Peter Kennedy: The Man Who Threatened Rome

In February 2009 Father Peter Kennedy, of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in South Brisbane, was sacked by his Archbishop for contravening aspects of Catholic doctrine. This book is an assembly of voices. The introduction is by former Catholic priest and media commentator Paul Collins. Then there is a secular portrait of Kennedy as a man by journalist Martin Flanagan. Flanagan asks, not so much what has Kennedy done, but who is he? Freelance writer and author Michele Gierck stands with the congregation. Her book, 700 Days in El Salvador, is an account of the civil war there, which she saw from the inside. She stands inside the church now known as St Mary's-in-Exile and describes eleven of the parishioners as she sees them. Then follows a variety of viewpoints on Kennedy and the Church today, what he has done and what the Roman Catholic church has done in banning him from his church. The voices range from singer/songwriter Shane Howard to international theologian Hans Kung. The case against Kennedy is lucidly put by Catholic academic Neil Ormerod. The book ends with journalist Martin Flanagan meeting Kennedy for a second time. Who is this man who threatens Rome? Is Christianity, as Kennedy claims, dying in Australia?