Letters

Visionary (letter)

Tom King

Contents - Dec 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Christmas 2002: the state of the Church - Peter Westmore New Vatican Instruction on priesthood: the challenge to be another Christ - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Education: Most teachers reject Church teaching: ACU professor - Michael Gilchrist Books: Biography of Archbishop Pell launched in Melbourne: author interviewed Thomas Groome: his influence on religious education continues - Eamonn Keane Brisbane Synod 2003: a leadership challenge - Peter D. Howard 'New' ecumenism fights secular culture: Protestant theologian Archbishop Chaput: what makes a good leader? - Archbishop Charles J. Chaput The sound of thunder and laughter: Hilaire Belloc re-considered -  A.G. Evans Letters: The Pell case (letter) - Alan A. Hoysted Letters: Clergy support (letter) - Peter R. McNamara Letters: Anti-Catholicism (letter) - Glenn Talaue Letters: Women's Commission (1) (letter) - Sr Breda O'Reilly Letters: Women's Commission (2) (letter) - Dr Myles M. Kehoe Letters: Bishops' initiative (letter) - Therese Vassarotti Letters: Bishop Power (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: St Maria Goretti (letter) - Anne Buchan Letters: 'Misandry' (letter) - Name and address supplied Letters: Forgiveness (letter) - John Schmid Letters: Visionary (letter) - Tom King Letters: Newman (letter) - Rev Julius C. Stonehouse Letters: Apologetics (letter) - Geoff Storey Poetry: The New Year - D.C. Craig Books: Bio-Engagement: Making a Christian Difference through Bioethics Today - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Eucharistic Devotion : renewing a timeless tradition / Heart of St Alphonsus - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Barb of Fire: Twenty Poems of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Beyond the Blue Glass: Catholic Essays on Faith and Culture, Aidan Nichols OP - Tracey Rowland (reviewer) Books: Top Ten AD2000 Books for 2002 Books: Ideal Christmas Gifts from AD Books Reflection: John Paul II on Christmas: 'the mystery of humanity redeemed by Christ' - Pope John Paul II

Just how profound and visionary was the intuition of B.A. Santamaria, when in 1988 he was motivated to commission the AD2000 concept.

The question is answered, if we but contemplate the concerted assault that is currently being sustained against the Church institution and, very particularly, the present and past priests, nuns and brothers.

Not only has no adequate "defence" been mounted on behalf of the vast majority of committed, decent and innocent clergy and religious, but no encouragement or "resource" has been made available to facilitate rebuttal of the malicious and organised assaults being co-ordinated against the substantially eroded Church body.

The absence of limiting statutes, such as have application in other countries and in certain States of the USA, should be exercising the minds and talents of the Australian Catholic hierarchy and lay legal fraternity.

For a society that claims to respect the rule of law and justice to tolerate the acceptance as "fact" allegations of criminal behaviour, that are retrospective for 30, 40 or even 60 years, is indictment, of itself, of the credibility or sincerity of the alleged victim. When the inducement of cash reward is added, then the motivation is highly suspect.

The Church in Australia is in crisis! Contemplate, for just a moment, the effect the on-going sensationalised media reports and vague allegations, directed towards the living or the dead (both are considered fair game), is having on young impressionable Catholic children, who are developing in trendy educational environments.

Then endeavour to justify the attitude of many of our Church leadership, who treat AD2000 as some subversive publication, to be banned from sale or distribution on church premises, and you may conclude, we, as a Church in crisis, are dividing our resources and giving comfort to the enemy. May we wake up before it is too late.

TOM KING
Elanora, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 11 (December 2002 - January 2003), p. 15