Tony Flannery writes: This is a true account of one priest’s experience with his superiors, and I think it is worth putting up here as an example of the type of attitude still being adopted by some Church superiors in dealing with their priests.

(Some changes simply to preserve the identity of the priest in question.)

One anonymous person made a series of complaints against this priest, who worked in a parish and was also involved in the local second-level school. 

Both his superiors, the bishop of the diocese where he worked in the parish, and his religious superior, took the anonymous accuser seriously, and duly sent this document to the priest.

These points, without prejudice or presumption, are to be sent to ……….. for a direct response or clarification on each.

1. That …………. Does not use the new English missal translation and that particularly he uses the words of consecration from the previous edition of the English missal (which is no longer licit).

2. That ………..had a robed female Protestant minister read the Gospel and stand at the altar during the consecration of the Mass.

3. That the substance used by …………for consecration and distribution of the precious blood to the faithful contains no alcohol (which could invalidate Masses).

(Note: the priest in question is a recovered alcoholic)

4. That …………. Had an excessive number of communion services in the parish without attempting to find cover, including for the Saturday night Mass.

(Note: this priest is a scripture scholar, who likes to have open and free discussions with the senior classes in the school.)

5. That ………. Supports the ordination of women to the priesthood and has promoted this view in speaking at school

6. That ………… has spoken in favour of same-sex unions at school and in the parish.

(Note: these last two are interpretations of fairly high quality discussions with the senior classes in the school)

7. That …………taught in school that the God of the Old Testament could be considered different to the one revealed in the New Testament.

8.That ………….. taught in school that we can separate the historical person of Jesus from the person of Christ we hold in faith.

The matter with his superiors dragged on for a considerable period of time without anybody ascertaining the identity of the accuser, and questioning him/her on their accusations, much less allowing the priest to confront his accuser.

The end result was that the whole affair had a very serious effect on the priest, causing substantial emotional and psychological problems, actually a breakdown, and rendered him unable to continue his work in the school or parish.

A final quote from the man himself:

“As a result of the breakdown I was moved from the parish with no consultation when I was taking a break and my possessions were packed up and sent on without my knowledge: I only discovered that I had been moved when I returned from my time away. That led to a further crisis and spell in hospital.”

To me the lists of accusations are frivolous, and I would have hoped that any sensible superior or bishop, having received such an anonymous document, would put it straight in the bin. Not so in this case!

Tony Flannery