Letters

Ecumenism?

Moya and Leo Morrissey

Contents - Aug 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Feast of Our Lady's Assumption, 15 August - Michael Gilchrist Caritas in Veritate: Benedict XVI's social encyclical: public life needs Christian principles - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Human rights: Small victories for pro-lifers at the UN - Babette Francis Priesthood: Benedict XVI's Letter to priests: follow example of the Curé of Ars Is this where 'progressive' religious life is heading? - AD2000 REPORT Magisterium: Authentic Catholicism: neither progressive nor conservative - Fr Martin Durham G.K. Chesterton on modernism and orthodoxy Foundations of Faith: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): a recipe for doctrinal chaos - Dr Frank Mobbs God's Messengers: Angels: what Scripture and Tradition reveal - Susan McKinley Poetry: Nkosi J - Will Elsin Letters: Pope Pius XII vindicated - Tony Evans Letters: Religious freedom - Fr Brian Harrison OS Letters: Ecumenism? - Moya and Leo Morrissey Letters: Content of faith - Chris Hilder Letters: Moral decline - Frank Bellet Letters: Poems appreciated - Margaret Healy Letters: Appeal - World Congress of Families - Jenny Davies Books: THE WINE OF CERTITUDE: a Literary Biography of Ronald Knox, by David Rooney - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: JESUS, THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH, by Pope Benedict XVI - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: FLOWERS OF HEAVEN: One Thousand Years of Christian Verse, ed. By Joseph Pearce - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: BECAUSE GOD IS REAL: Sixteen Questions, One Answer, by Peter Kreeft - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: ... AND YOU ARE CHRIST'S':The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life, Dubay - Br Barry Coldrey Books: This month's selection from AD Books Reflection: Mary in God's plan of salvation - Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli

The position that Gary Crothers points out (June AD2000) is that which has been going on in Queensland for some time now. The matters he raises are of great concern for it seems the Church Jesus Christ instituted is no longer what it used to be in certain places.

In the official journal of the traditional Anglican Church of November 2001, it was reported that an Anglican priest would take charge of the Catholic parish of Quilpie in western Queensland in the absence of the parish priest, who was on extended leave. The churches approved of the plan.

A Statement of Agreement (copy attached) was entered into on 6 June 2001 by the then Anglican Archbishop of Queensland, Dr Peter Hollingsworth, and Bishop William Morris of Toowoomba. The Anglican Bishop Raymond Smith of Brisbane had set up the statement without much Catholic input.

The agreement permits that in the case of a Catholic priest being absent from his parish an Anglican priest (be it a male or a female) can conduct a joint service. In the case of the illness of a parishioner an Anglican priest can administer Eucharistic Penance and the Anointing of the Sick to the Catholic - within guidelines - whatever they may be!

The same applies where the circumstances are in the reverse. Parishioners, as the agreement goes on to say, have the right to choose their own arrangements. In all kindness for the Catholic faithful, there was no need for such a plan in the first place.

The concerns of Mr Crothers are indeed well founded and it seems that such an arrangement could only happen in Queensland, or perhaps in the Diocese of Toowoomba.

So much so for Jesus' command, 'Thou art Peter ...'.

MOYA AND LEO MORRISSEY
Sandringham, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 7 (August 2009), p. 14