Vatican silencing of dissent wrong

I was filled with great sadness when I heard of the Vatican’s silencing of more outstanding priests, Tony Flannery and Gerard Moloney, both members of the Redemptorist Order.

It represents yet another vain attempt by the present Pope and his entourage in the Vatican to hold back the tidal wave of dissent within the Catholic Church.

These priests obviously love the Church, as much as or more than Pope Benedict does, but see its future developing in a different direction than he does.

This Vatican stifling of legitimate dissent by abusing its canonical powers against its priests and bishops is not acceptable any longer and it’s time for us, the people of God, to demand that this silencing to be stopped once and for all.

It is also time for priests to express their solidarity with their silenced brothers and show some gesture of protest against their unjust treatment.

This a critical time for the future of the Catholic Church and the time for sitting on the clerical fence is over.

Brendan Butler

The Moorings

Malahide

Co. Dublin