Author Archives: Church Mouse

Pell’s conservatism adds fuel to the fire of Catholic disharmony

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Sydney Morning Herald, August 3, 2004

Australian Catholics are at odds over how to practise their faith in the modern world, writes Paul Collins.

Cardinal George Pell has trouble on his hands in inner Sydney. Yesterday a leading conservative priest, Father Terence Purcell, of St Benedict’s parish Broadway, was protesting because the Cardinal wants to turn his disused school building into a campus for Notre Dame University, which Pell wants to import from Fremantle.

One wonders why Notre Dame has to come to Sydney when the Australian Catholic University has campuses in North Sydney … Continue reading →

Poor Church

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On Sunday 25 July 2004 Encounter’s David Rutledge presented a program on St Vincent’s Redfern, entitled Poor Church.

 

Encounter is a radio program that may be heard on Sundays at 7.10am (repeated Wednesday at 7.10pm) on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National network.

 

This highly acclaimed series, co-ordinated by Florence Spurling, explores the connections between religion and life.

 

With an emphasis on a high standard of creative production, Encounter invites the listener to make connections intellectually, emotionally and intuitively across a broad … Continue reading →

Food for thought

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Yesterday’s announcement that Sydney’s second Catholic university – the University of Notre Dame – is to open at St Benedict’s on Broadway was attended by the likes of George Card Pell, Brendan Nelson, Mon Brian Raynor and the Prime Minister John Howard. The Church Mouse’s observers noted food tables at the reception laden with wine and snacks.

There is apparently no shortage of money to feed the rich and powerful.

Thoughts August 2004

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Thoughts for the Month

The Jesus I know is no cold, hard Iron-Christ; nor does Jesus deserve to be reduced to smug, glib and uncompassionate irrelevancies when the real meaning of His love is what people need so desperately.

“Who is Worthy?” Ted Kennedy

Hiroshima Never Again

Friday 6 August 6.00 pm Town Hall Square
Candlelight March to Archibald Fountain.

August 6th is the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the United State dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city and its people were devastated. Three … Continue reading →

Support from the National Council of Priests in Australia

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Community member Fr John Ford wrote the NCP a note expressing thanks for their motion of
support during their meeting in Queensland last week. Here is their reply:

From: "Peter Fitzgerald"

Dear Fordy,

The NCP Executive met yesterday and your email was tabled. The committee has asked me to pass on our appreciation of your words of thanks. We are conscious of the implications of what’s happening at Redfern for all parishes, and for Indigenous people throughout Australia.

Your message will be posted on our web site and appear in the Members’ Bulletin, which is … Continue reading →

Media coverage

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It’s been a hectic week trying to keep the mouse house in order with St Vincent’s in the spot light – two ABC radio programs, articles in the online Catholic media and a swag of emails. Over 700 visitors, viewing on average 5 web pages each, have come here since Sunday. If you missed the fuss, here are transcripts of Radio National’s {rdlc id=464} and {rdlc id=465}.

Responses to the broadcasts, especially the news revealed on the Encounter program that the Sydney Archdiocese Charitable Works Foundation has withdrawn its meagre funding of the community’s Sharing of the Meal … Continue reading →

The Religion Report Transcript

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The Religion Report: 28 July 2004 – St Vincent’s Redfern

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National Religion Report is a guide to religious affairs in Australia and around the world. This weekly half-hour program offers analysis of events shaping the world of religion and the religious events that increasingly seem to be shaping our world.

Wednesdays at 8.30am, repeated at 8 pm

Presented by Stephen Crittenden

No positive spin from Pell on wicked Redfern

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Perhaps the most telling aspect of this week’s Redfern Catholic community Encounter documentary on ABC Radio National was the decision of Cardinal George Pell and parish priest Fr Gerry Prindiville not to participate.

The program featured the voices of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal parishioners who feel disenfranchised by the new style of ministry introduced by Fr Prindiville and other members of The Neocatechumenal Way. The current model represents a radical departure from that which was built under the leadership of Fr Ted Kennedy over 35 years.

The absence of Cardinal Pell and Fr Prindiville from the list of … Continue reading →

CWF uncharitable toward Aboriginal People

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Also at

The withdrawing of $200 a week from St Vincent’s Church, Redfern by the Charitable Works Fund will diminish the ‘honourable contribution’ of the Catholic Church in Redfern, according to Professor Stephen Leeder, professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at Sydney University.

The Charitable Works Fund targeted specific funds for withdrawal from St Vincent’s. The $200 paid for a twice weekly supper for some 300 indigenous people in the area, some of whom are itinerant, and are therefore … Continue reading →