Vatican ‘not totalitarian state’: ACP

The Association of Catholic Priests has said the Vatican should remember that “it is not a totalitarian state dealing with dissidents” but a Church that needs to re-find its way.

Fr Brendan Hoban’s comments come after it emerged that all copies of a theology book written by a leading Marist, 84-year-old Fr Sean Fagan, were bought up by his religious order after an anonymous complaint was made to Rome.

Fr Fagan, who is now partially blind and seriously ill, was also told two years ago not to write or deal with the media anymore or else he would be defrocked. He had advocated ordaining women and married men.