Letters

Ambassador (letter)

Tom King

Contents - Apr 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain!' - Peter Westmore Melbourne 'Sexuality Directives' put parents first - Anthony Cappello News: The Church Around the World Documents: John Paul II on the Catholic Faith in our region - Pope John Paul II Events: Carnivale Christi 2002 - Young Catholics restoring Sydney's Christian culture - Helen Ransom Adelaide Thomas More Centre address: The key elements of Catholic Action today - Archbishop Philip Wilson Melbourne TMC: The rights and responsibilities of laity in the Catholic Church - Archbishop Denis Hart The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars - Hal G.P. Colebatch A fresh way for children to learn the faith - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Anne Delsorte Australian version of Maltese Marian shrine of Ta' Pinu 'Victims of Abortion' founder appeals to Catholic priests - Anne Lastman Letters: Gem of a priest (letter) - Patrick Nathan Letters: Vocations (letter) - Erin Carli Letters: Ambassador (letter) - Tom King Letters: Reforming the reform (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Evangelisation (letter) - Mavis Power Letters: Telling the truth (letter) - Teresa Martin Letters: Vocations Pilgrimage (letter) - Martine Watkinson Letters: Harry Potter (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Bare churches (letter) - Ned Haliburton Letters: Croatian appeal (letter) - Fr Zeljko Rakosec SJ Letters: Mutilated hymns (letter) - Eric G. Miller Letters: Generous response (letter) - Grace O'Hara Letters: EWTN (letter) - J. Clarke Letters: Purgatory (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Books: 'The Church In The Dark Ages' by Henri Daniel-Rops - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: The Clash Of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion and Morality in Crisis - David R. Oakley (reviewer) Books: Bound To Forgive: The Pilgrimage to Reconciliation of a Beirut Hostage - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Engaged to be Married - A Giftbook for Engaged Couples - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: For Youth and the Poor - De La Salle Brothers in Australia, PNG and NZ 1906-2000 - Michael Bohan (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Father forgive them ...: Our Lord's example for Christian living - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

Thank God for the life and work of Fr Paul Stuart, Director of Vocations, Melbourne, and to AD2000 for publishing such a positive report (February).

How wonderfully refreshing was this effective disciple of Christ for those of us who languish for positives among the publications that dominate the profile of Australia's Catholic Church.

Just to have a Catholic priest prepared to present himself in clerical attire - as opposed to the great majority of our Queensland civilian-attired counterparts - was great to behold.

This relatively young ambassador of Our Lord is having the success others envy, because he has identified the folly of the "trendy revolutionaries".

How long is it since some of us were invited to attend Benediction or last heard a sermon where the positive attributes of priestly and religious life were advocated and encouraged?

It has been the failure of some local Church leaders to challenge the media and public misconceptions that most clergy and religious are sexual deviates and potential child abusers that has prompted many good and dedicated priests, nuns and brothers to opt for obscurity of dress and behaviour rather than being the visible disciples of Christ who once commanded community respect.

If the Church in Australia is not only to survive but to regain its lost perspective and very "relevance" it must foster and pray for the George Pells and Paul Stuarts who are such a credit and asset to Australia's Catholic Church.

TOM KING
Elanora, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 3 (April 2002), p. 13