THE way is now open for serious penalties to be imposed on former St Mary’s administrator Fr Peter Kennedy who is conducting religious services in the Trades and Labour Council (TLC) building in South Brisbane.
Archdiocesan chancellor Fr Adrian Farrelly said Archbishop John Bathersby in the past few weeks had sent two documents to Fr Kennedy in relation to his activities at the TLC building.
“One was an order to Fr Kennedy to stop his activities there,” Fr Farrelly, whose signature also appeared on the documents, said.
“When Fr Kennedy failed to obey this direction, a second document was sent.
“This document contained a warning that actions would be taken as a result.”
Fr Farrelly said the sending of the two documents was a canon law requirement to be observed before penalties can be imposed for such serious breaches of Church law.
These penalties could range from suspension from all priestly activities to dismissal from the priesthood.
The first of these sanctions would mean that Fr Kennedy was still a cleric but could not lawfully celebrate Mass and the sacraments in public and also not validly officiate at weddings, preach or hear confessions.
Fr Farrelly said a priest’s dismissal from the clerical state, also inaccurately known as “laicisation”, was a “significantly more serious penalty”.
“In such a case the person involved could only return to active ministry as a priest with the approval of Rome,” he said.
Fr Farrelly agreed that the archbishop was now free to impose penalties.
The imposition of such penalties by the archbishop would make it clear that Fr Kennedy was not in good standing with the Church or with the archbishop.
“When the archbishop takes this action is something for him to decide,” Fr Farrelly said.
“What has happened up to now sets the scene for him to act when he chooses.”
Fr Kennedy was removed as St Mary’s administrator in February following his failure to agree to directives from Archbishop Bathersby to cease practices at St Mary’s “that separated it from communion with the Roman Catholic Church”.
Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral Fr Ken Howell has been appointed administrator.
