Letters

St Vincent de Paul Society Redfern

Rocco Criscitelli

Contents - Aug 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: opportunity for bishops to take control - Michael Gilchrsit What the Church can teach the secular world - Archbishp Barry Hickey News: The Church Around the World Campus Life: Cardinal Pell's program for a Catholic culture at Sydney's universities - Stephen Lawrence International poll underlines growing secularist challenge - Michael Gilchrist Media: Our Lord's name: responding to media blasphemy - Andre Van Der Linden Feminist translation: Inclusive language and the Trinity: the latest from Brisbane - Michael Apthorp Benedict XVI's pontificate: the possibilities - Damian Thompson London's Balham parish, 'an icon of liturgical hope' - Joanna Bogle John Paul II: a Jewish appreciation Anglican update: an orthodox fight-back - Fr Christopher Seton Letters: Dissenter's manifesto (letter) - Imelda Aslett Letters: Origins of the Bible (letter) - George Simpson Letters: Lay-led liturgies (letters) - M.T. Kennedy Letters: An Islamic Holland? (letter) - Henk Verhoeven Letters: Sacrifice (letter) - M.A. Ross Letters: Abortion breast cancer link (letter) - Dr Tim Coyle Letters: Real Presence (letter) - John Schmid Letters: St Vincent de Paul Society Redfern - Rocco Criscitelli Letters: Small Catechisms available (letter) - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Stem cells (letter) - Brian Harris Letters: Government review of RE in State Schools (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Brisbane Archbishop bans weekday Latin Mass (letter) - Tom King Letters: The Mass (letter) Letters: Appreciation from Nepal (letter) Poetry: A Heavenly Surprise Books: More Catholic Than the Pope, by Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere - Fr Glen Tattersal FSSP (reviewer) Books: More Good Reading from AD Books Reflection: How we will overcome the shortage of priests - Fr John O'Neill PP

I am writing to express my concern at the current state of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Redfern. This branch - "Vinnies Retro" as it styles itself - has taken to decorating its premises with the images of Hindu gods.

Approaching them directly, I was informed that their action was in the interests of "tolerance".

Tolerance? What about the Bible's words, "I am the Lord your God ... You shall have no other gods before me" (Exod. 20:2-3)?

I hope I am not the only Catholic who finds this action scandalous, particularly on the part of a Catholic charity. Having lodged a complaint with their head office some weeks ago, I am alarmed by their inaction and find this departure from the St Vincent de Paul charism most disturbing.

Keep up the good work. AD2000 is a great publication.

ROCCO CRISCITELLI
Flemington, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 7 (August 2005), p. 16