IN DEFENCE OF FATHER HUGH KENNEDY, BELFAST
Father Hugh Kennedy - St Peter's Cathedral
The following letter arrived here by 1st class mail today and is being published as part of this blog's determination to seek the truth and give everyone the right of replay:
DEAR BISHOP,
PLEASE PUBLISH THIS ON YOUR BLOG IN DEFENCE OF FATHER KENNEDY. THE ATTACK ON HIM BY AN ANONYMOUS PRIEST WAS UNWARRANTED.
1. I AM A HUMBLE LAYMAN WORSHIPPING AT ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL.
2. FR KENNEDY IS NOT IN AN "OBVIOUS GAY RELATIONSHIP" WITH ANYONE.
3. FR KENNEDY IS A COMPASSIONATE, CARING AND HOLY PRIEST WHO HAS SHOWN GREAT KINDNESS TO ME AND TO MANY.
4. THE CATHEDRAL IS NOT A "DISASTER". IT IS WELL RUN, WITH GOOD LITURGY AND MUSIC - ALMOST UNIQUE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND. FR KENNEDY'S HOMILIES ARE INTERESTING AND INTELLIGENT, AND BRING PEOPLE TO GOD.
5. THE ANONYMOUS PRIEST SAYS HE IS NEW TO THE DIOCESE OF S & C - HOW HAS HE GATHERED THIS INFORMATION SO RAPIDLY?
6. FR KENNEDY IS NOT A SNOB. HE IS ABLE TO ASSOCIATE WITH A VERY WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE AND MINISTERS TO ALL EQUALLY.
7. HE IS WIDELY LOVED AND RESPECTED IN ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL AND PARISH. AS WITH ALL PRIESTS, HE HAS HIS DETRACTORS, BUT THEY ARE VASTLY OUTNUMBERED BY THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
8. HE HAS BEEN PUT THROUGH HELL THIS LAST TWO YEARS BY THE DIOCESE
AND HAS COURAGEOUSLY RETURNED TO HIS JOB OF MINISTRY AND TO DO HIS DUTY TO HIS PEOPLE. THIS OUGHT TO BE COMMENDED.
LASTLY, I WOULD EARNESTLY ASK YOU TO PUT THIS ON YOUR BLOG IF ONLY IN THE INTERESTS OF FAIRNESS AND BALANCE. I, LIKE THE PRIEST, WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, BUT WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IS SINCERE AND EARNEST, AND MAY I HOPE REPAIR SOME OF THE WOUNDS WHICH FATHER KENNEDY HAS ENDURED.
THANK YOU.