For only the second time in my sixty-one years, I'm embarrassed to call myself a Catholic.
The first time followed an incident in March 1970 in Fire Support Base Anne in Phuoc Tuy province in South Vietnam.
The second time is in the context of the dismissal of Fr Peter Kennedy from St Mary's Parish in South Brisbane.
Back in 1970, my platoon took a break from patrolling to rest up for a day or two in the fire support base, about halfway through operation Concrete 1.
The catholic padre (Keith Teefey – a great priest) was there, and let it be known that he would conduct a service – ecumenical of course – in which he would distribute communion. He also said that everyone – irrespective of denomination – was welcome to receive this communion, providing they did so respectfully.
There was an almost 100% roll-up at the mass, and many of my non-catholic mates took up his offer. In fact, I remember vividly the uncommon reverence most of them showed. This made perfect sense in the context of the situation. We were, after all, patrolling in a war zone, with the clear understanding that we were, to use the cliché, "in harm's way".
I was so impressed with this, that I penned a letter to my parents, describing in glowing terms what I'd seen. My dad, who was very much inspired by Vatican 2, told the parish priest in conversation next Sunday at mass in my home town, Texas. (Qld – not USA).
This priest, a conservative old Irishman, reported the conversation to the Bishop of the Diocese, after admonishing my father because he (my dad) was of the same supportive opinion as I was. Two things followed – the bishop had the good sense to ignore the complaint, and my father was shunned by the priest for the rest of his time in the parish.
Given that my dad was the principal of the local state school, and my two younger brothers attended the convent school, this created a very awkward situation in the small town.
I was amazed to hear the full story when I returned home. It surprised me to discover the level of bigotry and ignorance that lingered from the pre-Vatican 2 era.
Well, I'm surprised once more. For the life of me, I can't see what's "Catholic" about Archbishop Bathersby's action. The word "Catholic" means – " broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal."
Somebody should explain this to Bathersby, or buy him a dictionary.
I was also gobsmacked to see Bathersby interviewed on TV describing the church as "Roman Catholic". No Catholic uses this term.
I hope this doesn't signify a hardening of the church's attitude towards liberation theology. Pope Benedict XVI has long been known as an opponent and has issued several condemnations when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Church's work with disadvantaged communities is one of the major factors that has kept it relevant in a rapidly-changing world.
Perhaps archbishops don't get out much.
I don't hold out hope for the future of the institutional church if this is indeed the case. The community of faith may be all that remains.
I wish Peter Kennedy and his flock the very best.
2 comments:
It's nice to hear a story like this from the other side of the fence. My grandparents viewed Catholics, and especially Irish Catholics, as depraved papists. One grandfather was a verious serious mason, and both grandmothers would be spinning in their graves if they knew my kids had been christened in a mick church. The idea of associating with catholics, let alone marrying one, was anathema to them.
The anglicans and the catholics took their religious hatred pretty seriously back then.
I also feel confused and ashamed! I thought that part of being a "catholic" was to offer dignity to all and to behave in a Christlike manner. Surely Fr Kennedy was doing both those things in a non judgemental way. Also why haven't we been told exactly what Fr Kennedy and the congregaton has done to merit such a punishment? Nobody (from the church) has told us exactly why Fr Kennedy deserved such treatment apart from the fact a group of religious "police" reported back to Rome. Gone are the days when people just blindly followed what the Bishop says. We are an intelligent community who are confused at what we see as "double standards!"
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