Priest defies the Vatican by celebrating Mass

Silenced priest Fr Tony Flannery defied Vatican orders yesterday by saying Mass for the first time in five years.

The respected priest was censured by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2012 for his liberal views on issues such as women priests, homosexuality, and contraception. This means he is “forbidden by Church authorities to minister publicly”.

Yesterday marked his first public mass in five years, and the ceremony was attended by hundreds of people.