Breakaway priest refuses to recant teachings, archbishop intervenes

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Comments: 34

Fr. Peter Kennedy / Archbishop John Bathersby

Brisbane, Australia, Feb 10, 2009 / 12:10 am (CNA).- 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.

Comments: 34

Subscriber comments:

Published by: eliza
New Jersey 05/08/2009 04:38 AM EST

The article published is really a surprise that has come into being.the events that are going on are really sad
Eliza
real estate

Published by: Mary
Australia 02/23/2009 12:22 PM EST

Any priest who develops a deep bond with his spiritual mother Mary is protected.The fact that Father Kennedy has stated in an interview that a modern person could not be expected to believe in Mary's virginity tells me the poor man's faith has been eroded since his ordination and he needs a great deal of prayer.

Published by: vynette
Australia 02/12/2009 06:14 PM EST

Jay, you said: "Umm.. vynette, have you actually read the New Testament? The New Testament is replete with passages in which Jesus claims to be God, or in which the Gospel authors attribute divinity to him. Not to mention that the Gospels which relate the Nativity indicate Mary's virginity. How did the Brisbane speaker get around this?"

E.P. Wixted "got around this" by demonstrating that the writers of the New Testament never said it.

For instance, the infancy narratives record that Jesus was the son of a man other than Joseph. It says nothing at all about a 'virgin birth.' That such a doctrine developed is evidence of a lack of knowledge about the function of the Hebrew term 'Holy Spirit,' and the Hebrew term 'son of God' and a mistranslation of the Hebrew Isaiah 7: 14. Add to this ignorance the pagan concept of virgin mothers and you have a travesty of the truth.

Published by: Matthew
Dallas, TX 02/12/2009 01:05 PM EST

Well said Pavel from D.C. Too bad Fr. Kennedy didn't study at SCK...the good monks surely would have taught him better philosophy and theology than this eh?...not to mention a thing or two about obedience and humility...

Published by: vynette
Australia 02/12/2009 02:53 AM EST

I'm afraid that most of the commentors here have been sadly deceived by the "lies" of the Christian churches.

Of course, the problem stems from the fact that the church "fathers" who developed all these doctrines knew nothing at all about the Hebrew God or the Hebrew Jesus or the Hebrew Apostles. They knew nothing about Hebrew messianic expections, the Hebrew mindset, or Hebrew modes of thinking and expression.

For instance, the term 'son of God' has nothing to do with 'divinity.' This is a Hellenist-Latin mindset.

The term 'son of God' simply means one who carries out the will of God - it is synonomous with the term 'messiah' and has nothing whatever to do with 'divinity.'

I am quite prepared to demonstrate this fact without reciting lists of 'cherry-picked' verses which support doctrine whilst ignoring the big picture - the overall message of both Old and New Testaments.

Published by: MEDJUGORJE
DETROIT, MI, USA 02/12/2009 01:02 AM EST

THIS EXPLAINS THOSE WILDFIRES...TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE PROMISCUOUS HOMOSEXUALITY IN AUSTRALIA

Published by: Markus
Guam 02/12/2009 12:50 AM EST

Demonic posession is what it is. It will soon be revealed.

Published by: Eloise
Brisbane 02/11/2009 09:31 PM EST

Thank you so much Fr Kennedy for being a truly compassionate, wonderful man with a beautiful sense of Christ's teachings. As a former catholic I can honestly say that the Catholic church is more concerned about 'control', 'image' and 'dogma' than people thinking for themselves. My now (thankfully)ex mother in law not so long ago, when her local priest was being investigated for kiddie fiddling, stamped her foot on the floor like a brat having a tantrum whilst saying "Why won't these girls LEAVE THESE GOOD MEN ALONE AND STOP TEMPTING THEM!!". Priest in question in his 50s...the girl, 9. From that experience, and other vitriolic, uneducated, uninformed comments and fear based misinfomration rgarding other belief systems (it seems the Catholic church wants it's beliefs respected, however doesn't believe other beliefs should be afforded the same) lead me to renounce Catholicism for good. Don't pray for me...am not interested and am at peace with my decision. Have spent the last three years working in India, Chile, Argentina and Bangladesh and have seen on a daily basis the damage that Catholicism (and other western religion) has done in the name of 'God'.

