Obituary

Hasler, author and priest dies aged 43
FATHER August Bernhard Hasler. Swiss Catholic priest, theologian and author of the controversial book Wie der Papst unfehlbar wurde How the Pope became infallible, has died in Munich at the age of 43. He had been ill for some time.
In his book, which is based on nine, years' research in 38 European archives, Fr Hasler examined the background to the definition of the dogma of papal infallibility and concluded that the pressure put by Pope Pius IX on the fathers of the First Vatican Council to accept the dogma was so massive that they could not have been said to have voted for it out of their own free will.
The book has been condemned by L'Osservatore Romano as "unacademic". The German Bishops Conference called it "a rehash of old tales."
According to some reports, the Vatican asked the Bishop of St Gall (Hasler's local ordinary) for the Swiss author's forced laicization under a regulation in force in German speaking dioceses since 1971, according to which a priest can be laicized against his wishes for serious moral lapses or other weighty
Br Paul Griffin OFM CAP died at Crawley on July 31 last after a short illness, aged 70. Br Paul came to the Order in 1947, after service with the Royal Artillery, making his Final Profession in 1951. Most of his Religious life was spent at Pantasaph where he ran the farm for some twenty years. There and at Crawley he served the Community with great devotion.
Fr. Pat McCartney. 63, parish priest of St. Oswald's, Old Swan, Liverpool, died in the evening on 11th June 1980, while taking Holy Communion to the old people at
Rathbone Hospital. Patrick James McCartney was born in Liverpool on 4th April. 1917, and was educated at St. Francis de Sales School and St Edward's College before entering the Seminary at Upholiand to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in the Chapel at Upholland on 30th May, 1942. He served as a priest tn St Malachy's, Liverpool 81194219551, St. Oswald. Old Swan, 119551966): and St. Stephen's, Orford 1196619613). He returned in 1988 to St Oswald's, as perish priest. For many years he suffered from serious Illness but tried to continue his pastoral duties His body was received into St. Osweld's Church on June 16th, 1980, by Bishop Joseph Gray. Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool. The Requiem Mass was celebrated at 10.30 am on Tuesday, June 17th. at St. Oswald's Archbishop Derek Worlock was the principal celebrant.
Canon Danis Crowley died on June 28 aged 70. He was ordained in 1944 and was assistant priest at New Southgate for 20 'years. In 1964 he went as parish priest to Hackney arid in 1976 became chaplain at St. Vincent's Orthopaedic Home, Eastcote. He was a member of the Magic Circle.
reasons.
Hasler's book became the centre of controversy for another reason too: the foreword was written by Fr Hans Kling, the other controversial Swiss Catholic theologian, who is himself the author of a controversial book on papal infallibility. Kilng's foreword is believed to have weighed heavil) against him when Rome decided to withdraw his missio canonica or license to teach theology last December.
Shoitly before he died, Fr Hasler wrote an open letter to Pope John Paul II criticising the letter written by him in May to the German Bishops' Conference in which he confirmed the resolve of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to end "authoritatively and definitively" the current discussion on papal infallibility.
Hasler's letter to the Pope was signed jointly by the church historian Professor Georg Denzler, a laicized Catholic priest who edited a book on the papacy containing contributions from a large number of leading German speaking theologians and publicists, both Catholic a ad Protestant. Lalit Adolphus • Dom Cyril Wee,krill, OSB has died aged 67. He was ordained priest by Archbishop Mostyn in 1938 and in 1939 went to St Begh's Whitehaven. serving as a curate until 1950. From 1950-1955 he served on Belmont's parish of Mount Carmel, Redditch, but in September 1955 he was appointed bursar at Belmont, and in 1957 claustral prior. From 1969-1973 he was chaplain to St Joseph's Convent Kenilworth and returned to Belmont in 1974.
Dr John Flood, an eminent psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Priory Hospital, London, died on July 5, aged 56.
He had been associated with the hospital for over 26 years and had taken up the post of psychiatrist superintendent during his early thirties. As an active member of the Guild of Catholic Doctors he had maintained a particular interest in antkabortion issues. Doctor Flood served in the Royal Army Medical Corps after qualifying at University College. Dublin. After fl period with the York Clinic, Guy's Hospital. he joined the Priory where he helped form the original nursing home into the modem psychiatric hospital it Is today. Colleagues and friends described him as having an unflappable manner, and keen professional judgement which he was always reedy to make available to religious organisations. In the realm of sports. he had played rugby for the Lansdowne Club, Dublin, and as a talented golfer had captained the Irish Medical golfing Association end the Roehemplon Golf Club.
For many years he had courageously fought art Illness, and earlier this year had been stabbed by intruders in his own home shortly before his elder daughters wedding. He leaves a wife and six children.