Posted on 01/13/2009 6:50:29 AM PST by NYer
MAVERICK priest Father Peter Kennedy says he will lead a breakaway congregation if Brisbane's catholic Archbishop forces him to leave St Mary's Church.
There are fears that exclusion from the historic South Brisbane property will be the final act in a long-running dispute that has reached the Vatican. The dispute has attracted national and international attention because it represents the battle between conservative and less traditional forces within the Catholic Church.
There are more Roman Catholics in Australia than any other religious group. Each week, St Mary's attracts large congregations while many more orthodox Catholic parishes struggle to fill pews. In a rare and exclusive interview, Father Kennedy said he was determined to carry on. "The reality is that, if we are excluded from this church, the Trades and Labor Council have already offered us their place just down the road," he said. "I will continue. Our community will continue down there. We get 800 to 900 people coming every week. It's a vibrant, alive mass with people from all over the city."
St Mary's is known for its unconventional Catholic practices - allowing women to preach, blessing homosexual couples and recognising with ritual the traditional sovereignty of the indigenous people of the area. The latest round in the battle was sparked by a complaint direct to the Vatican in August from an aggrieved church-goer.
Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby accused the parish of operating outside the accepted practices of the Roman Catholic Church and encouraged Father Kennedy to fall in line or face closure. The parishioners responded to the accusations but - in a follow-up letter to Father Kennedy, dated December 22 - Archbishop Bathersby said: "St Mary's has not yet adequately given proof of its communion with the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Roman Catholic Church."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Jesus left the Church as it was with his apostles......he did not leave a Bible. Our faith is based on tradition and the Bible. Catholic tradition has been to have unmarried male priests. And for good reasons. What woman can take a vow like that and be married with children?
I am a woman and a Roman Catholic. I am humble, I do not need to be a priest. I have witnessed many women in my church who have coveted it. To me it is a sin.
The priest has made a vow of poverty.......he keeps his heart, mind and soul at the disposal of God. Married men are free to become Deacons and serve admirably. Women have taken rolls as nuns and risen to Sainthood.
I sense that you are not at peace, as you are openly stating that you disagree with your Church. I would counsel you to get a spiritual adviser and work through these issues you have with your Church. The fruits of the Holy Spirit include peace...God’s peace. It is worth seeking.
God bless you on your spiritual journey. It’s a long path to follow, but we have eternity in Heaven when we get to the end. I pray we will both be there one day.
I am late to the thread and simply fascinated by the discussion. I was ready to suggest the Episcopal church to Jilliane myself, but saw you two fine ladies had already proposed it as a better fit than the Catholic Church.
it is called the Tanach If you believe Jesus is the Word of G-d,
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
He created the Bible you for.
He preached from it.
better yet, I would suggest that she pray and convert more deeply into the Catholic faith.....leave it to me to be different.
But jilliane, here's where I am absolutely serious:
Your ideas have already been tried. They failed. I was there - I was a sixth-generation Episcopalian and in that church for 47 years - and I saw it happen. The fruits were sin, misery, the probable loss of souls to utter unbelief, and the destruction of a denomination.
You need to rethink this. Preferably with a spiritual director.
Episcopalians Ordain Lesbian Priest
I'd say it was just a coincidence, but this sort of nonsense has become so common in that church, it's an outrage-a-minute.
I totally agree with you about the Episcopal Church; every day brings a new outrage. I feel terrible for those whose Church left them behind.
Careful Jilliane, you are sounding like a bible protestant. The Church gave us the bible, yes...however in it (per St. Paul) says following the oral traditions. Not everything was written in the bible, and St. Paul (in his writings) referred to them.
The Council of Nicea was also infallible, and is where our Credo, er...sorry, the "profession of faith" originates (referring to Christ judging "the living and the dead.") As Catholics it is not an either/or thing, as I believe you know.
The priest in question here in the article is an obvious and blatant heretic, and Rome is dealing with him appropriately.
Yes, when Christ established the priesthood. It's all there, Jillian. Look it up.
No, you are doing what every Catholic should do. Pray for those who are questioning the Church's beliefs.
Through Mary, always through Mary. A very good (and young) priest told me this years ago, and it saved my soul.
That's the best advice anyone can give her right now.
I’m afraid you are the one who is wrong. Pax et Bonem.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: If they make a mistake, I dont want them punished with a baby.
Another protestant... *yawn*
And I will also pray for answer to my questions and for you.
There is a misunderstanding in what I wrote earlier about the bible. I was being sarcastic. You can be sure the LAST thing I am like is a bible protestant.
You are a very good Catholic and not just in words. It is obvious. You believe it, understand it deeply and can see the bigger picture and are not afraid of those who question something. I hope to cross paths with you on FR again sometime.
On another note, I just returned from a Republican caucus. The chair of the caucus invited me and it was the first thing like it I ever attended. It felt so good to be surrounded in a room with Republicans....lots of them. Especially after the experience of this thread today, it was comforting to listen to people I’m on the same page with...funny comments about Blagoiocrats challenging us in the next local elections (I’m in Illinois).
We’re not supposed to talk about politics, religion or money with people. I better start a money thread fast so I can break all the rules.
Goodnight and God bless.
And in all absolute seriousness, refusal to allow contraception would surely create more problems than it may solve if Catholic priests marry. It would cause a complete change and then the recognition of the church would be gone.
I already have that one. Thanks.
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