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Recent Comments

1. 1. Concerns have not 'been heard' if the overwhelming response is not conveyed directly to the Pope;
   2. If the only - or even the most pressing - matter to be put to the CDF is that of Women Priests, then the ACBC has most certainly not 'got the gist' of the weight of concerns, from Toowoomba and from the rest of the Catholic world;
   3. The most pressing matters which concern me, and those with whom I have regular intercourse, relate to the right of local communities to discuss matters of concern to those communities; then to develop a series of propositions from those concerns; to be sent to District and National Conferences for further discussion and development; and then on to Rome as necessary. And then for those concerns to be taken seriously by the Roman authorities and responded to with appropriate respect, not as one would respond to ignorant rebels;
   4. If Archbishop Coleridge cannot see the concerns of the Catholic world in these terms, then I regret to say that he lacks the support of a very considerable portion of his, and the general Catholic, flock.
   I do not (and in this, I think I differ markedly from those in the ACBC who have been heard on these matters lately) deny those who disagree with me on these matters, the opportunity to present their case; all I ask is that the contrary point of view has the right to be presented.
   

   Posted By: Allen

2. I am glad the Australian bishops are respecting the voice of the people enough to 'action" this petition.
   I also beleive that this petition should be just the beginning of action for a more inclusive church.

   Posted By: Anne

3. May Rome be advised that the majority of Australian people are unhappy at the lack of a fair trial, and particularly the injustice done to Bishop Morris and the Toowoomba Diocese.

   Posted By: Fr Tyrone Deere

4. No one except Bp Morris and some Vatican officials know the whole truth. For any of us to make a full
   judgement about this matter you have to know that
   truth.

   Posted By: D.A. Davies.

5. The Toowoomba people have no jurisdiction according, to Fr Brian Lucas.
   But what about the 'sensus fidelium' that is legitimate Church teaching?

   Posted By: Rob

6. Why ask the CDF for a ruling on whether female ordination is infallible?
   Aren't the bishops around the world who are the guardians of the deposit of faith (with the Pope as first among equals)?

   Posted By: Bill Brady

7. Hopefully the petition addressed to the Pope and Bishops of Australia - so carefully drafted by Catholics for Renewal - will receive the same attention.
   The ad limina visit to Rome in October by our Bishops is a time to discuss issues that concern Australian Catholics and the spirit in which this has been presented is one of openness and honest dialogue.
   

   Posted By: Emmy Silvius

8. One can be excused for feeling a touch of cynicism.
   This whole saga highlights the powerlessness and subjection of those who make up the majority of the church.

   Posted By: Terry fitz

9. I've been chatting about this matter with St Pope Peter I's mother-in-law...

   Posted By: Kathleen

10. If a recognised and concerned group has sent a letter to parishioners through a parish office or priest, it is censorship to block it - especially when it is well known that most people would want this chance to make their support known.
    Good on Catholics for Renewal for taking this initiative.

    Posted By: Marjorie

11. Would the bishops please convey my question to the pope, which I guess most other Australian Catholics also want to know: What took you so long?

    Posted By: Peter G

12. The Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Bishops of Australia prepared by Catholics for Renewal is constructive, respectful and positive. It has my support. I have 'signed’ the letter and I urge all Catholics to do the same.
    We must stop the divisions in the Church that have resulted in 86% of Catholics in Australia no longer attending Mass on a regular basis. But they will come back if we move to a Christ-centred Church.

    Posted By: Garry Nolan

13. I notice the Catholics for Renewal are giving out extravagant 'facts' about the Catholic Church in Australia again.
    Claiming their educated body of catholics want to change the Church to their way, I suppose we need to put them into our petitions for conversion to Christ.
    I certainly don't want to be converted to their 'church'.

    Posted By: mary

14. Surely the People of God should be shown more respect.
    If the respectful Petition sent out by Catholics for Renewal is not acted on by our Bishops, then how can the ACBC show we, the Faithful, that they respect our sincere wishes and reasonable requests.
    I signed the Petition because I firmly agreed with the sentiments expressed.

    Posted By: Margaret m. Coffey

15. I welcome our Bishops decision to refer to Rome the issue of process in Bishop Morris's case.
    The Toowoomba petition and the Catholics for Renewal national petition have revealed the depths of hurt and disillusionment felt by many Catholics over Bp Morris's treatment. Having concluded that this case is between the Holy Father and the Bishop, then surely its a proper exercise of collegial responsibility to raise this matter directly with Pope Benedict at the ad limina rather than refer it to the Congregation for Bishops.
    The same principle applies to the initiative to refer the infallibility of the teaching on women’s ordination. Why not discuss this matter with the Pope directly? Both matters are of pastoral significance to the universal church, of which we are a part. Our Bishops have not indicated publicly whether they will raise the matter of clerical sexual abuse during the ad limina. This is an issue of enormous pastoral significance for the universal church. The handling of clerical abuse of young children in the Australian church has been woefully inadequate and is a source of shame for many Catholics. We need to put the victims of clerical abuse first in our pastoral response and address the underlying causes of such abuse if the Church is to recover its credibility as an authentic witness of our Lord to the world. The challenge for our Bishops is to ensure the ad limina is used to discuss this issue. Reform is urgently required.
    

    Posted By: frank burke

16. I fully support Archbishop Coleridge's stand, and I pray there are more bishops like him

    Posted By: LB

17. I thought that Ordinatio sacerdotalis gave ample clarification of the question being asked.
    
    

    Posted By: Peter in Canberra

18. I don't think we will ever resolve this impasse unless we have some common or shared understandings. Foremost, for me, is around the role of papal authority which we are told is to promote and preserve a sense of communio. In existential terms what does this mean?
    The people of the Toowoomba Diocese have demonstrated this and witnessed to a particular meaning of communio in the support they have given to Bishop Morris. It's a communio that has its lived expression in solidarity.
    Remember it was the lived demonstration of solidarity which caused the dissolution of the Communist Party in Poland.
    Surely our Bishops and our Pope see and know this!
    So what is the problem with listening to the voice of the local people, with taking their concerns, their insights seriously and listening with the ear of their hearts.
    You never know something new, that no one has yet imagined may be gifted to our Church from our loving God who is over all. In all and as St.Paul says, knows what we want and need before we even ask......
    Thank you to the Bishops of Australia who are supportive of representing Bishop Morris and the people of Toowoomba in papal dialogue.
    To those who are averse to this, I ask that you let go in trust, launch out into the deep... take a risk! We will never move forward otherwise.
    United with you all as we grow towards a deeper communio.
    
    
    
    
    

    Posted By: Patty Andrew

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