Heresy hearing for priest who questions Christ's divinity

An Irish priest who said Christ was neither a saviour nor divine was today hauled before senior churchmen and accused of heresy.

For the first time in over a century the Church of Ireland Court of the General Synod sat to hear a heresy case against the Dean of Clonmacnoise, the Very Rev Andrew Furlong.

But the public hearing, at Church of Ireland House in Dublin, was adjourned at the request of Dean Furlong who said he needed more time to prepare his case.

The Dean, who is also rector of Trim and Athboy in Co Meath, provoked outrage and amazement last year when he published an article entitled A Faith Fundamentally Flawed on his personal website.

He wrote: ‘‘With the deepest respect for others and their beliefs, to my mind, Jesus, and John the Baptist also, were mistaken and misguided ’end-time’ prophets.

‘‘Jesus was neither a mediator nor a saviour, neither super-human nor divine; we need to leave him to his place in history and move on.’’

After his comments, backed up by interviews in which the Dean said he had held his views for 30 years, he had his episcopal authority withdrawn.

Last month he declined an invitation by the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke, to resign.

Accusing Dean Furlong of publishing beliefs contrary to the doctrines of the Church of Ireland, the Bishop petitioned the Court of the General Synod the supreme and final court of the Church.

But today’s hearing, before three House of Bishops judges and four lay-judges, was adjourned when the Dean’s lawyer, Joe Revington, said more time was needed to prepare the case.

He said the Dean had dedicated his life to the Church of Ireland and now his good name and livelihood were under threat.

Mr Revington said he also objected to the court’s rules allowing no more than two witnesses to be called.

The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, who is also Chairman of the Court, agreed ‘‘with great reluctance’’ to adjourn the proceedings until May 10.

If the court finds against Dean Furlong, it could suspend him, sack him or defrock him.