Letters

Crisis of faith (letter)

Errol P. Duke

Contents - Nov 2004 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The challenge for Christianity today - Peter Westmore Ad limina: The Pope calls for strong leadership from New Zealand's Bishops - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World British Catholic writers call for a better Mass translation - AD2000 Report Orthodoxy: Anglican Synod 2004: Are liberal Anglicanism's days numbered? - Rev Nigel Zimmerman Deer Park: Transforming our secular culture: the role of women - Marcia Riordan Liturgy: Ad-libbing in the Mass: Does it really matter? - John Young Education: Where secular humanism is triumphing over the Gospel - Fr John Walter Morning Mass: Finding some 'head space': an alternative approach - David Birch Obituary: RIP Michael Davies - The passing of a true defender of the Faith - Michael Foley Letters: The Passion of the Christ (letter) - Arnold Jago Letters: Abortion issue (letter) - Greg Byrne Letters: Reporting abuses (letter) - E. Makaus Letters: Real Latin (letter) - Matt Bruekers Letters: Pastoral problems (letter) - Fr Frank Brennan SJ Letters: Crisis of faith (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: Young Catholics (letter) - Nola Viney Letters: State Aid (letter) - George Caruana JP Letters: Archbishop Mannix and State Aid (letter) - T.A. Rigg Letters: Extraordinary ministers of Communion (letter) - Leon Voesenek Letters: Unchanging Mass? (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Church teaching (letter) - Carmel Pittari Events: 4 Dec 2004 - International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (Victoria) Books: MARRIAGE UNDER FIRE, by James Dobson - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: From East to West You Gather a People, by Fr Russell Hardiman - Brian Peachey (reviewer) Books: More new titles from AD Books Reflection: Saint Francis and the universal call to holiness - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

Fr Frank Brennan SJ (The Australian, 27 August 2004) has got it wrong regarding the crisis of faith in Australia. Lack of religious practice by young Catholics is not because of a "rule book" emphasis, clerical celibacy or a failure to respect the primacy of conscience.

Rather, the youth exit comes from the absence of "black and white" in forming religious commitment. As my eldest sibling said to me many years ago, "When the Church really gets serious, then I will return. Until then, I'll do it my way."

Cardinal Pell is unpopular with some because he remains solid on Church teachings. He does not pander to society by softening the Church's position, but rather challenges it to change; he places a strong focus on revitalising the Church's priorities of regular sacramental participation; revisiting the prime purpose of a Catholic school education - turning out practising Catholics.

The Cardinal may not be liked by the luke-warm, but he has the courage to stand up against those who have forgotten the Holy Spirit's guarantee that the Church will not err in its teachings on faith and morals.

ERROL P. DUKE
Elizabeth East, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 17 No 10 (November 2004), p. 15