Indeed, the institution Archbishop Okolo represents displays a breathtaking disrespect for human rights, trampling on them and believing it has the right to do so with impunity, even going so far as to threaten the victims of such gross violation of human rights that if they tell anybody about it, the punishment will be even greater.

Such was the situation of Fr Seán Fagan, a Marist priest who died in 2016.

Over his 60-year priestly ministry, Fr Seán Fagan's service to all God's holy people earned him the lifelong gratitude of those he helped.

Fr Fagan was a priest committed to the service of those he called "God's holy people".

Ambition-fuelled advancement within the church - careerism - was never his driving force - his whole focus was on mediating the prodigal love of God to all comers.

Over his 60-year priestly ministry, this service to all God's holy people earned him the life-long gratitude of those he helped, but also a fat file in the Vatican's doctrinal department, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).

Fr Fagan never knew for sure who kept the CDF supplied with copies of his writings, comments, details of broadcasts, etc, from Ireland. But whoever they were, they were assiduous in keeping Rome appraised of the pastoral efforts of this Irish priest and not for any positive, affirming reasons.

Transgression

This exercise in spying and reporting went on for many years until 2008, when the CDF lost all reason and pursued Fr Fagan with a determination that trampled all over his natural and objective rights.

His transgression? In a letter to the editor of this paper, he tangentially touched upon the matter of women's ordination as one of several solutions to the shortage of priests.

But this was only one transgression in Fr Fagan's list of "sins".

He believed in the full acceptance of LGBT people, sacraments for married couples in second relationships, the right of couples to decide on the most helpful form of birth control, the full participation of women in church life and continual ecumenical dialogue.

As it is unlikely the prefect of the CDF was reading The Irish Times, the Irish spy was very active and attentive in supplying copies of Fr Fagan's work.

But Fr Fagan was a bigger and better man.

He refused to be browbeaten.

For him, consistent with the church tradition, conscience reigned supreme.

A formed and informed conscience was the continuing work of a mature adult, not the infantile uncritical appropriation of what the "pope says" or "the church says".

Conscience

He refused to write to The Irish Times and withdraw his comment, as the CDF directed, because, in conscience, he could not.

For his fidelity to conscience, he was coerced into silence for the remainder of his life with the threat of dismissal from both priesthood and his congregation if anyone found out, even without his co-operation. Continue reading

• Angela Hanley is an author of What Happened to Fr Seán Fagan? Published by Columba Books

Quinn says the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) need to ask themselves what if they cannot influence the Vatican over women priests, artificial contraception or in a more general context to change their teachings on sexuality.

He warns it is important for the clergy to keep their eye on the end game.

Will the church go into schism, or will it be the clergy accept it is the Church's right to teach, Quinn asks.

"In the end, this is a debate about authority. Does the church have the authority to teach that certain things are true, or not?"

"Unless and until the ACP sets out exactly how it views the teaching authority of the church it belongs to, then we can't know when the ACP believes a particular teaching is subject to change, and why."

"Until it clarifies this, then ordinary Catholics could be forgiven for thinking the ACP believes most teachings are up for grabs and in that case it will sow endless confusion and dissension because it will encourage Catholics to believe - erroneously - that very few teachings are ever settled doctrine."

Quinn observes the silence of the Irish hierarchy is deafening.

"It has said nothing about the decision by the Vatican to stop Fr Tony Flannery writing in 'Reality', the Redemptorist magazine. It has said nothing about the decision by the Vatican to discipline moral theologian Fr Sean Fagan."

While Quinn suggests the bishops silence may be them being prudent; it could be said the Vatican should not have disciplined either of these priests.

Quinn says a case could also be made to suggest the Irish bishops should perhaps have been more involved and prevented these situations from rising to level where the Vatican felt compelled to act.

Quinn is of the view the ACP needs to give some answers at next month's assembly at which they will discuss the future of the Church in Ireland.

Sources

• Independent