Published by: Jay
USA 02/11/2009 11:26 AM EST

Umm.. vynette, have you actually read the New Testament? The New Testament is replete with passages in which Jesus claims to be God, or in which the Gospel authors attribute divinity to him. Not to mention that the Gospels which relate the Nativity indicate Mary's virginity. How did the Brisbane speaker get around this?

Published by: Theo
Columbus Ohio USA 02/11/2009 07:29 AM EST

To deny Christ Divinity and the Virgin Birth is to deny Jesus Christ person, mission, and message.
The only thing this wayward priest finds holy is "Breaking Rules".

Sad that he worships "Division" and not the Unity of Truth in Jesus Christ.
Pray pray often.
Forgive, forgive often.

Published by: Scott
Seoul 02/11/2009 12:33 AM EST

This sad situation is simply the results of pastoral neglect by this Bishop and previous Bishops.
They are reaping what they sewed since the 1960's.
Good luck your excellency! Enjoy the fruits of Vatican II.

Published by: Randy G
Pittsburgh PA 02/11/2009 12:08 AM EST

To Henry and Vynette,

It is terribly sad to me to see people who want to make their own versions of what the Church is all about post to a story so sad as this one about Father Kennedy. He has lost his way. You two above either have also done that or you never knew the way. Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and the Life and the gateway into Heaven. All those who acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior will reach heaven and that incredible and blissful eternal peace. All who Mock Him will be cast down and go so with a gnashing of teeth. You two need to take a chill pill and go find some sort of pseudo church to add your rantings to. You don't do Father Kennedy or his soul any good with your attacks on the Archbishop and the Truth. You just show that we are indeed in the end times and you two have been punked by Satan himself. Spiritual warfare does increase in visibiliity daily and you are on the wrong side of things. Our Blessed Mary will be the one to defeat Satan through her amazing humility (which he does not know how to imitate...he is too full of pride and self boasting and glee at his occasional turning of a Priest like Kennedy from the Truth to the lie). Shame on you two for trying to decieve anyone on these posts. Then again...you two don't have any shame. Sad indeed to read your lies.

Published by: Tom
USA 02/10/2009 11:25 PM EST

"Archbishop Bathersby’s letter notified Fr. Kennedy that he will be removed as parish administrator by Saturday, Feb. 21." Are you kidding me? Why not IMMEDIATELY? This man is not fit to be a priest in the Catholic Church, and it sounds like he hasn't been for quite awhile. This foot dragging by some in the Church is what often gives it a bad name. Did Christ give the moneychangers at the Temple several weeks to continue on before he kicked them out? During this delay in removing him, how many other souls has he been able to lead astray and perhaps away from salvation? This is not a light matter in the least!

Published by: gregg
chicago il 02/10/2009 10:37 PM EST

what do you expect from a Kennedy?

Published by: Joey
USA 02/10/2009 09:58 PM EST

A sad situation. I have follow the St. Mary;s story for a while and have come to the conclusion that this Archbishop needs to be removed from his office. He has been dickering around this priest and parish for way too long, but still doesn't have the courage to place them into schism/excommunicate and remove the priest. Or maybe the bishop is like so many here in the U.S. in that he sympathsizes and/or shares the opinions w/ St. Marys. I bet bet if this priest and parish had gone ultra-traditionalist (something like SSPX, Lefebvrist) the hammer would have already fallen.

Published by: MarkF
Falls Church, VA 02/10/2009 05:56 PM EST

Vynette,

Setting aside the theological question as to whether Jesus was divine, which is hard to get someone who doubts it to agree on, what is true is that Fr. Kennedy swore to teach that when he became a priest.

So even if you don't believe yourself in the divinity of Jesus, you would have to see that his employers, the Church, expect him to teach that as part of his ministry. It's part of the job.

This isn't a hard issue to understand. It's not about freedom of conscience. It's about someone's ability to perform his job as he promised he would.

Published by: Gordon Campbell
Canada 02/10/2009 05:12 PM EST

Don't let the door hit you in your rear end,"Father"Just one more deluded heretic in a series of thousands.The sin of pride is always the most deadly-just ask Adam.The god this man worships stares back at him in his bathroom mirror.

Published by: MarkF
Falls Church, VA 02/10/2009 04:53 PM EST

vynette,

That's a big myth you're spreading there, that it was only centuries later that people realized Jesus was divine.

