After a long and drawn-out battle with the Catholic Church, Father Peter Kennedy has finally left St Mary’s Parish in South Brisbane to make a new start in the nearby Trades and Labor Council (TLC) building.
Father Kennedy had been under scrutiny from the church hierarchy since August 2008 for his unorthodox practices including allowing women to give sermons, not wearing vestments during communion and blessing same-sex couples.
He was officially ‘sacked’ from his position as administrator of St Mary’s South Brisbane in February but with strong support from his congregation, he held on and refused to move until now. Father Kennedy’s departure came after attempts at mediation with the Brisbane Arch Diocese failed.
A crowd of up to 1000 people gathered for Father Kennedy’s last service at St Mary’s on April 19, with most of them following him afterward as he walked 200 metres down the road to the TLC building, which he has playfully renamed the Totally Lapsed Catholics building.
St Mary’s priest-in-residence, Father Terry Fitzpatrick, is also making the move to the new location and says the atmosphere within the church community is positive.
‘There is a bit of a sense of sadness at having to let go of the building because you get quite attached to the place but there is also a feeling of moving on and letting go- an excitement of being free from the shackles of the institution,’ he said.
As the crowd arrived at the TLC building, they were sung-in by members of both the Union Choir and the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Choir, who have had a long standing relationship with St Mary’s and Father Kennedy.
Marina Aboody Thacker from the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Choir says that while the new administration of St Mary’s has tentatively said that the group can continue to use the church for their regular Tuesday rehearsals, they will be finding an alternative venue.
‘We are leaving in solidarity with Father Kennedy, it just wouldn’t feel right staying after everything that’s happened,’ she said.
The choir has been rehearsing at St Mary’s for the last 11 years and is just one of the many community and minority groups supported by Father Kennedy.
‘St Mary’s really believes in social justice and it gives the place a great feel,’ said Ms Aboody Thacker.
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