Dear Editor, I write in response to Fr Gabriel Daly’s letter published in The Irish Catholic (12/12/2013), where he criticised how Cardinal William Levada described Fr Tony Flannery’s views as heretical, and came heavily down upon what he saw as the aggressive imposition of conservative Catholics’ views upon liberal Catholics.
I have no doubt that Fr Flannery possesses many excellent qualities, that he has done good work as a priest, and that he is a compassionate and well-intentioned man. However, the origin of the priesthood in Jesus is indelibly connected to the reality of his true presence in the Eucharist: denying one essentially means denying the other, and Cardinal Levada’s reference to such views as heretical is actually not as unwarranted as Fr Daly claimed. It was not an affront to the good work Fr Flannery has done or an affront to his character. There are simply boundaries in relation to permitted variance in beliefs among Catholics, and this is one of them.
All Catholics deserve to be told when certain viewpoints are at serious variance with the Catholic faith. Moreover, should I express anything heretical in my lifetime, I would want to be told, however painful it would be to hear. This would be of particular importance if I were widely promulgating such views, because not only could my own faith be seriously affected, but also the faith of many others. It boils down to one word: accountability.
In essence, I expect accountability from those vested with authority to proclaim on matters of Church teaching. I should be able to trust that what they say is solid, and I should not have to listen with caution. Furthermore, encouraging Catholics to always view Church authorities as narrow-minded, unyielding and authoritarian is not helpful to anyone. I know without a doubt that I cannot progress towards holiness on my own: I need the help Christ gives me through his Church.
Yours etc.,
Róisín O’Rourke,
Leitrim Village,
Co. Leitrim.