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Redfern Police Chief Ian Moore says that the ongoing tensions at the Aboriginal Catholic church at Refern sound ‘like a bit of a domestic’ and that the Church should ‘sort itself out’ instead of threatening to call the police on one another. Commander Moore was responding to questions following a letter written by Sydney Auxilliary Bishop Dr Anthony Fisher, to the parishioners at St Vincents, Redfern, in which he said he had directed the parish priest, Fr Gerry Prindiville and his assistant, Fr Denis Sudla, to contact the police ‘if there are any further disruptions to the Mass.’ Bishop Fisher … Continue reading →

—– Original Message —–
From: Anne Webb
To: letters@smh.com.au
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 3:37 AM
Subject: The disease of clericalism

The disease of clericalism is out of control in Redfern. Had Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher consulted with the community of St Vincent’s Redfern (Priests call in police: SMH 6.6.’05,p.3) he may have learnt that not only are his ridiculous assertions unfounded in fact but that the police were called to the church on 29 May, 2005, by the perpetrator of the violence, assistant priest Denis Sudla, who smashed the Aboriginal cross and smashed into … Continue reading →

I am unable to sit up here in Federal and remain silent. For many, many years priests have abused parishioners. How long did it take for someone somewhere to recognise and admit that many priests have sexually abused parishioners. This is not the only form of violence being inflicted on parishioners by priests. How long will it take for someone somewhere to recognise this, name it and deal with it?

Since the arrival of Peter Carroll at Redfern the faith community of Redfern have had to tolerate insults, abuse and physical violence from people who are totally unsuited for the … Continue reading →

Dear Church Mice,

Thank you very much for sharing all the photos of your Father Ted’s funeral.

It’s amazing to see what a tiny, tiny church St. Vincent’s really is. So big an impact on the Communion of Saints from such a small building!

All of your priests and bishops in your nation should look at these pictures, especially the pictures taken at St. Vincent’s itself. Men can lie with language but the Baptized and the non-Baptized came together in a community at St. Vincent’s and it is very visible in the pictures.

“There are many different gifts, but … Continue reading →

The rhetoric:

The reverse side of this invitation to attend a series of “short presentations about the Catholic Church” by luminaries Pell, Porteous and Fisher carries the heading:

Do you have issues with the Catholic Church?

The reality:

Priests call in police

Catholic priests in Redfern have called in the police in an attempt to quell disruptions to their services, only days after the funeral of the suburb’s much-loved priest, Father Ted Kennedy.

Yesterday, parishioners were handed a letter from Bishop Anthony Fisher, the Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney; warning them he had directed the parish priests to seek police help in the event of any further disruptions.

Having to resort to police in­tervention was very disappoint­ing, Bishop Fisher said.

“For a small inner city parish it’s a very distressing step to have to take but I wouldn’t imagine it’s unprecedented, ” … Continue reading →

The letter reproduced below was handed out by Denis Sudla, who officiated at today’s Mass at St. Vincent’s Redfern, on behalf of the Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney’s Catholic Archdiocese, Anthony Fisher OP.

You will see that it threatens NSW Police action if the Catholic liturgy at the church is “disrupted” by people “doing things”.

It might be noted that:

• Fr Ted Kennedy, who worked at the same church for 30 years, formed the current community and devoted his life to the poor, especially Aboriginal people, died only last week, and the community is still in grief about this;

… Continue reading →

The following transcription is a little easier to read:

3 June 2005

To the Parishioners of St Vincent de Paul Church Redfern

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, I write to express my sincere sympathies to you all on the recent death of Fr Ted Kennedy who served your parish for many years and was, I know, deeply loved by many of you. I know that you will want to carry forward his legacy by ensuring that there is a vibrant and holy Catholic community in Redfern for many years … Continue reading →

The Church Mouse has it on very good authority that work will begin in the next few weeks on restoring the presbytery as a residence for the Neocats. The Archdiocese is in the process of signing contracts.

There will be no provision for a community centre or space for the local community, neither black nor white. The cost will be in the $100,000s.

You may recall that it was Fr. Ted Kennedy’s plan and hope that this building be restored and given over in justice and restitution to the Aboriginal people. Ted had opened the building to the Aboriginal people … Continue reading →

Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY 26 MAY 2005
DEATH OF FATHER TED KENNEDY

Dr ANDREW REFSHAUGE (Marrickville—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) [2.22 p.m.]: Father Ted Kennedy died last week. For more than three decades he was parish priest at St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Redfern. Ted Kennedy’s conscience was a goad to the mighty and a balm to the needy. It led him to where, before him, many would not go. It made him a landmark and a local hero. It drove him long miles to funerals in far-off … Continue reading →