The Boston Globe Magazine had an unusually even-handed profile of a former IRA terrorist who is studying for the priesthood in Ireland.
Shane Paul O’Doherty is not perfect. He is a pacifist and rejects the Church’s teaching on just war, but I suppose that is to be expected from a man who completely rejected his violent and murderous past while spending 14-1/2 years in an English prison. He was married for a time, but had it annulled when his American wife wanted to move back to the US and he couldn’t follow because the US wouldn’t give a former terrorist a visa. He apparently also has some liberal tendencies on things like homosexuality, although it’s never made real clear how exactly he stands on the issue.
What’s interesting is that while canon law forbids anyone who has killed a priest or tried to kill one from being ordained, such that only the pope can dispense one from this law, O’Doherty has apparently received this dispensation. (O’Doherty once sent a letter-bomb to the bishop who was the head Catholic chaplain to the British army; it didn’t explode.)
I see the grounds for annulment of marriages continues to expand:
“He was married for a time, but had it annulled when his American wife wanted to move back to the US and he couldn:21:07
Hey … what do you think is? Massachusetts?
“…Ot_date_gmt>2005-08-08 20:54:40
“Daly assured the Vatican in general and Pope John Paul II in particular that O’Doherty had the potential to become a good priest. With Daly behind him and with the sponsorship of Diarmuid Martin, the archbishop of Dublin, O’Doherty was accepted at St. Patrick’s College.”
Daly assured…Daly behind, Martin sponsored, O’Doherty was accepted. He could very well have been accepted with conditions.
Again, after reading this, I find the wording evasive. I am certainly not judging. It seems to me to be a “Let’s give him a couple of years to prove himself sort of a deal.” Just my humble gut-feeling and not an opinion on O’Doherty. I certainly hope he does become a good priest!!!
On the other hand, what about an Irish priest (living in America) who becomes a terrorist?
That would be in my blog.
A man who thinks so little of his religion that he tried to murder a bishop, who was married, and strangely anulled, who supports dissident positions…oh boy, just the spiritual leader I’ve been waiting for.
I don’t have a problem with forgiving the guy, but not everyone is qualified to become a priest.
At least he likes girls.