Rise up for a Just Church

Online Catholics, 9 August, 2006

Who really gives a fig about Redfern? If it were East Timor or West Papua the letters would be flying in all directions!
My mail this week revealed the usual clutch of bills and brochures, but the letter that caught my attention was an envelope with “Rise Up for a Just Church” emblazoned across the front.

The contents revealed the latest letter from the American lay activist movement Call to Action, celebrating its 30th year in 2006. Interesting I thought: 30 years of advocacy for the accountability of bishops. Thirty years of asking the hard questions about the place of the laity in Church governance, the future of the priesthood and the thorny issues of sexual orientation, race and the role of women. Thirty years of working for justice and dignity within our Church.

But who really gives a fig about all these issues?

Call to Action obviously does, but what about Australian Catholics?

For most, all this is really a matter of Ho hum, yawn. Let me know when it’s all fixed and I might prise myself out of my comfy parish pew to get involved. And maybe they are right; our parishes today are hardly hotbeds of discontent.

Parish life runs smoothly as long as you have enough people to finance the pastoral needs and the committees are full of willing workers to make it all happen. Church law defines the jurisdictional and public ministries of priests and those employed by the Church, and is a strong deterrent to public utterances of discontent, which can be very risky if you want to keep your job. As a result injustice within the Church is a very controversial topic for public parish dialogue and is generally saved for conversations among trusted friends.

Should Australian Catholics publicly call into question unjust actions within our Church? Our Catholic formation has certainly sensitised us to the consequences of silence and inaction on justice issues.

What becomes of parishes like Redfern if we remain silent? Are they are left to fight the battle on their own?

Do we stand by and watch from our parishes thinking: Thank goodness we don’t have that problem here. Let’s get on with organising our next function. During this week many of us will gather with other parishioners or colleagues at meetings and slip an intention for Redfern into the essential opening prayer. This will probably be followed by the essential exclamations about how dreadful it all is.

Is this really enough?

What would you do if Redfern were your parish?

In Sydney on Pentecost Sunday, I sat beside long-serving parishioners from Redfern and listened to them speak with pain and passion about their community. One could only stand in solidarity with the people of Redfern after hearing their stories of marginalisation.

The article, John Paul’s words a weapon in parish war by Peter Lalor (Weekend Australian, August 5-6, 2006), is surely our very public invitation to express our solidarity. Maybe this time our distractions, parish commitments and fears will not excuse us from taking the risk.

Think about it. If this injustice were happening in, for example, East Timor or Western Papua, our parish social justice groups would be penning letters in many directions to all concerned. So why not apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to Redfern and see, judge and act accordingly?

Write to your Bishops, even the Cardinal, but more importantly let the struggling people of Redfern know that you stand in solidarity with them.

Catholics belong to a very powerful Church whose public voice demands, in the name of Christ, integrity and justice for all creation.

Catholics also belong to a Church that sometimes fails to critically examine its own actions against the tenets of the gospel it proclaims.

So this time – Give a fig! and rise up for a just Church.

by Paula McLeod
Paula McLeod is committed to a just Church. She is interested in the influence of parallel organisations (e.g. Call to Action) in shaping our vision of Church. Paula is currently completing an M.A. (Theology) with a particular focus on women’s formation and conversion in the Catholic Church.
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4 Responses to Rise up for a Just Church

  1. Melvyn says:

    Bravo Paulo….the people of Redfern are not the only ones battling this scourge…take a look at the Kelmscott and Mirrabooka Parishes in Western Australia.

    What does one do…who does one turn to…where is the independent arbiter within the Catholic Church?

    How do you get to second base when the Hierarchy simply snuff you out. Letters to the Catholic Paper in Perth ( RECORD ) written by parishioners in Mirrabooka were not published?? This is because it does not support the Neocats which is the baby of the Aux Bishop. The Catholic Church iin Perth is a prime example of all that you write about. Parishioners believe their Bishops and so they should. But…what happens when they are mis-led?? ‘Woe to the Shepherds who mislead my sheep’.

    Your blog has certainly raised the spirits of those who have been trying to stand up for their Faith and for Truth.

    Wherever these Neocats have stealthily appeared there has been severe DIVISION and DISHARMONY. The silence of the Clergy is also so disappointing….but then again who can blame them…they fear retribution etc etc.

  2. Taffy says:

    Hello Melvyn, I strongly dissagree with you , as a parishioner of St.Gerards(Mirrabooka) I welcome the No-cats and indeed any group who bring back people to the church,and the youth,as I have seen them do.I have some friends who joined after many years of fighting the neo-cats, but found it so different from what they had been led to believe it would be.I am not permitted to join because my husband forbids me to,and I must obey him. So please try to stop this awful snipping at each other ,and live the life Christ intended you to .

  3. Please find a copy of my letter to Cardinal Pell earlier this year. I had a very week response. CardinalPell did not hear my plea,my feelings and what I witnessed first hand were denied. I am a mother of 7. Cardinal Pell for the sake of our Australin Catholic Church please OPEN your eyes. Please Review Redfern and all our Parishes. We are a Church in CRISIS, don’t deny the many married and women vocations that flourish today.

