Letters

A must read for faithful Catholics

Frank Bellet

Contents - Dec 2006 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The first Christmas - Peter Westmore Benedict XVI challenges 'de-Christianisation' of society - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Sydney RCIA conference for 2007 on authentic formation of new Catholics - Paula Flynn 'Lost!' controversy: Archbishop Bathersby's reply - AD2000 Report Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: the Montessori method for RE - Anne Delsorte A 'best practice' guide to priestly vocations Modest dress: Suitable attire for Mass: the moral dimension - Bishop John W. Yanta Religious Life: Tyburn Sisters' communities spread around the world - Tess Livingstone 2006 National Church Life Survey: important questions overlooked - Michael Gilchrist Shrines: Marian Valley: Queensland's centre of pilgrimage - Peter Westmore Letters: Vatican guidelines on Holy Communion for politicians - Vincent Bemowski Letters: A must read for faithful Catholics - Frank Bellet Letters: Liberal Catholicism - Paula Gartland Letters: News from India - Fr Francis Pinto CSsR Letters: Church teaching - Mark Moriarty Letters: Infant Baptism Letters: Community? - Peter Gilet Letters: Christian differences - Alan Barron Letters: True Church - E. Makaus Letters: Linguistics - Matt Bruekers Letters: Liturgical language - Ted Hayhoe Letters: Why apologise? - Concerned Catholic Books: The Shroud Story, by Brendan Whiting - Peter Westmore (reviewer) Books: COME, LORD JESUS:Reflections on the Advent and Christmas Seasons, James Tolhurst - Michael Gilchrist Events: Advent and Christmas Ceremonies - Priestly Fraternity of St Peter Books: SACRED PLACES, PILGRIM WAYS: Catholic Pilgrimages in France and Belgium - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Jesus' law of love and the Ten Commandments - Fr Dennis Byrnes

Michael Gilchrist's book Lost!, which covers the sorry tale of a generation or more who have been lost to the faith in the Western world, which includes Australia, is a must read for those of us who look on our Catholic religion as a loving mother.

Those who show obedience to the Pope and the Magisterium would be upset to read some of the sad anecdotes, but heartened by the promising stories surrounding the initiatives of quality bishops and the consequences of producing properly trained young men in some of our seminaries where orthodoxy prevails.

We all have our own horror stories at the local level, but Michael Gilchrist, in his position as Editor of AD2000, is able to tap information from around Australia and beyond from reliable sources, indicating that the 'cancer', although not yet terminal, is further advanced than many of the faithful suspect.

I am both amazed and amused that some bishops could preside over falling numbers, both in congregations and seminaries, and be under the illusion that they are on track. Those who have cast aspersions on Michael's book could very well be saying, 'Do you believe me or your own eyes?'

Comparing their 'efforts' with those of a company executive, you would be justified in asking: 'If any managing director (bishop) who continually ignored his company's constitution (Magisterium), took little notice of his chairman (the Pope), whose managing style chased away most of his patrons (congregations), and found it difficult to attract any interested workers (seminarians), would anyone believe he should sit back with free board, telephone and car, overseas travel, great respect and a job for life?

FRANK BELLET
Petrie, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 11 (December 2006 - January 2007), p. 14