Read John 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

To the Jews, "I am" = Yahweh, the Lord God.

St. Paul's letter to the Philipians, citing an even older Christian hymn that was written a mere ten to twenty years after Jesus, "..though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

Or St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, echoing the words in the book of Wisdom, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him, He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Or Titus, 2:13, "...awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus forgives sins, yet only God can forgive sins.

The divinity of Jesus is all through out the New Testament.

Published by: Maryanne
Pittsburgh, PA/USA 02/10/2009 04:26 PM EST

Fr. Kennedy needs our prayers. He is so deceived and causing others to be deceived. Look at how confused he is. He says "Jesus broke the rules...". Does he not realize that if he does not abide in Jesus and keep His commands, then he is not a Christian? There is no other way to believe in Christ but to follow His rules and commands. Let us also pray that AB Bathersby has the strength and courage to reprimand this priest so that the priest can be saved and that the lay faithful will not be misled.

Published by: Pavel
Washington DC USA 02/10/2009 04:17 PM EST

Vynette writes:

"These doctrines were not derived from the New Testament "

These doctrines are derived from the experiences of the apostles, which *pre-date* even the New Testament.

When you meet Christ in His glory and mercy you will know.

Published by: Tony Cooper
Greenock/Renfrewshire/ Scotland 02/10/2009 02:21 PM EST

This half-wit Kennedy should have been booted out long ago.

Published by: Kathleen
Bronx, NY, USA 02/10/2009 02:00 PM EST

Mr. Peter Kennedy has founded his own religion, perhaps in a "senior moment." That's fine; he just has to vacate the Catholic church and priestly housing, buy his own buildings, and settle down with the "few dozen parishioners" who have joined his new religion.

Published by: Sandra
Canada 02/10/2009 01:30 PM EST

If Fr. Kennedy has recently changed his views, I would suspect that a medical evaluation might be called for. Just a thought.

Published by: Dan Buckley
Brooklyn, NY/USA 02/10/2009 01:16 PM EST

The virgin birth was as difficult to imagine for the ancients as it is for us. This is where faith comes in. Somewhere the gift of faith that Fr. Kennedy once had has been lost. How sad.

Published by: Dr, Guy Di
Chicago, illinois 02/10/2009 12:54 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

Peter Kennedy rejects the divinity of Jesus, does not beleive in the Pope and wants to remain a Catholic priest. That seems a bit irrational and compares himself to Jesus breaking rules. Has a psychological evaluation be conducted of this individual?

Published by: Paul List
Hinesburg, VT USA 02/10/2009 12:35 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

I am always amazed that people who claim to believe in the God Who made the Universe from Nothing find it so difficult that He could also become a man without losing His divinity, and be born to virgin without destroying her virginity. Do they really think that He could make the entire Universe from Nothing but could not do this comparatively simple thing? Amazing! Perhaps the good father Kennedy might retrace his meandering steps over the last few years in an attempt to discover where his brains fell out. I suppose he must also reject the Eucharist as being the Real Body and Blood of Christ, Who is just a man as he sees it anyway, because this is not a ‘modern’ concept either and surely he is too smart to believe that…..I say let him leave the Church, (as he already has in being a heretic), and bring his merry band of fools with him He’s guilty of misleading them, but they’re just as guilty for being so blind: The blind leading the blind; They deserve each other. Father Kennedy should contact the Jehovah Witless’. He could write brilliant articles for their warped ‘Watch Tower’ propaganda, and being a disobedient priest would give him high credibility with them, as they always prefer the renegade idiot as their ‘prophet’. It’s time we stopped negotiating/pleading with people like Mr. Kennedy who love the attention of being disobedient. He is not a schismatic he’s a heretic so treat him like one, just give them all the ‘boot’ without a blink of the eye. NEXT!!!

Published by: Martha Dancy
Lakewood, CO USA 02/10/2009 10:53 AM EST

If a person does not believe in the teachings of the as stated in the creed, then he is not Catholic. That so called priest needs to convert or go to another church like Unity or Unitarian. He is not a christian because he does not believe in the divinity of Christ. A man like that causes a grave injustice to the Catholic faithful. He should have been dealt with long ago.Allowing a man like that to remain in the church even for a day, is a grave insult to the true believers.