    Georgina Gartland
    25 Highland ave
    Mitcham,3132
    May 18th ‘06
    Your Eminenence Cardinal Pell
    Dear Cardinal Pell

    Please read my letter it comes from my bleeding heart, for my love and passion for my church and faith and most importantly for my children. I apologise about the length of this letter but really implore you to complete it with a ‘loving heart’ from one of your own.

    I am an ordinary catholic woman in my late forties. I was brought up in the catholic faith by two wonderful and hard working parents, who aspired to catholic values in word and action. I am one of seven children. Three of us are what are referred to as practising Catholics. I thank my parents, Marist Nuns and Church for my upbringing, it is what my husband – who also comes from a strong catholic family – and I are endeavouring to pass on to our six little children (between 14-4yrs). My concerns forthwith are real as I also have a 26 year old daughter who no longer attends church.

    In a nutshell I feel that my church leadership is not listening to us. That our church hierarchy faces being irrelevant to the very people it serves and leads. Not only my sisters, my daughter and too many youth but, over the last few years we are increasingly loosing a wider and more mature group of catholic people, too. They are leaving so disillusioned, some being actively turned away. I feel so disheartened when I hear of another priest or lay person being disheartened by current backward and exclusive moves in the church. When I see their anguish or see them leave I feel at such a loss! Indeed they are our loss. What are we doing so wrong? What should we be doing as church? I believe we are not fully and openly addressing many issues. I believe our leadership needs to hear us and truly be open to us, its church.

    I am at the point of ‘just hanging in’. I do so by Christ’s example and am blessed to have the support of a Catholic ‘Small Faith Community Group’ whom aspire to the ideals of the early church. We gather monthly in each others homes (amidst our incredibly frantic lives) to deepen our spiritual lives, through reading, learning, discussion and prayer. We support each other in faith and life through these troubling times. I am also privileged to be part of a group of catholic women that meet weekly to reflect on the bible and pray – this group being facilitated by a truly inspiring and deeply spiritual woman who has theology and many other catholic ministry courses under her belt. She does this voluntarily in her own home, she herself being a mother of six. I feel this woman is a real pearl yet she is very undervalued by our current model of church. She is so gifted in her work and so generous in sharing and encouraging a richer and deeper understanding of our Christ and Saviour, of our God.

    What has finally prompted me to make time to write was the ABC program ‘Compass’ on Good Friday, 06. “The prophet of Redfern”, about an incredible parish priest, Father Ted Kennedy. This priest embodied his people. He was a true servant which made him a wonderful leader. I had the privilege of meeting FatherTed a few years ago when he was quite unwell at the Easter Ceremonies at St. Vincent’s, Redfern. We attended all the services there. My brother worked alongside father Ted as did many of the parishioners. I was overwhelmed by what I saw and experienced. The involvement and support of the people for and with Father Ted in continuing on in his work despite his illness, and his evident ongoing Theology was truly inspiring. The love and generosity and openness to all from all walks of life was overwhelming. For such a poor parish there was an indescribable richness. I experienced a Holy Thursday and Good Friday that I had never before and ones which I quite often talk about. 80% of the congregation would have been aboriginal. Father Ted was as Christ, not only in his living and loving but also in his illness and dying. He was a man that was open to all; he truly heard all of his people and was humbled by them and then in turn learnt so much from them. He encouraged people to go on in their faith and leadership. He gave them hope and a way. He gave them friendship. He did not judge, he did not exclude, and he welcomed people in to his life and even his home. He became one of them and continues to have a profound impact on them. Today they are struggling on in his absence because of a fundamental change that has been imposed on that very same church community. There is a real clash of theologies and Christian living.
    What does it say about us as church when police were called there recently?

