Letters

Father Fessio (letter)

P.A. McKenna

Contents - Jun 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Corpus Christi: at the core of the Faith - Michael Gilchrist Liturgy: New English Missal: Archbishop Pell to chair international Vox Clara committee - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Neocatechumenal Way setting up its second Australian seminary - Richard Egan Sydney initiative to strengthen Catholic influence at university - Robert Haddad A post-1968 Catholic's view of R.E.: 'My generation was shortchanged' - Mark Power Moral leadership of American hierarchy under scrutiny at Rome meeting - Philip Lawler Following our baptismal calling takes courage - Chrism Mass homily - Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett How John Paul II's 'new springtime' came to an American parish - Elizabeth A. Wittman Pope John Paul II on Catholic Action (from Ecclesia in Oceania) - Pope John Paul II Letters: IVF expansion (letter) - Brian A. Coman Letters: Father Fessio (letter) - P.A. McKenna Letters: An exemplary priest (letter) - John Monaghan Letters: Heroic fantasy (letter) - Hal G.P. Colebatch Events: Talks on the Faith at Thomas More Centre - AD2000 Letters: Good example (letter) - Paul Foster Letters: Radio apostolate (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Inclusive language (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: Accuracy (letter) - Fr John Crothers PP Letters: Excellent edition (letter) - Anne Boyce Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Latin Course (letter) - Rev V.I. Falconer SJ Letters: (letter) Letters: Latin Masses in Victoria (letter) - William Campbell Books: 'Right And Reason: Ethics in theory and practice', by Fr Austin Fagothey SJ - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: 'Socrates Meets Jesus', by Peter Kreeft - Arthur N. Ballingall (reviewer) Books: The Travels of Friar Odoric, 14th Century journal of Blessed Odoric of Pordenone - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: A reason for mercy: healing post-abortion trauma - Anne R. Lastman

My nine years of Jesuit education was a solid foundation for vigorous tertiary and adult Catholic education. On this basis I comment on the restrictions placed upon the much-admired Fr Joseph Fessio SJ by his superior.

No matter how wonderful Fr Fessio's work may have been, no matter how imprudent the orders given by his superior, worldwide protests are unjustifiable. Fr Fessio's own response (May AD2000) was impeccable - a wonderful example of a good Jesuit showing great holiness. He could have disobeyed only if he had been instructed to do something sinful, e.g., perhaps to make a public statement supporting a heresy. But he was actually instructed to do a good act which needed doing. So he obeyed.

The "worldwide" protests remind one of Peter's protest in Matthew 16, verse 22 (note the proximity to the more-often-quoted verses 15 to 19). Our Lord's response to Peter's protest was "Go behind me Satan," etc (verse 23).

Indeed, God's purposes for Fr Fessio may be best suited by the current circumstances. Instead of protesting, let us pray for this saintly priest and for his superior.

P.A. McKENNA
Mount Waverley, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 5 (June 2002), p. 14