Australian newspaper strongly backs Brisbane's archbishop against rebel pastor

February 25, 2009

An Australian newspaper that has closely followed the confrontation between a Brisbane pastor and his archbishop has published an editorial suggesting that the priest should be ousted from his position-- with a police escort, if necessary. The Australian reasons that the Church has the right to define its own doctrinal and liturgical standards:

In a secular democracy, Father Kennedy is free to reject the Virgin Birth, sell books doubting the divinity of Christ, promote self-discovery and admit he wouldn't talk to God. But if he insists that Sunday services be taken up with psychobabble, new age cliches, personal ramblings and green left rhetoric, he should consider taking up social work or setting up on different premises…

For the benefit of readers who do not know just how radically the parish community of St. Mary's in South Brisbane diverges from Catholic norms, the editorial offers a glimpse:

Mass at St Mary's - which some doubt is valid - proceeded as usual, minus the Sign of the Cross, epistles, Creed, Offertory, liturgical vestments and much else.

This is not a conflict between a liberal priest and a hidebound conservative prelate, The Australian adds: " Archbishop Bathersby, contrary to some comments, is anything but a rigid conservative."

 

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Further information:

• New age at St Mary's (The Australian)