St Mary's

Terry Fitzpatrick4 July 2009 (Published in The Green Left Weekly July 4 2009)

On April 19, a huge mob of St Mary’s people made a pilgrimage out of a church and into the Trades and Labor Council (TLC) building, home of the Queensland Council of Unions.

They walked out of the church to the TLC, 200 metres down the road in silent vigil with candles and lanterns, banners and balloons – not unlike the Jews of the Old Testament escaping from the slavery of the Egyptians to the liberation of the Promised Land (minus the balloons).

We too feel liberated from the shackles of a failing institution caught up in dogmas and creeds that belong to another age. We felt it was time to take a stand from the constant bullying we have experienced for many years.

Opinion – A liberating experience

(Cathnews Report with Readers Comments)

We too feel liberated from the shackles of a failing institution caught up in dogmas and creeds that belong to another age. We felt it was time to take a stand from the constant bullying we have experienced for many years.

We have been bullied for standing up for the rights of women and giving them a voice. For challenging and changing the sexist language and images of God in the liturgies and celebrations we have as a community. For ensuring women are given equal roles in the decision making processes of the community.

Media reports

Notice of Penalty of Suspension
Notice of revocation of faculties to hear confessions, preach and assist validly at marriages (These documents are pdf files and require the free Adobe Reader)
Banned St Mary’s priest Peter Kennedy to keep praying
Worldwide Ban for Rebel Priest ABC Local
Rebel Brisbane priest slapped with worldwide ban Brisbane Times
Peter Kennedy in Wotnews Brisbane
Newstin Coverage

Blog Coverage

The Orate Fratres

Forums

Catholic Answers

Since it is unlikely that this letter will be posted on the Catholic Leader, we have posted it here.

Many people have written to the Catholic Leader over past six months to express an alternate opinion to the ones expressed in your paper regarding the parish of St Mary’s South Brisbane. But their views have not been honored or recognized in any way. We are only hearing from only one perspective.

St Mary’s South Brisbane – the heart of the matter

In Fr. Tom Elich’s article, The Heart of the Issue, he commented that, “many of our Mass texts come from the liturgical books of the sixth century.” We need to go back further. Why can’t we return to the more profound and simple celebrations of Jesus? He shared ritual meals with the outcasts of society. For Jesus, it was among these poor people that God was found and celebrated. I believe it was in these simpler celebrations that he was inviting us to, “Do this in memory of me.”

Fr. Terry Fitzpatrick

St Marys

South Brisbane

We invite comment from members of the Catholica Forum and Letters to the Editor from subscribers expressing your views on this Open Letter, or offering further suggestions that might help build the Church in positive ways in Australia and help foster a win-win outcome for the St Mary’s Parish Community in South Brisbane, the Archbishop, the institution, and for all the stakeholders in this present impasse…