Letters

South Brisbane parish

Frank Bellet

Contents - Feb 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: 'Reform of the reform' on track - Michael Gilchrist The Statement of Conclusions: any signs of progress after ten years? - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Culture of death: US bishops confront Barack Obama's sweeping abortion agenda - Paul Kengor Vibrant retreat: Young adult ministry builds on WYD: iWitness Conference in Sydney - Br Barry Coldrey Christian-Muslim dialogue: glimmerings of hope - Babette Francis Melbourne's 'timely' new pregnancy assistance centre Foundations of Faith: Protestant Reformation: origins and beliefs - Frank Mobbs Flying into the Wind for the new evangelisation - Fr John Fowles CCS & Fr Joel Wallace CCS Fundamental flaws in Bishop Robinson's book - Andrew Kania Letters: Clarification on new Missal translation - final text has been approved - Archbishop Denis Hart Letters: South Brisbane parish - Frank Bellet Letters: Christ's divinity - Tom O'Keefe Letters: Inclusive language - Eamonn Keane Letters: Jewish conversions - Andrew Sholl Letters: Teilhard - Grahame Fallon Letters: Thanks from India - Fr S. John Joseph Books: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Pope Benedict XVI - Siobhan Reeves (reviewer) Poetry: Renée - Will Elsin Books: Books available now from AD2000 Books Reflection: Pope St Gregory the Great's advice to bishops and priests - Pope St Gregory the Great

A recent newspaper article from the pen of Brisbane religious writer, Alison Cotes, critical of the stance taken by both the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Brisbane, in the debate surrounding St Mary's in South Brisbane, was neither constructive nor helpful.

Alison Cotes draws a very long bow when she thinks she can know the mind of Jesus Christ. She writes about Christ eating with 'sinners', as if he were one of the boys. She conveniently neglects to add that he didn't tell them to keep up their behaviour, but rather 'to sin no more'.

The Church can't fix everything, but, where possible, the nominated disadvantaged groups she cites at St Mary's have always been looked after by sections of the Church. Has she ever heard of the St Vincent de Paul Society? I spent 20 years with the organisation, which never sought recognition or publicity for its charitable work.

Also St Mary's is not the property of the incumbents, just as a local car firm is not the property of those employed in sales. Could you imagine staff members telling the boss they'll wear T-shirts and thongs to work and will make up their own rules and policy in selling the boss's cars and that they'll include the logo of another car franchise in the foyer? Another thing, you don't set your own rules at the local golf club.

The Catholic Church has never claimed to be a democratic organisation. It is democratic, in the sense that you can leave at any time, as the Prime Minister did, or if you have the cash for a building and a following of sorts, then you can set up your own Church and do what you like.

FRANK BELLET
Petrie, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 1 (February 2009), p. 15