Letters

Orthodox young priest (letter)

John David

Contents - Mar 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pray for John Paul II ... - Peter Westmore Vocations: Australian diocesan seminary numbers continue to increase - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Cinema: Hollywood's Kinsey whitewash - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Moral divisions among the Christian Churches threaten ecumenism - Archbishop Barry Hickey Dissent: Notes from a theology unit at Australian Catholic University Church's future lies with orthodoxy, not dissent - Fr Paul Stuart Culture: Secularism, not religion, is threatened with extinction - David Quinn Events: Holy Week Celebrations - Classical Roman Rite A young Catholic's encounter with Latin at Chavagnes International College - Alexander Morrison Adult Education: Sydney Centre for Thomistic Studies continues a great teacher's legacy - Audrey English Letters: Priestly celibacy (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Overseas priests and racism - Fr Peter Joseph Letters: Reporting abuses is not spying (letter) - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Mangled hymns (letter) - Michael Apthorp Letters: Orthodox young priest (letter) - John David Letters: Abortion (letter) - Fr Austin Kenny CP Letters: Leadership needed (letter) - Tom King Letters: AIDS prevention (letter) - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Bible and Church (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Layman saint Bob Santamaria (letter) - J.W. McMahon Letters: Convert (letter) - Jeff Harvie Letters: Information sought on Kathleen Cecilia Butler (letter) - John G. Brown Letters: Latin Mass (letter) - Alan Freckelton Obituary: The passing of a holy, many-talented Jesuit - Fr Victor Ian Falconer SJ - Michael O'Callaghan Books: DOLLFUSS: An Austrian Patriot, by Fr Johannes Messner - Alice von Hildebrand Books: THE CASTLE OF HEAVENLY BLISS - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Books to read in 2005 Reflection: The Holy Trinity and the Church: the truth will set you free - Fr John O'Neill

Recently, I attended a Day of Recollection at my Parish church of St Bernadette's, Carlton, NSW, given by Fr Peter Joseph of Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine fame. I had the privilege of serving both Mass and Benediction for Fr Joseph.

I was astounded, not only that so eminent a priest was so young, but that such a young priest was actually orthodox. During the past forty years, most of the younger priests I have met have been of a trendy persuasion, trained to be innovative in the liturgy, and a little suspect in their theology.

Fr Joseph was a breath of fresh air, and left me feeling more optimistic about the future of the Church in this country.

It was no surprise to discover that he comes from Wagga Wagga.

I have just finished reading the article in this month's AD2000 by Sr Mary Augustine OP. This nun has succeeded in pin-pointing, very succinctly and with perfect logic, the origins of all the problems the Church in Australia has faced during the past forty years, and in my opinion her reasoning defies argument.

This is perhaps the best article I have read yet on this issue, and again, I was not surprised to read that she, too, is from Wagga Wagga.

I pray that we may soon have many more like Sr Mary Augustine and her companions in Ganmain, and many more young priests like Fr Joseph.

JOHN DAVIS
Kogarah NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 2 (March 2005), p. 14