Church Forbids Father Donnelly To Preach (Press, 13 May 1980)

On 13 May 1980, the Rev. Felix Donnelly, a prominent Auckland Roman Catholic priest known for his outspoken views on human sexuality, was prohibited by the church from preaching or hearing confessions. This decision, announced by the Bishop of Auckland, the Most Rev. J. Mackey, follows controversial statements made by Father Donnelly during a recent visit to Australia where he publicly expressed his inability to accept Catholic teachings on various moral issues, including homosexuality and masturbation. The revocation of Father Donnelly's teaching ministry culminates years of tension between him and the church regarding his views on these topics. Although Bishop Mackey had previously tolerated Father Donnelly's criticisms of church doctrine, he stated that the priest's recent outright rejection of established teachings necessitated the withdrawal of his teaching authority. This action restricts Father Donnelly's official duties to celebrating Mass and administering certain sacraments, as Bishop Mackey aimed to clarify that Father Donnelly's opinions do not reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Bishop Mackey acknowledged the complexities of human behaviour and the potential for even well-meaning individuals to err. He urged the congregation to pray for Father Donnelly, hoping for a return to alignment with church teachings. Despite the church’s sanctions, Father Donnelly has expressed his intention to maintain his beliefs, describing the church's decision as painful but not determining his work, which he believes continues to hold value outside formal church recognition. Father Donnelly attributed the church's decision largely to the content of his recently published book, "Candles in the Wind", which he claimed challenges the church's stance on sexual morality. This book has gained popularity in Australia, drawing attention to his views and placing pressure on the church to respond. Bishop Mackey had previously condemned the book for its implications regarding sexuality. While Father Donnelly is currently not considering resigning from the priesthood, he acknowledged that he has not been able to engage meaningfully with the church for many years. Since 1971, he has had no financial support from the church and has been largely excluded from its educational and public activities. In response to the situation, the Roman Catholic weekly "Zealandia" expressed sadness over the inevitability of the church's actions against Father Donnelly, noting that his pastoral concerns for individuals and understanding of their struggles remain significant, despite the censure. Earlier in the year, another publication, the New Zealand "Tablet," suggested Father Donnelly's resignation should be contemplated, or alternatively, recommended retreating to a contemplative life at a monastic setting.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand