A few thoughts regarding the differences between Bishop Morris and the Holy See.

I think we must accept the fact that Bishop Morris and those that support him are in good faith. Any priest today could do very well for himself in civil life if he felt his vocation to be there. The priests of the Toowoomba diocese are very able men.

However, I believe that a number of the priests and Bishop Morris are in grave error in the fact that they do not accept the ruling of the Pope and the magisterium in the removal of Bishop Morris from his office as chief pastor of Toowoomba diocese. You cannot be Catholic and reject the Pope and the magisterium.

You can be Christian and reject both. In fact many Protestants (if not all) are in good faith and do this. We have in common with them faith in the Risen Christ and baptism, and a belief in scripture as the word of God in the words of men and a belief that the essence of Christian moral behaviour is love of God and love of neighbour in all our thoughts, words and actions.

The one distinguishing mark that separates Catholics from all other Christians is belief in the Pope and the magisterium. Whether the differences were in faith or morals or both, all dissenters reject Pope and magisterium. This is true for Luther, Henry VIII and all others before and after them. The cry may be “sola scripture” (i.e. scripture alone) and private interpretation of faith and morals and the Christian tradition, but the Pope and teaching authority of the Catholic Church are out.

I believe that many do not reflect on the fact that Jesus did not hand his followers a book. He said “he who hears you hears me” and “behold I am with you all days even to the end of the world”. He is with us in the written words of God and the church decided what was the written word of God. He is with us in the Christian tradition. St John says “there are many other things Christ said and did which are not in his writing”.

Catholics believe that yes Christ is present “wherever two of three are gathered in his name”. They believe that the most special presence of Christ is in the Eucharist but they accept the fact that Christ is present for them in the successors of Peter and the twelve i.e. the Pope and the Bishops when they speak in matter of faith and morals.

I accept the right of Bishop Morris and his followers to in conscience differ from Pope and magisterium. I do not accept their right to use the pulpit to condemn the Pope and magisterium and to foster petitions against them. They can do this as private citizens. They have no right to claim to be loyal to the church and do this. I condemn Bishop William Morris not so much for what he did before his dismissal but for what he has done since. He has allowed priests to continue attacks against the Pope. He should have publicly asked them to stop. I fear that some will suffer the same fate as himself and they want to be good faithful loyal Catholics and priests.

To give one only example of where I believe Bishop Morris was gravely in error; he allowed a seminar to take place at Highfields where 1 and many other priests were present. The only speaker, a nun, seemed to me and a number of other priests present to reject the physical resurrection of Christ. Bishop Morris said he accepted what she said. I believe that as a Catholic and a Christian it is essential to accept that there was a bodily resurrection. Certainly that Risen Body was different from the body before the resurrection but it was the same body. Christ would say to Thomas “put your finger in the mark of the nails and your hand in my side”. I do not know what the Pope said to Bishop Morris or what he said to the Pope but I would like his comment on this matter.

EV (Don) Murray,
Cambooya, QLD