Complaints from annoyed parishioners about a priest's "brand" of religion have forced the Catholic church to move on a recent appointee from northern Tasmania.
Father Nicholas Rynne, ordained in 2013 and formerly based in Sydney, ceased working in Tasmania's Meander Valley Parish after "recent disturbances" and a subsequent investigation, the Archdiocese of Hobart announced on Wednesday.
"We pray that a process of healing and restoration of unity may be achieved in the parish and among all affected," Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous said in a statement, noting there was no allegation of sexual abuse among the complaints.
The archdiocese launched an investigation headed by retired Melbourne Bishop Peter Elliot, who last week interviewed 86 people in the community.
The parish takes in the centres of Westbury and Deloraine, west of Launceston.
"In the light of Bishop Elliot's recommendations and following discussion with diocesan consultors and the council of priests, Fr Nicholas Rynne has ceased his role," Archbishop Porteous said, noting the father is taking leave.
In a publicly-available letter addressed to Fr Rynne, Maureen Bennett wrote that she and fellow parishioners felt hostility towards the priest.
"If people other than our Archbishop do not agree with your brand of religion you should expect it and stop putting forward a sob story about how badly done by you are," she penned.
"You accused us of being apostates when it is you who is setting up a sect within our religion and trying to indoctrinate everyone that yours is the only true religion."
She slammed as "ridiculous" his decision to wear a cassock and collar and hit out at the priest's attitude towards women on the altar.
"We have no love for clerical dress and have embraced those priests and nuns who have shown us that by dressing in the same way as the rest of us they are human beings," the letter continued.
Her criticism was broad.
"Your attitude to women on the altar, depriving of us of positions we have humbly held in the past and the jerky manner in which you now turn to the people and the way you pray the consecration are all very annoying," she said.
The controversial priest had also introduced a Latin mass to the Westbury church in addition to the standard mass.
