THE protagonist in a row over the liberal St Mary's parish at South Brisbane has asked police to press charges against the parish priest after a mobile phone camera was knocked from his hand yesterday during a baptism service.Richard Stokes has written to the Vatican, the Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, and rallied fellow Catholics in a long-running campaign to have St Mary's and its priest, Peter Kennedy, follow official protocols or be removed from the church.
While Archbishop Bathersby has advised St Mary's it is "out of communion with the Roman Catholic Church" in its liturgical practices, so far no further action has been taken against the liberal, inner-city parish.
Yesterday, after travelling 40 minutes from his home in Caboolture to attend morning mass at St Mary's, Mr Stokes stayed behind to watch some baptisms, which have brought the church into controversy on previous occasions.
Incensed that a priest was performing baptisms in casual clothes, and not his vestments, Mr Stokes positioned himself to take a photo on his mobile phone, whereupon Father Kennedy allegedly knocked the phone from his hand.
Father Kennedy, who was not performing the baptisms but has had previous encounters with Mr Stokes, would not comment on the incident yesterday. Mr Stokes, who was not hurt and put his phone back together, said: "I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye and then bang, the mobile phone was knocked out of my hand and on to the ground," Mr Stokes said.
"It all happened so quickly."
Father Kennedy's supporters - aghast that his critics would post a video of a recent St Mary's baptism on the internet - say Mr Stokes was being deliberately provocative and ignored pleas by parishioners and the children's families not to cause trouble.
After being hustled out of the church, and admonished by parishioners, Mr Stokes and his supporters went to a nearby police station where they made an assault complaint and asked that charges be laid.
Police would not comment.
Mr Stokes denied being provocative, insisting others were photographing the baptism and, as a Catholic, he was entitled to attend the church.
Archbishop Bathersby could not be contacted for comment.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: TA)