I ask the priests, deacons, religious and people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane to pray for me and for all who belong to the Archdiocese, especially the community of St Mary’s in its present situation.
“In this matter I pray also that Mary the mother of Jesus will be our inspiration and guide as we seek her prayerful support for the healing of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and St Mary’s Parish,” Archbishop Bathersby’s letter closed.
Father Kennedy said he is prepared to be arrested at the church and claimed a few dozen parishioners may try to be arrested as well.
He claimed that the article of faith may have been credible in “the medieval times” but is not believable for modern people.
Hey, 'Father', you think that people 'in the medieval times' or in Biblical times for that matter didn't know where babies come from? Why do you guess St. Joseph 'was minded to put her away'?
That's why it's a miracle, you simple-minded poor excuse for a Catholic, you!
Father Kennedy said he is prepared to be arrested at the church and claimed a few dozen parishioners may try to be arrested as well.
"try to be" . . . oh, brother! They see themselves as persecuted civil rights activists . . . hope nobody obliges them and simply ignores them.
That’s it ... express yourself ... hold nothing back ;-) (Did you watch the video? It’s a pitiful toll of old and young who have been misled by this priest. One old man uses a walker and needs assistance. Truly sad!)
Just sad. Another riest who has lost his faith and trying to lead peopole down the same path, to “enlighten” them. He doesn’t even know that he is saying no more than the Greek philosophers who encountered Paul in Athens.
He is a victim of this crazy notion that all the people of the past were totally ignorant of the most basic facts of life. The ordinary college professor today is no more knowledgeable than the ordinary philosopher of the time.
I would not receive communion from this priest......who knows what he is doing. Very sad that so many are lead astray by him.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary...
The thing that scares me is the amount of damage he's done over the course of his priestly ministry. Imagine if he's been preaching this nonsense for over 4 decades. I'm sure he's brought shipwreck in the faith to numerous others.
Better late than never, I guess.
He has actually been a problem for some time. He’s not the only one in that part of the world, either. Churches there were ordered to have a do-over on their baptisms because they had not been baptising with the Trinitarian formula. I think his parish was one of them.
JPII, with his many virtues, was a very lax disciplinarian. He obviously didn’t approve of any of the things this priest and others like him were doing, but he rarely had the bishops intervene. In addition, many of the bishops appointed under him, especially in the early years, were not very good. I think this diocese may have a relatively new bishop now, which is why some action is being taken; in addition, Rome under BXVI is much more aware of the problem of the teaching of heresies within the Church itself, and I think is much more determined to solve it.
But I agree, they should have acted sooner and maybe some of the parishioners wouldn’t have fallen into this man’s trap.
If you don’t believe in the Divinity of Christ you aren’t even Christian... Let he go be a druid somewhere.
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