Madam, – The Irish right-wing Catholic and special adviser to the Latin Mass Society of Ireland, Kieron Wood (September 9th) is not only guilty of engaging in a totally discrediting argumentum ad hominem with regards Fr Ted Flanagan and myself, but is also guilty of an unworthy attempt at misinformation.
Fr Flanagan, who is indeed one of my priests, was ordained on June 19th 1960 at Maynooth by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid for the Diocese of Clogher.
Fr Flanagan remains a priest “in good standing” as he has never been disciplined, suspended or excommunicated and is a lifelong friend of Clogher’s Bishop Joseph Duffy, who has entertained Ted and his wife Kate over the years at his palace in Monaghan. Fr Flanagan has also, in recent times, concelebrated Mass at Maynooth with his 1960 classmates Bishop Colm O’Reilly of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise and Bishop Francis Lagan of Derry.
As I was out of the country I had no input into Fr Flanagan’s recent letter to The Irish Times in support of civil partnerships. My homosexuality, which I have publicly acknowledged for 10 years, is irrelevant, except to homophobes, and is no reflection on Fr Flanagan who is robustly heterosexual and the father of five wonderful children.
However, I do think that Mr Wood’s position in the Latin Mass Society of Ireland and the fact that he serves Mass for Fr David O’Hanlon, whose right-wing views have been rejected by Bishop Michael Smith of Meath, the Vatican and Father O’Hanlon’s own priest-uncle are highly relevant. – Yours, etc,