Vatican censures outspoken Fr D'Arcy

Published Thursday, 26 April 2012

Outspoken priest and broadcaster Father Brian D'Arcy has been censured by the Vatican over comments including his fierce criticism of the church's handling of child abuse scandals and mandatory celibacy for priests.

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D’Arcy censured
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It's understood that the 67-year-old member of the Passionist Order has to pass all writings and broadcasts - including his column for the Sunday World newspaper - to a church censor for approval before publication.

The decision was taken last year, but has only become public knowledge after a story was published in a Catholic newspaper, The Tablet.

"Last year concerns were expressed to Fr Ottaviano D'Egidio CP - the Passionist Superior General - by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith about some aspects of Fr Brian D'Arcy's writings," Dublin-based priest Pat Duffy, Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Passion, said.

"Since then Fr Brian has been co-operating to ensure he can make a contribution to journalism in Ireland."

One of Ireland's best known priests, Fr D'Arcy has been vocal in his opinions on priests being able to marry and critical of how the Catholic Church handled the child sex abuse inquiry.

Disciplinary action was taken 14 months ago after concerns were raised about articles by the Fermanagh-based broadcaster and columnist - and he has been co-operating since then.

His contributions during that period have, it is believed, been passed to a church censor for approval before being made public, and no changes have yet been made.

In a recent article, the liberal priest remained outspoken when, just last Sunday, he commented on a survey which showed a high percentage of Catholics on the island believe priests should be allowed to marry.

He said: "Sadly in our church now, it has become impossible to be open and honest about what good people are convinced of.

"It's as if merely stating unpalatable facts is in itself disloyal."

Not all priests are in agreement.

Father D'Arcy is the sixth priest to be censured here for so-called outspoken views - but it remains to be seen if it will silence them or not.

He said on Thursday that he had no comment to make on the issue.

Comments

19 Comments

Faithful Catholic parents in Belfast wrote (383 days ago):

The Catholic Church will never change her teachings, so you either accept them or leave, simple as that. The Anglican Church is a prime example of what happens when you allow married clergy, women priests and bishops, need i go on .... how many splits have occurred over these issues, quite a few. So to all you so called real Catholics you want to use contraception, you want married clergy, women bishops etc... then the anglican church or should i say churches, seems to be the one for you.... Chances are after a while you will disagree with something in you're new church ... need i say anymore. One more thing with regards to celibacy St Paul says "indeed i wish everyone to be as i am, but each has a particular gift from God.....now to the unmarried and widows i say; it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as i do" (1 cor 7:7-8). He goes on to say, an unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided (1 cor 7;32-34).

Gerry Hughes in Fermanagh wrote (385 days ago):

Silence and censorship have done so much damage to the Catholic Church already. All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to stay silent. Decades of abuse against vulnerable members of the community could have been prevented had more of the clergy had the courage to speak out against it. I salute Fr. Brian for having the courage to speak out. The Catholic Church must reform, it can no longer dictate to the people who are the church, congregations are aging, and Priests are getting very thin on the ground. Unless Rome modernises its approach to Priests and its attitude to its own congregation then further shrinking is inevitable.

mike braithwaite in newtownabbey wrote (386 days ago):

Fr. Brian is one of the very few priests for whom I have regard. He has come through challenges to his faith as a shining light. He has said what many catholics, and protestants, are thinking. For the Vatican to take such a high handed attitude is a sin. The faceless ancients in Rome would better serve the church and the faithful by listening to priests like Fr. Brian.

Frank in South Down wrote (386 days ago):

Jim in S'Land. You obviously haven't heard of the bishop, Nicholas of Cusa who postulated that the earth was round by philosophical means. He also wrote of heliocentric-ism. He proposed that the earth was expanding centuries before Keplar was born. Of course we don't have classical education today. Metaphysical concepts are not even taught in the Liberal school system which is censored by the state. The internet is a great tool but, without the proper education, people don't know what ot look for. Start with Çoincidence of Opposites'. It's more thought provoking than Discovery.

Is objecting to birth control really out of touch with contemporary Ireland? Is the Vatican to jump on the abortion and earth worship bandwagons too? I certainly believe that those philosophies are outdated. Russia is banning abortion due to their plummeting population. If promoting the value of life and compassion for all life is outdated then we are truly living in dangerous times. A 2000 year old institution does not survive for that long by giving into every whim imaginable. God doesn't go with the flow and he has shown that in many instances in the bible. I do agree that there is something wrong with the Catholic church and much of it began with Vatican II. The church has been heavily infiltrated by upstarts. I am not saying that Father DÁrcy is one, I am merely saying that he should not add to the attacks on an embattled Vatican. As for the utter lie that, allowing priests to marry would solve the problem of abuse. Much more abuse is carried by ordinary married men. This is just another part of the insidious attack on the Vatican. Of course the Vatican is not blameless but, that does not mean that the teachings are wrong. The more that the Vatican is attacked in a coordinated manner and the more that society turns into a heavily promoted dysfunctional Libertine mess, the more I see the truth in Catholicism. Northern Ireland has seen much division between Christians in the past. Attacks on our faiths should be something which unites us. Father DÁrcy should say his prayers and open his eyes. Standing against the Vatican is not a brave thing these days.

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