Fr. Tony continues to draw crowds

As we near the halfway mark of the Catholic Tipping Point Tour, Fr. Tony Flannery continues to draw crowds and inspire Catholics with his story. Syracuse reported that nearly 175 people filled the room to hear Fr. Flannery, having traveled Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton and Albany to the event hosted by the local CTA chapter.

In Cleveland, the press reported especially on his call to take a hard look at the limits the Vatican places on ministry "'Within 20 years in Ireland, there will be only a handful of priests left,' he said. 'Rigid adherence to the tradition of an exclusively male, celibate priesthood is bringing about a Eucharistic famine and causing the destruction of local faith communities. I see the tour of America as an opportunity to examine the essence of priesthood and to consider how it must be adapted and reformed.'"

After a stop in Detroit, Fr. Tony will head to Minneapolis. His stop in the Twin Cities was scheduled to be the only talk held on Catholic Church property and not surprisingly has attracted the interest of the Bishop. Mike, whose parish will host the event, met with the Bishop and says a productive conversation was had. "I pointed out that the very issues Flannery raises are those discussed by the bishops and Cardinals at the Synod on the Family last week: if these issues can be raised in the Vatican, they can be talked about in a small, little parish in south Minneapolis," he wrote in the parish bulletin.

Tony is blogging about his experience touring the U.S., check it out!