Priest ‘undermined’ faith

A senior Vatican-based cardinal has accused Fr Tony Flannery, the founder of the Association of Catholic Priests, of undermining the faith of Catholics.

Cardinal William Levada, a member of the powerful Vatican watchdog the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, also said priests risk spreading confusion if they preach their own views instead of Church teaching.

Cardinal Levada, 77, served as chief adviser to Pope Benedict XVI and was responsible for leading an investigation that led to Fr Flannery being suspended.