The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan, has been criticised for permitting a group that is openly critical of Pope Francis to speak in his diocese.
The team behind Catholic Unscripted, Gavin Ashenden, Katherine Bennett and Mark Lambert, are due to give “a weekend of talks, conversations, reflections, prayers and fellowship” in October at the diocese-owned Glencomeragh House in Co Waterford.
The group regularly criticises Pope Francis and recently claimed he has “deserted Jesus”. Concerns have also been raised over praise for far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Censured Redemptorist Fr Tony Flannery, who has been forbidden from using any Catholic premises in Ireland for the past 12 years, questioned how Bishop Cullinan’s invitation to the group conformed with his oath of allegiance to the Pope.
Referring to the group’s use of a Catholic premises and Bishop Cullinan’s willingness to be photographed with the group, Fr Flannery said, “Someone needs to challenge [Bishop] Cullinan and ask him how this sits with the promise he made when he became a bishop to be loyal to Pope Francis.”
Lamenting Catholic Unscripted’s “antagonism towards Francis”, he said he would be “very happy to accept an invitation to speak in a diocesan property in Waterford about the prophetic vision of Church of Pope Francis”.
He stressed that it was also “irresponsible” for the bishop to align himself with a group who had praised far-right activist Tommy Robinson as Ireland grappled with far-right agitators.
“Though consistently forbidden to speak in any Catholic premises” in Ireland, Fr Flannery said Bishop of Leeds Marcus Stock had “no problem” about him addressing the Root and Branch gathering at the diocesan-owned Hinsley Hall in Leeds recently.
Bishop Cullinan did not respond to a request for a comment.
