We would like to thank the editors of The Swag for inviting Jeff Scully to write such a splendid article in the last edition of The Swag. Reflecting on the Apostolic Visitator’s appointment by the Congregation for Bishops to investigate the Bishop of Jeff’s diocese, Bill Morris, he asked the church of Australia some pertinent questions – questions which we believe reflect the growing frustration and disempowerment the local church experiences at the hands of an ever-increasing centralised Roman church. The aspirations of the Second Vatican Council to encourage subsidiarity and collegiality within the universal church have dissipated in the ether of so many untried imaginings from the Council. The local church is often left stranded with the answers to its dilemmas but without the mandate to implement the solutions. Disempowered and dejected, the local church submits to an intimidating authority which it knows is out of touch with reality.

In the prevailing paralysing fear which is so prevalent in the church today, stifling life and creativity, we salute the integrity and courage of Jeff to write the article proposing such questions and the editors of The Swag for printing it.

Peter Kennedy & Terry Fitzpatrick,
South Brisbane QLD