Fr Peter Kennedy

Presenter/Workshop Leader

Fr Peter Kennedy Fr Peter Kennedy is the spiritual leader of the St Mary's in Exile community in Brisbane. A Catholic priest of more than 45 years standing, his presentation at the Common Dreams conference is entitled: 'St Mary's in exile: A progressive community'.

Presentation

ST MARY'S IN EXILE: A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY

The following is taken from the official web site of St Mary's South Brisbane: We affirm that we are a faith community of many ministers and ministries which includes recognition of ordained ministry as one who enables the ministry of others to flourish within the structures of this Archdiocese and the wider community. We affirm that ministry is shared through the energy, initiative, skills, gifts and faith of many individuals who worship together in this community. The designated priest is responsible for presiding at liturgies and has pastoral oversight within the community. The priest is a facilitator of the spiritual and prophetic ministry of the community. We affirm a Community council, which will provide collaboration and consultation for all members of St. Mary's through forums, hearing days, gathering days, open days and special task/projects etc. We are committed to clear communication and will endeavour to establish processes which ensure this. We affirm St. Mary's House as a collective resource that we share with each other, our local wider community, marginalised individuals and groups such as Micah Inc., Connections, Cluster groups, Men's group, Singles' group, Gay and Lesbian Network, etc. Finance, Music and liturgy and Children's Liturgy. We affirm Micah Inc is a social justice ministry of St. Mary's Community. We employ workers through fair and non-discriminatory employment practises.

About Father Peter Kennedy

Fr Peter Kennedy is a Catholic priest of more than 45 years service. Due to holding a theology and an undestanding of church considered to be outside that permitted by the Roman Catholic Church, and after he was reported to Rome by right-wing conservatives, he was sacked by Archbishop John Bathersby and banned from practising anywhere in the world. A penalty harsher than any imposed in Brisbane on priests convicted of pedophilia.

However, he and most of his former congregation moved down the road to the Trades and Labour Council building, to become St Mary's-in-Exile. Peter has described the decrees as "warning shots" that would ultimately lead to his excommunication.