Letters

True picture (letter)

Christine Slagter

Contents - Oct 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: light at the end of the tunnel - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop George Pell: 'The strong family is a religious family' - Archbishop George Pell News: The Church Around the World Events: Gerry Matatics Visit / Catholic Homeschooling Conference, Parramatta - AD2000 Anglican General Synod 2001 - moves towards women bishops delayed - Nigel Zimmermann Cardinal George of Chicago sacks leading 'progressive' liturgist - Michael Gilchrist Can US bishops enforce Papal teaching on Catholic universities? - Zenit News Service Archbishop Hart opens Thomas More Centre Bookroom - Catherine Sheehan Salesian Archbishop from India visits Australia - Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil SDB Education: Mass attendance: a key measure of Catholic schools' effectiveness - Br John Moylan CFC Eternal Word Television Network's missionary outreach - Michael Daniel Letters: Liturgy translation (letter) - Jack R. Nyman Letters: Church leadership (letter) - Mary Daly Letters: True picture (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Homosexuality (letter) - Arnold Jago (Dr) Letters: Papal teaching (letter) - John Young Letters: First parents (letter) - Scot Chaston Letters: Non-Christian gods (letter) - Jane Wilks Letters: Cult (letter) - Wal Maggs Books: 'Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine', Archbishop Sheehan, Fr Peter Joseph - Br Christian Moe FSC (reviewer) Books: 'The One Minute Philosopher' by Montague Brown - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: 'The Spirit of the Liturgy' by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: Tales Without Reason: Forgotten Heroes of the Apostolate in 1840s Australia - Michael Daniel Books: Seeds of Life: Early Christian Martyrs; Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Poetry: Feast of St Francis of Assisi (4 October) - A. Muir Reflection: Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist - Bishop Kevin Manning

Thank you for your article on BECs in the Adelaide Archdiocese and Archbishop Faulkner's response, which contradicts articles which have appeared in the SA Catholic Newspaper - Southern Cross. (This is widely promoted by Archbishop Faulkner in the parishes and schools of the Archdiocese).

In referring to your AD2000 article, the Archbishop states: "Rather than re-creating isolated, self-reliant, missionary-oriented communities, as the article suggests, my pastoral letter sets out a vision for integrating BECs into parish life and structures". However, in the February 2000 Southern Cross, an article headed "People-Power Church Model Needs Clergy Support - UK Priest" discusses "A future model for running the Catholic Church in Adelaide: Basic Ecclesial Communities." The article states: "BECs break away from the traditional formal structure of the parish church with its parish council and instead rely on making and keeping contact with, and building communities around all Catholics in an area, whether or not they attend Mass."

The April 2000 issue of Southern Cross contained an article headed "A Quiet Revolution in Parish Life" in which Sr Catherine Seward discusses her role as pastoral director of the Mansfield Park parish. She states that "a pastoral director is a person who works in collaboration with a priest to provide pastoral care", but goes on to say: "It's a leadership role and a very caring role [but it is] a team model. It's not a lone leadership. And that's a good model alternative to a parish priest." She also states: "Eucharist is not going to be the only way that Jesus is going to be remembered [in the future]. And the shorter we get of priests, the more important it is for people not to feel they are being deprived of the presence of Jesus."

I believe these articles give the true picture of what is happening in the Adelaide Archdiocese.

CHRISTINE SLAGTER
Wynn Vale, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 9 (October 2001), p. 13