Letters

The Jesuits (letter)

Felix Moore

Contents - Feb 2000 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference - Michael Gilchrist Legionaries of Christ: new order for a new millennium - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World The comunità: a new form of monastic life for Australia - Peter Westmore Defending the faith against secularism and relativism - Bishop Kevin Manning Sydney’s Centre for Thomistic Studies upholds Catholic truth - John Young Lay teachers: backbone of the Catholic system - Tom Kendell Tom Monaghan: the tycoon who sold his assets to serve the Church - Patrick Ward Books: 'Rome Reshaped: Jubilees 1300-2000' by Desmond O’Grady - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ‘Darkness Visible: A Christian Appraisal of Freemasonry’ by Walton Hannah - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ‘Hidden Way: The Life and Influence of Almire Pichon’ by Mary Frances Coady - Mary O'Neill (reviewer) Books: ‘Invisible Crown: A Story of Dorothy von Flue’ by Michael McGrade - Michael Davies (reviewer) Books: 'A Victorian Convert Quintet' by Michael Clifton - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Letters: Catholic survey (letter) - Joe Lopez Letters: Holy buck-passing (letter) - Arthur Negus Letters: Enneagram (letter) - Fr Reg Smith Letters: Missing ‘glue’ (letter) - Joseph Taylor Letters: The Jesuits (letter) - Felix Moore Letters: Rockhampton (letter) - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Conflicting views (letter) - Joseph Said Letters: Abortion (letter) - Patrick V. Healy Letters: God’s love (letter) - Louise Howell (Dr) Letters: Persecution (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: New women’s magazine Canticle (letter) - Genevieve S. Kineke Reflection: Private revelations: "Keep to what is countenanced by the Church" - Fr Peter Joseph

The article, "The Jesuits: 150 years of ministry in Australia" (November AD2000), rightly drew attention to the great work that the Jesuits have done in this country over the last 150 years.

But, in a manner that an unfriendly critic might describe as "Jesuitical," the article neglected to comment on the current disarray of the order. For it is essential to note that the Jesuits have changed. As a recent Jesuit publication put it, they have had a reformation and no longer follow the models of the past.

The result? Well, their numbers are plummeting to the extent that the Jesuit publication assessed it as problematic whether there will be any Jesuits left to celebrate their 200th anniversary in Australia.

Sure, let's celebrate the achievements of the past, but let's also keep our eyes open to present problems. Otherwise, we will find the Church in Australia succumbing to the difficulties that the future holds.

FELIX MOORE
Dickson, ACT

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 13 No 1 (February 2000), p. 17