Felix Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Father Felix Cornelius Donnelly, QSM
, is a New Zealand
Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland
.
on 23 November 1929. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland
(1940–1946) and Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
(1947–1953). He was ordained a priest in 1954. He has an MA
from Auckland University and a Ph.D from the same institution. He was Director of Religious Education for the Auckland Diocese 1962-1971. As an academic, he was Director of the Department of Community Health and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science at the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
from 1972 until his retirement in 1994.
Donnelly has been a controversial commentator on issues in relation to sexuality. His views have often been seen to be in conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church but, although his ministry has at times been limited, Donnelly has always remained a priest of that church. He was the founder and long-term director of the Youthlink Family trust and for twenty years was a talk back host on Radio Pacific
. Donnelly has been a prolific writer of non-fiction and has written one novel
The Felix Donnelly College
is named after him
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
, is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland
The Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Auckland is one of the two original dioceses in New Zealand. Although formally a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Wellington, both were erected on 20 June 1848...
.
Biography
Donnelly was born in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
on 23 November 1929. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
(1940–1946) and Holy Cross College, Mosgiel
Holy Cross College (New Zealand)
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training of priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.-Establishment:...
(1947–1953). He was ordained a priest in 1954. He has an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Auckland University and a Ph.D from the same institution. He was Director of Religious Education for the Auckland Diocese 1962-1971. As an academic, he was Director of the Department of Community Health and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science at the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences was established in 1968 at its present site in Grafton, Auckland...
from 1972 until his retirement in 1994.
Donnelly has been a controversial commentator on issues in relation to sexuality. His views have often been seen to be in conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church but, although his ministry has at times been limited, Donnelly has always remained a priest of that church. He was the founder and long-term director of the Youthlink Family trust and for twenty years was a talk back host on Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
. Donnelly has been a prolific writer of non-fiction and has written one novel
The Felix Donnelly College
Felix Donnelly College
Felix Donnelly College is a state special school with six sites in the Auckland region of New Zealand. The school is named after Felix Donnelly, a Roman Catholic priest who gained notoriety in the 1970s for his outspoken views on the Church's stance on sexuality.A Ministry of Education commissioner...
is named after him
See also
- Roman Catholicism in New Zealand
- For some more biographical details: List of alumni of St Peter's College, Auckland