New documentary to delve into controversial views of former Limerick priest

A NEW documentary is set to delve into the life of Redemptorist priest Tony Flannery, former rector at Mount Saint Alphonsus in Limerick during the 90s.

The highly anticipated documentary, Misneach: Tony Flannery, is said to provide an intimate and eye-opening look into the life of a man who was suspended from public ministry by the Vatican in 2012 for his outspoken views on a range of controversial issues within the Catholic Church.

A well-known priest and missionary hailing from Attymon, County Galway, Fr Flannery has long been a vocal advocate for change within the Church.

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Ordained in 1974, he embarked on a spiritual journey that ultimately led him to express his support for women's ordination, optional clerical celibacy, same-sex relationships, and his liberal views on homosexuality.

The documentary sheds light on the momentous events that unfolded in Fr Flannery's life, beginning in 2012 when he was summoned to Rome by the Superior General of the Redemptorists. His writings in Reality magazine had caught the attention of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), resulting in a summons that would forever change the trajectory of his ministry.

Upon arrival in Rome, the priest was handed an unsigned piece of paper containing instructions from the CDF, effectively suspending him from public ministry. This marked the start of a lengthy process, culminating in a suspension that remains in effect today.

As a result of this suspension, Fr Flannery is prohibited from speaking within any Catholic Church property, a harsh reality for a man whose life has been devoted to the service of the Church.

Misneach - Scéal Tony Flannery

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One of the most poignant aspects of Fr Flannery's story is the mystery surrounding his accusers. To this day, he remains in the dark about the identity of those who brought complaints against him. Moreover, he has been given no opportunity to appeal the Vatican's decision.

Despite an offer to return to ministry in exchange for renouncing his beliefs and endorsing the Church's moral teachings and its stance on female ordination, Fr Flannery continues to refuse compromising his convictions.

This documentary, by Midas Productions, is set to premiere this Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.