VATICAN | Silence of Vatican's doctrinal congregation notable under Francis
by Joshua J. McElwee Vatican Spanish Archbishop Luis Ladaria is prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Jesuit theologian is pictured at a 2015 Vatican press conference. (CNS/Paul Haring) ROME — Irish Redemptorist Fr. Tony Flannery has been prohibited from publicly celebrating Mass for nearly six years. The Vatican's doctrinal congregation suspended him from ministry in February 2012 after he refused to revise some views he had expressed in a religious magazine run by his order. In mid-January, Flannery turned 70. He announced he would violate his suspension for the first time in order to celebrate a public Mass of thanksgiving for those who had offered him support through the last few years. The priest, a popular writer, retreat giver and former pastor, gave the decision a lot of thought. He figured that once he violated his suspension, he could expect further penalties from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, perhaps even, at