Letters

Leadership needed (letter)

Tom King

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

The death estimates of the Boxing Day tsunami are now at least 200,000. Without any intention of devaluing the sacrifice and sorrow compounded, I am compelled to reflect upon the equivalent loss of life that has occurred on our Australian doorstep, so to speak, without any interest being shown by the media or indeed, most of our Church fraternity.

Ambon is most appropriate, as the current toll from the tidal surge almost equates the number of Christians who have been slaughtered by Islamic extremists during the previous several years.

The death toll, that has the press and Church spokesmen approaching emotional collapse, equates to the number of potential Australians who are slaughtered each year with a Medicare Bonus provided by a benevolent administration.

During the 20th century, more Christians were murdered for the belief they refused to relinquish than in any previous century in world history.

The time for real leadership is now; but I very much doubt the residual capacity exists among the apologists who pervade so many of our faith and political institutions.

TOM KING
Elanora, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 2 (March 2005), p. 15