Felix Donnelly

Father Felix Cornelius Donnelly, ONZM (born 23 November 1929), is a New Zealand Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland. He is well known as a social activist, writer, academic and radio talkback host.

Donnelly was born in Christchurch, the son of a journalist. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1940–1946). He has an MA from Auckland University and a Ph.D (1977) from the same institution.

Donnelly studied for the Catholic priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel (1947–1953). He was ordained a priest for the Auckland Catholic Diocese by Archbishop Liston on 19 July 1953. He was Director of Religious Education for the Auckland Diocese 1962-1971.

As an academic, Donnelly 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 human 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 the church. He was the founder and long-term director of the Youthlink Family Trust. In 1970 Donnelly was instrumental in founding Youthline, a telephone counselling helpline service for youth, run by youth, which still continues. He also established the Youthline Hostel as a home for troubled youth in Auckland in 1971. For twenty years Donnelly was a talk back host on Radio Pacific. Donnelly has been a prolific writer of non-fiction and has written one novel. Felix Donnelly College was named after him.

In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Donnelly was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the welfare of youth.