Alone among the world’s faiths Christianity has as pivotal to its understanding of God’s revelation to humanity the historical fact of the birth of a baby in a stable in an outlying province of the Roman Empire.
While in the USA the greeting ‘Merry Christmas’ is replaced by ‘Happy Holidays’, Australia has, as yet, no inhibitions about promoting the nativity story.
This may be a mixed blessing. Overly sentimental depictions of a respectably dressed Mary and Joseph surrounded by sanitised creatures of the ovine and bovine species disguise the uncomfortable truth that Jesus was born of impoverished parents in a smelly ramshackle shed.
The much-vaunted aphorism that the Church is called to have a preferential option for the poor is a corollary of Bethlehem. In the past 2000 years this noble ideal has often been overshadowed by institutional pomp and pageantry.
The late Fr Ted Kennedy of Redfern was surely one who understood that the invitation of the shepherds, “Let us go to Bethlehem…” was a call to recognise the infant Saviour in the neglected babies of the world, the unborn, the refugees, the unemployed, emotionally disturbed young people and so on. In short, all those for whom there is ‘no room at the inn’.
Bishop Pat Power, Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra, has rightly criticised both major political parties for their insensitive language in speaking of those who seek to come to Australia as refugees. It is ironic that Christmas Island is the sanctuary from which some are barred.
We cannot honour the Infant unless we take seriously the crucified and risen Christ. The crib, the cross and the empty crypt are intrinsically linked.
The cave at Bethlehem is a caveat to all humanity that peace on earth will only be universally established when the cries of the starving and oppressed are heard, not just by those with political power, but every man and woman of goodwill.
What’s the problem, Father?
It is just forty years since the preliminary Coogee meeting of priests that led to the NCP. The church and priests still have problems. What’s new? Legend has it that Cardinal Gilroy on his way to Vatican ll, when asked by a reporter to name the biggest problem facing the church, answered, “Mortal sin”. Quite so.
We all see problems in the church, as in ourselves. The trouble is we see so many, far too many to think about and address. So, to stay sane and to be useful, we all have to simplify the complex. The easiest way to simplify situations is to personalise them — “It’s his (or her) fault” or, more satisfying, “It’s their fault”. Sadly, personalising complex public issues is usually futile and frustrating.
As well as providing space for priests to say how they feel about any matters, The Swag offers a platform for priests to share their special perspectives on the more pervasive, long-term and obscure dynamics of our church.
In this issue, Bruce Duncan gives expert information about Pope Benedict’s major encyclical on global justice (and about a controversy it stirred up).
Frank Moloney’s excellent article on the changing mentalities people bring to faith leaves us an editorial problem. Will we run it on our web site? Will we run it over two issues? Editing turns out to be not easy. Read on while we try to decide.
Invitation to Anglicans
The Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, issued by Pope Benedict XVI, allows for a canonical structure to be created in which Anglican communities who so wish, can seek corporate reunion with the Catholic Church.
For several decades, various Anglican dioceses have made overtures to Rome in this regard.
The sensational treatment given by the media to this papal decree has caused confusion among Catholics. The Traditional Anglican Communion, a body which has broken away from mainstream Anglicanism, has been at the forefront of those communicating positively on the apostolic constitution.
Their spokesman, Archbishop John Hepworth, bears the title of Primate of this body. He claims the TAC numbers 400,000 members across the world, although there are very few in Australia.
The London Tablet, of 14 November, notes that Archbishop Hepworth is Adelaide-based, and is a former Catholic priest who is divorced and remarried. (He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in Adelaide in 1968; his resignation from the ministry was requested by Archbishop James Gleeson of Adelaide in 1974.) After a period as an Anglican priest, John Hepworth became a member of the TAC, and is now their world leader.
Such is the hype given to the Archbishop’s statements that, following an interview given by him on ABC Radio, one commentator even said that “this back-to-Rome movement” was being directed from Adelaide!
Cardinal Levada of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in an effort to clarify people’s concerns, has explained that an Anglican priest who becomes a Catholic will not automatically be accepted for the Catholic priesthood.
The reactions of mainline Anglican Bishops are cautious and varied.
Melborne Auxilliary Bishop, Peter Elliott, himself a former Anglican, says in the Sale diocesan paper, Catholic Life that, “in Australia, I do not envisage large numbers entering into communuion with us in the new structure”.
However the Bishop “was delighted when the news [of this new constitution] came from Rome”. The Bishop added that “to those who do seek unity with the Successor of St Peter, our sincere and simple message must be ‘welcome home’“.
Guest Editors: Robert Egar & Bob Wilkinson
