Whole title is "St Mary's Catholic Church rejects 'out of step' charge"



"MEMBERS of a controversial Brisbane parish have rejected a charge that they are out of step with the Catholic Church in Rome and should close.

The parishioners of St Mary's South Brisbane and their priest Father Peter Kennedy yesterday signed a six-page letter to Archbishop John Bathersby, answering charges he levelled at the popular parish earlier this year.

"St Mary's gives no disrespect (questioning perhaps and sometimes humour, but not disrespect) and prays for none in return," the letter said.

The inquiry into the church was sparked by a disaffected churchgoer, who complained to Rome about unorthodox masses being conducted and a statue of a Buddhist monk being placed in the church.

In his August 22 letter to St Mary's, Archbishop Bathersby cited several issues, including the unconventional liturgies and the hierarchical authority of the Church not being respected.

"The question for me," the Archbishop wrote, "is not so much whether St Mary's should be closed down, but whether St Mary's will close itself down by practices that separate it from communion with the Roman Catholic Church."

The church - which has previously caused eyebrows to be raised for its welcoming of gay and divorced Catholics - was given until today to respond.

Father Kennedy said it would not be appropriate for him to comment until Archbishop Bathersby had fully considered the letter, which outlined the church's good works with unions, women's groups, gay people, indigenous people and victims of abuse from within and outside the Church.
"Whether or not we agree on everything, St Mary's is part of the Catholic Church," the letter said.

"We are in communion with that very same Church. We ask that you respect our decision to declare ourselves, as you asked, to be in communion with the Catholic Church."

If the church is forced by the Brisbane Archdiocese to close, it would be a first for the Catholic Church in Australia."


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24730186-3102,00.html



What breaches of christianity has it failed?
What breaches of the catholic church has it failed ?