Liberating the Catholic Church, one parish at a time.
Sacked St Mary's priest Fr Peter Kennedy conducts last mass
April 19, 2009
SACKED Catholic priest Fr Peter Kennedy says he is now free to speak about the unjust ways of the church and offer hope to others who have been treated unfairly.
Fr Kennedy celebrated his last mass at St Mary's Church in South Brisbane on Sunday.
The controversial priest was dismissed by Catholic authorities as the church's administrator in February for unorthodox practices including allowing women and gay couples to perform blessings.
More than 1,000 parishioners packed the church during the service.
Most followed Fr Kennedy 200 metres down the road after the mass to the Trades and Labour Council building where his new congregation, St Mary's in Exile, will be based.
Fr Kennedy said the majority of the St Mary's church community would join his congregation.
"Father Ken Howell (the newly appointed St Mary's administrator) will have to rent a crowd," Fr Kennedy said.
"They are in denial that this community will walk down the road and join St Mary's in Exile.
"They came before because we were different. We ran liturgies for the people."
After weeks of mediation, he agreed to step down but maintains the sacking was unjust.
"Our story will not change the church but our story will give hope to all those Catholics who have been treated unjustly," he said.
"Those who have been excluded on grounds of gender or sexual orientation, or just people who have been oppressed by the doctrines and dogmas and regulations and rules of the Catholic Church.
"We are liberated now to speak out about the church. The media will come to us for our opinion from now on."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 52,00.html