Letters

In communion?

Errol P. Duke

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

The ongoing saga of the St Mary's parish, in defiance of their Brisbane Archbishop and the Vatican, as to whether or not they are 'in communion' with the Catholic Church is being addressed.

There is no point in asking, 'What would Jesus do?', but rather to be most mindful of what Jesus actually did.

The Bible sets out very clearly that He came on earth 'to call sinners (like me!) and not the virtuous'. He wined, dined and showed enormous love and compassion towards the wayward, but said, 'Go and sin no more!'

Reports that I have read on the subject indicate that St Mary's parish embraces sinners, as it should, but apparently the sin as well, which is not what Jesus taught.

Thus, the non-communion. End of story.

ERROL P. DUKE
Elizabeth East, SA

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