The Life Of Felix Donnelly (Press, 28 August 1982)

Father Felix Donnelly's autobiography, "One Priest’s Life," published in 1982, confronts the complexities of his journey within the Catholic Church. In the preface, Donnelly questions the potential pretentiousness of autobiographical writing, acknowledging that his prominence in the media may lead some to view his reflections as self-justifying or overly critical. However, Des Casey, the reviewer, argues that Donnelly's honesty about his fears, ideals, and failures invites diverse reactions from readers. Central to Donnelly's narrative is the pivotal moment of 1980, when he faced public censure from the Catholic Church for his views on sexuality, a stance he could not retract. The book provides an introspective examination of his family's influence, his experiences with a medieval education system, and his friendships, weaving together personal struggle with his professional life as an educator, youth advisor, counsellor, author, and sexologist. While presenting his life journey, Donnelly occasionally exhibits a defensive tone, striving to justify his actions and beliefs. This defensiveness is viewed by the reviewer as unnecessary since many admire his integrity. Nonetheless, Donnelly's struggles with authority and the rigidities of church doctrine may resonate with readers. Casey highlights the limitation in Donnelly's portrayal of others, particularly his successor as chaplain to a significant Auckland student movement. Donnelly's failure to adequately recognise the sincere efforts of his successor suggests a reluctance to acknowledge differing perspectives within the Church. In summary, "One Priest’s Life" is a candid exploration of the trials and tribulations faced by Felix Donnelly as a priest. It provides insights into the broader struggles within the Church and the steadfastness of many Christians, even as it occasionally lapses into defensiveness regarding his own experiences. The book offers a rich tapestry of Donnelly's life, encouraging readers to reflect on their responses to his narrative.

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