Letters

Pivotal question

Fr M. Durham

Contents - Mar 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Lent: preparing for the risen Christ - Peter Westmore Lefebvrists: Benedict XVI's bold move for Church unity - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Vocations: Indian priests: still plentiful but fewer available for overseas - AD2000 Report American seminaries mostly 'healthy', but many problems remain Did Antonio Gramsci have second thoughts? - Babette Francis Pope welcomes election of new Russian Patriarch Kirill - Michael Gilchrist Foundations of Faith: Protestant Churches: origins and beliefs (2) - Frank Mobbs Obituary: Fr Richard Neuhaus (1936-2009): bringing the Gospel to public life - Fr Raymond J. De Souza The recession and Catholic social teaching - Mark and Louise Zwick The family and the culture of death: a challenge for Christians - Fr Dennis Byrnes Marian Valley, spiritual oasis for young Brisbane Catholics - Br Barry Coldrey Letters: Pivotal question - Fr M. Durham Letters: In communion? - Errol P. Duke Letters: Cure for AIDS - Ben Veitz Letters: Generosity - Fr A. Joseph Poetry: Collages Books: Labour and Justice, by Gavan Duffy - Peter Westmore (reviewer) Books: THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN, by Jacques Jomier OP - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Books available now from AD2000 Books Reflection: Benedict XVI: why kneeling is central to Christian worship - Benedict XVI

To cut through all the 'kafuffle' surrounding St Mary's, South Brisbane, and its administrator Fr Kennedy, there is really only one relevant and pivotal question that he, and indeed all who claim to be Catholic, need to answer.

It is a question based on a somewhat similar situation Our Lord Himself had to face (see Matt. 21:25; Mark 11:30; Luke 20:4).

The question could be phrased as follows:

Is the Catholic Church's claim of teaching authority on matters of doctrine and discipline as belonging to the Pope and the Bishops in union with him from heaven or from man?

In other words, is that teaching authority of divine or human institution?

So much depends on an honest answer to that one basic question.

FR M. DURHAM
Rockhampton, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 2 (March 2009), p. 16