Tony Flannery

Who is Tony Flannery?

Tony Flannery is a religious writer. A Redemptorist, Flannery is a native of Attymon, Athenry in County Galway, Ireland. Flannery is the founder of the Irish Association of Catholic Priests. For 14 years, he has been writing a monthly article for Reality Magazine published by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the Redemptorists, and has contributed to many other publications.

Flannery was suspended by the Vatican in 2012. He said he was told by the Vatican that he would be allowed to return to ministry only if he agreed to write, sign and publish a statement agreeing, among other things, that women should never be ordained as priests and that he would adhere to church orthodoxy on matters like contraception and homosexuality. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith pointed out that Flannery's views could be construed as "heresy" under church law, and threatened "canonical penalties," including excommunication, if he did not change his views.