Editorial

A crucial appointment to Sydney

Michael Gilchrist

Contents - May 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: A crucial appointment to Sydney - Michael Gilchrist Vatican signals continuation of reform process - AD2000 Report AD2000 Online - Michael Gilchrist 'Systematic instruction in the faith' program to be launched in July - Bishop Luc Matthys News: The Church Around the World The Church in Germany: John Paul II expresses serious concerns - Catholic World News New WA Catholic schools document stresses orthodoxy US professor defends papal teaching on universities - Charles E. Rice Why John Henry Newman converted to Catholicism - Michael Davies A Melbourne artist's labour of love - Michael Gilchrist Letters: Different Church (letter) - Frank Smith Letters: Vocation question (letter) - Msgr Richard Schuler PP Letters: Racism (letter) - Helen Daniel Letters: Sydney appointment (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Paul Collins (letter) - Arnold Jago (Dr) Letters: Vatican II ambiguities (1) (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: Vatican II ambiguities (2) (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Eucharistic Congress (letter) - Basil Lane Letters: Elizabeth Anscombe (letter) - Edward Clarke Letters: 'Courage' (letter) - John Dodwell Letters: Objectionable cover (letter) - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Altar? (letter) - D.I. Davies Letters: Destruction (letter) - John D. Pratt Letters: Queensland Bishops (letter) - Dr Tim Coyle Letters: African reader (letter) - Fr Stephen B. Muchemwa Letters: Scripture truth (letter) - Mary Beaumont Letters: Enlightening book (letter) - Br Con Moloney CFC Books: 'Becoming Fire' by Fr Ken Barker mgl - Peter Westmore (reviewer) Books: 'Great Christian Prayers' by Stephen Redmond SJ - Peter Westmore (reviewer) Books: 'He's Risen' by Phelim McGowan SJ - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'Prayers From The Heart: for the Feasts of the Year', Joanna Bogle - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'A Vacation With The Lord' by Fr Thomas H. Green SJ - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: Stations Of The Cross (CD), Perth Catholic Productions - Colleen McGuiness-Howard (reviewer) Poetry: The Ballad of Antichrist - Andrew Huntley Reflection: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' - Fr Ian Falconer SJ

The first reactions of many Australian Catholics at the unexpected announcement of Archbishop George Pell's transfer from Melbourne to Sydney may well have been surprise - given that the Archbishop's work of reform in Melbourne, while considerable, was still in its early stages.

They might perhaps have concurred with Cardinal Clancy's gracious words at the media conference in Sydney on 27 March, following the announcement: "I do not know what Melbourne think of all this. They possibly feel that they have been robbed; but Melbourne's loss is Sydney's gain."

Without doubt he is "Sydney's gain" - but he is also Australia's gain. This is now the case as he assumes the responsibility of leading Australia's senior archdiocese. In terms of the wider good of the Church in Australia, Catholics throughout our nation will appreciate that Dr Pell, as Australia's most impressive Catholic leader, has been asked to exercise even wider responsibilities with this appointment.

With much work still to be done throughout Australia to implement the Statement of Conclusions - Catholic schools, liturgy, seminaries, ACU, and so on - and the wider challenge of re-evangelising a secular post-Christian society, our bishops have a heavy responsibility indeed. Additionally, many of the problems afflicting the Church in Australia are difficult to address on a diocese-by-diocese basis.

For these reasons, the many episcopal vacancies to be filled in the coming months assume particular importance. It is to be hoped the high quality evident in recent episcopal appointments continues.

Michael Gilchrist: Editor (E-mail - editor@ad2000.com.au, AD2000 Website - www.ad2000.com.au)

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 4 (May 2001), p. 2