    I implore you to Review Redfern today. The current religious group are obviously quite inappropriate to the needs of that Parish. They are culturally insensitive to the people they are there serve. Recently we went up to Sydney during the Melbourne commonwealth games. My husband and I could not believe the stark difference – an appalling backward change, which reflected in the lack of numbers and obvious absence of aboriginal people – maybe five in number. A man from the congregation (whom I learnt later to be a retired priest – and was one of about 8 people to join in from around the congregation to add their own beautiful prayers, during prayers of the faithful) – prayed for a little child that had died and was being buried the following day by himself. I learnt later that the parishioners were not comfortable in approaching the parish priests to bury their child. These same priests in the past have even refused to bury! This is bizarre and truly an indictment on our church. What is going on? They certainly did not engage with the congregation during or after mass. Later after mass that same morning we gathered in the local café around the corner to share morning tea – last time we were there this happened at St. Vincent’s. I met up with a couple in their 70’s both highly intelligent and good strong catholic people who had both stopped going to the Sunday mass recently because they could no longer tolerate this current religious order, nor their theology, nor the lack of concern for the people they are there to lead. How sad that this couple who in their 70’s have been turned away from our church. They now continue on in social action. I just cannot understand how this has come to be. It is so appalling.
    Please listen to the people there, look at the ABC Program, hear father Ted’s sister and others. Visit them, walk with them and listen to their pleas with a loving heart and hear their hopes for a truly loving church. There is no doubt that Father Ted’s work was the way of Christ. Father Ted left a wonderful team and pool of willing workers and leaders, many of whom as we saw on compass are of the local parish and are grounded in theology. If you have no appropriate priest they can continue on in his work. They are of the local parish and have the community in their heart – the people have tried to work with these priests but they are excluded and ignored. The situation seems hopeless. Yet this group of deeply grounded and committed Catholics are continuing on… I truly believe the Holy Spirit is stirring within these remarkable people. I don’t see why one person or group can come into a parish and attempt to destroy the heart and fabric of that parish. For that is what is obviously currently happening in Redfern. It is s
    o grossly appalling. They should not be allowed to continue. I feel so strongly by what I have witnessed for myself that I can no longer sit on the fence and be quiet.
    Again I ask:” Why is it that our church leadership is allowing such disillusionment and such brokenness to continue”? I see this ‘Redfern situation’ as having abandoned the aboriginal people and the whole church community of Redfern. They have been ignored, many given no option but to leave. Christ drew people to himself, empowered them and made them willing disciples. Your Eminence, I implore you to respond with a loving and compassionate heart. Our Shepherd, Christ walked amongst all people. He left his flock even to search for just one lost. He saw and heard their concerns and reached out to cause change when it was needed… He moved out not only in day but also into the night (Mark 1:32-39) and was so overwhelmed by what he saw; things that he previously hadn’t. Such compassion had he that he moved to cause radical change. This is what I and many are asking of you today. Christ made the structures of the day feel quite uncomfortable as I suggest is happening with today’s church. The structure that is currently at Redfern is exactly what Christ came to change.

    My passion is for our church to Flourish. A parish community will only flourish when you have leadership that is inclusive such as Christ, such as Ted and others that embody the heart and spirit of all their people. Christ left us religious and lay people to continue on together. When it looks to encourage and acknowledge the gifts from within and when it looks to allow the true needs of that whole community to be addressed (as they all define them) then I believe we will truly have a church as Christ desired. Life Giving. People will be drawn back, churches will be full.

    I have many other concerns. We need to address the declining number of priests and the closing down of small parishes to form larger ones as is happening in my own parish. I strongly believe the latter is to head in the wrong direction. There are so many vocations (non-celebant) that are being ignored. To bring priests in from overseas is not the answer as you deplete their own countries of priests. (They may seem to have many vocations but populations are much bigger and often coming from 3rd world countries they are much more needed in their own homelands). Not only this but I believe as in Redfern the parish leader/ship must as Father Ted be open to the very essence of the heart of all their people, whom they are there to serve. They must be culturally aware. To form bigger parishes is to loose touch with local concern. People are being lost, people are not being ministered too, and no matter how good the structures seem to be as in my own parish resources are stretched. What is the role of the priest? Is it to be administrator? Is it to be financial overseer? Or is it be to pastor to his people. Or do we expect all? Then on the other hand our priest (who is a good man) has clerical duties in town as well! How far can one priest/ man be stretched? I suggest our church hierarchy is asking the impossible and in the end things will get lost, half done or sadly ignored, as is already so obviously happening. There are too many disgruntled and disillusioned Catholics. We need to take a good hard look now and not just patch up the holes. I believe our church is in crisis.

    On the other hand I have a vision of having many priests (celebant, married and women) from and within in the local parish. We have so many gifted people who are real pearls and whom are Christ like in their living. What a parish we would have if to truly let all those gifts flourish. Under our current model of church they are stifled, and in turn I strongly believe our church is struggling.

    What about those priests whom have left so disillusioned, left to get married or for other reasons – be open to them, reconcile with them and invite them back to open dialogue – listen to their shattered hearts, listen to their wisdom. If we accept married Anglican ministers we MUST be open to married men.

    I am concerned that the hierarchy of our church is heading in the wrong direction. That it is failing to listen and see. This is why so many are leaving. I believe it is not responding to the Holy Spirit whom is stirring today’s church in so many, many ways…..

    Our church is struggling. The lack of numbers -of religious celibate vocations and congregation attendance – is a statement that can no longer be ignored.
    World Youth Day is great for the 5%-7% of catholic youth once a year, but why ignore the rest. What should each local parish be doing on a more regular basis? Look at the age of the congregation. If you want your people back don’t bully us, accept our knowledge, spirituality and wisdom be open to true dialogue with us and most importantly hear us.

    This is why I write today, if just for you to give me hope.

    Please review Redfern today
    Please hear me, hear us, and hear the people we have abandoned.
    Please consider reconciling with our lost priests and people. I believe we need to be open to married and women priesthood.
    Please be more open to us and the gifts we all have.
    Please help me with our children, with our youth.
    Please work with us and be more relevant to us.
    My want is your want “To have a truly flourishing and life giving church”.
    Yours Faithfully

    Georgina Gartland

  4. artvanderley says:

    georgina what aload of dribble if you want women priests you are in the wrong church go see the anglicans

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