Published by: Maryellen Ortiz
Marco Island, Fl. USA 02/10/2009 10:51 AM EST

How can a Catholic person, especially a priest, not believe in the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and the Virginity of Our Mother Mary?!! It's in the bible! Read it! May God knock Fr. Kennedy to the ground with His Light as He did to St. Paul and open his eyes, mind and heart. I will pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet for Father's conversion. May God bring GOOD out of EVIL in this case.
Blessings to all.

Published by: Glenda Coggins
Rep. of Trinidad & Tobago 02/10/2009 10:35 AM EST

Satan is truly busy and we have to really pray for Fr. Kennedy that his soul may not be lost

Published by: C. Robinson
Canada 02/10/2009 10:29 AM EST

Now I understand why the Blessed Virgin Mary is asking us to pray for the priests. She knows that if a priest does what Fr. Kennedy is doing, he will bring with him some people to eternal perdition, unless of course they will come back to the Church. It is indeed a sad day for all Catholics. Let us pray for all the priests as well as for all Catholics to be strong and steadfast in their faith.

Published by: Henry
Wisc., US 02/10/2009 10:11 AM EST

The Archbishop, like Nero, is fiddling around while Rome burns down. What part of the word "heresy" don't either of these men understand?

Published by: Mark F
Falls Church, VA 02/10/2009 10:11 AM EST

Fr. Kennedy seems to be characterizing the actions of the bishops there as being like an angry parent. But he is acting like a disobedient child. I've read a fair amount of his own words, and he seems to be just as fixed on rules as he claims the bishops are.

Think about it. It's often said that we become what we hate. Well, isn't Fr. Kennedy just as focused on rules and regulations as he claims the authorities are? He's become fixated on breaking them, when the message of Jesus is to transcend them.

And what exactly are his goals? If he wants a ministry to the poor, the Church is no obstacle. What exactly is it that he wants? Does he want total freedom of conscience? Well, that's an illusion, or worse, is slavery as St. Paul says in Galatians I believe. To be attached to your own self is not freedom but is slavery.

I am sad to say this but Fr. Kennedy is a very disingenuous man, in ways that he does not seem to see.

What Fr. Kennedy is preaching is the gospel of relativism, which always becomes its own form of totalitarianism. In Fr. Kennedy's new religion, would someone like me be allowed in? He is not set on breaking all the rules. He's disingenuous because he wants to set up his own rules, rules that would ban people who disagree with him.

There's too much here to go into, but let's all not rejoice in anyway over these events. A priest who has done a lot of good for the homeless has let his own personality get in the way of that good.

Published by: Mark F
Falls Church, VA 02/10/2009 09:55 AM EST

What a sad series of events this is.

And please, for those who are faithful to the Church, be faithful to the words of Jesus, and don't be happy about these events in any way. Use your heart and feel sorry for what's happened here.

I have a great deal of problem with what Fr. Kennedy has said, but lets just look at what he said about Jesus breaking all the rules. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. St. Paul also said the same thing.

But think about it a bit. If as Fr. Kennedy is saying that the rules of the Church are meaningless, then what harm can he do by following them out of a spirit of humility? Christianity is not about opposing the world, but of transcending it. This is why St. Paul tells us to respect those in authority (even if we think they are wrong) and to use whatever suffering of ours that comes out of it as a sacrifice bound up with the Cross.

St. Louis de Montfort built a shrine, a full scale version of the hill of Calvary, as a place of worship. His bishop didn't like it and ordered him to have it destroyed. St. Louis knew the bishop was wrong yet obeyed him. The physical act of constructing it gave the people grace, and the act of humble submission, made more hard by the order to destroy it being wrong, also gave them grace.

Fr. Kennedy and his parishioners could be gaining grace by submitting in humility to orders, even though they disagree with them.

Published by: vynette
Australia 02/10/2009 08:07 AM EST

Rate: Regular

According to an article in the Brisbane Courier Mail this morning - “Priest will defy Bishop” - Father Kennedy is reported to have denied the doctrines of the Divinity of Jesus and the Virgin Birth.

These doctrines were not derived from the New Testament but developed by the post-Apostolic Hellenist-Latin church fathers.

This fact was demonstrated over many years by a speaker in the Brisbane Public Forum, E.P. Wixted.

So it is no surprise to me that during his long career in Brisbane, Father Kennedy has come into contact with these facts and recognised that they cannot be gainsaid.

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