Category Archives: The Neocats

An Open Letter by John Hill in Online Catholics Issue 25, 1 Nov 2004

I am writing as a parishioner of St. Vincent’s Church, Redfern, NSW. I write with a deep sense of sadness and a feeling of depression. I am seeing the disintegration or even worse, the destruction of a parish that for over 30 years has been a beacon of hope for social justice, the authentic Gospel teachings, the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and the rights of indigenous Australians.

The legacy of an ailing Fr Ted Kennedy has been decimated. The assurance … Continue reading →

From Online Catholics Issue 20, 6 October 2004

http://onlinecatholics.com.au/issue20

One hundred Catholic priests, meeting at the biennial Conference of the National Council of Priests of Australia (at Toowoomba QLD 6th – 10th September 2004) added their voice to the 43 prominent Australians and the group of doctors calling for truth and integrity in public life.

The priests built upon the concerns raised by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference in August, when the ACBC advised Australians to consider their voting intentions in the light of the building of … Continue reading →

An article by Jeremy Hartcher in Issue 2/2004 of The Southside News, a publication of the University of Technology Sydney Journalism program.

It includes comments attributed to Cardinal George Pell on the Redfern situation that some might consider defamatory.

Parishioners at St Vincent’s church in Redfern have been refused permission to hold an inter-faith service. [see also {rdlc Is this an ecumenical Church?}]

Organisers say assistant parish priest, Father Dennis Sudla, told them the service is inappropriate for the church – although the inter-faith event has been held at St Vincent’s … Continue reading →

St Vincent’s, under the spiritual guidance of Father Ted Kennedy, was well known for its welcome to and inclusion of all people, especially the suffering, the abused and the forgotten.

Such behaviour, it would seem, is an anathema to our Neocat priests.

Despite numerous representations by Mary McMahon and others, Neocat parish priests Prindiville and Sudla doggedly refuse to allow St Vincent’s to be used as the venue for another Interfaith Service. The Community’s wishes have been dismissed with a perfunctory “This is not an Ecumenical Church”. See news article No accord on inter-faith service.