St Mary's, South Brisbane, is out of communion with the Church, Archbishop John Bathersby has told the parish, citing a list of problem issues, but will wait until the end of January before making a formal decision on the parish's future. Meanwhile, Archbishop Bathersby has asked the controversial parish to change some of its liturgical practices to keep it in line with traditional Catholic practices, The Australian reports.
St Mary's responded to Archbishop Bathersby in late November, but a letter from the archbishop to St Mary's parish priest, Fr Peter Kennedy, dated December 22, says that he will not make a final decision on the parish's future until he can explain it fully, and at the end of January, "I shall seek to do so".
Archchbishop Bathersby says that baptisms at the church are not using the traditional formula of "Father, Son and Holy Ghost" and the priest is still not wearing vestments.He also objects to the distribution of the book "Jesus the Avatar" by Father Peter Dresser of Coonamble in rural NSW, which Archbishop Bathersby said had claimed that Jesus was not the son of God.
"In the matter of faith it is frightening to hear that seven to nine hundred people attend the three liturgies at South Brisbane yet there seems to be little instruction about Trinitarian theology," he said.
"While it is admirable to read that St Mary's focuses on social justice, its looseness of theology leaves much to be desired."
The archbishop's letter claims that both he and the Pope had been attacked from the pulpit at St Mary's, and "such attacks hardly indicate communion with the Church."
"At times I am treated with scant respect not including for the moment the abusive language of South Brisbane people directed at me over the past few months from the front gates of my house," he said.
"There is not the slightest indication that South Brisbane will change its baptismal formula or Mass practice despite the fact that a significant number of people want it to happen."
Archbishop Bathersby also affirms that he had "acted on my own behalf and will continue to do so".
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(Source: CTHN)