A CATHOLIC church facing possible excommunication could learn its fate this week. Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby will return from his summer holiday this week, with the row between his diocese and St Mary's in South Brisbane at the top of his agenda.
The priest at the centre of the controversy, Peter Kennedy, has claimed he was a victim of censorship by the Catholic community newspaper, The Catholic Leader.
Father Kennedy and a colleague, Father Terry Fitzpatrick, have been ordered to cease an unorthodox style of service that includes giving communion to divorced and gay people, the wearing of non-traditional garb and allowing parishioners to present parts of the service.
The Catholic Leader editor, Peter Bugden, refused to print letters and articles in support of the congregation's case, while printing Archbishop Bathersby's submissions and letters critical of the two priests, Father Kennedy said.
Father Kennedy said he had tried to keep the dispute out of the media but had been left with little choice when his case was not heard.
"If you don't talk to them [reporters ], it seems like you're hiding something," he said. "If The Catholic Leader won't print our side, we have to get our message out somehow.
"I feel like I'm not media savvy but some people say I'm now a media tart."
Mr Bugden would not comment but a spokesman for the Brisbane Archdiocese said: ". . . the editor of The Catholic Leader is within their [sic] rights to either publish or not publish letters to the editor as they see fit."
The archbishop had been invited to attend services at St Mary's but had repeatedly declined, Father Kennedy said.
The relatively young congregation includes indigenous groups, the homeless and former drop-outs from the church who have returned after experiencing the St Mary's style of worship.
Father Kennedy said the three weekend masses attracted from 700 to 900, while only about 13 per cent of Catholics regularly attended their church's services.
Archbishop Bathersby wrote to Father Kennedy in December, saying it was "admirable to read that St Mary's focuses on social justice [but] its looseness of theology leaves much to be desired".
The archbishop also said parishioners had verbally abused him outside his home, a claim St Mary's denies.
Father Kennedy now awaits the archbishop's decision, which could result in his dismissal.
A St Mary's supporter, indigenous leader Dennis "Bejam" Walker has threatened legal action if Father Kennedy is sacked or removed.
In November, Father Kennedy signed a "sacred treaty" with Mr Walker to recognise Aboriginal sovereignty over the land on which the church stands.
Father Kennedy said the treaty was a "symbolic gesture with real implications".
The treaty acknowledged past injustices and allowed traditional owners to then share the land with "the white fella", he said.
Mr Walker has prepared a writ based on the treaty.
He believes it can be used to legally prevent the Catholic Church from using the site.
He said he would serve the writ on the archbishop if he moved to replace Father Kennedy.
"The writ has the force of law and until the archbishop gets himself lawful through a treaty he can't move on it [replacing Father Kennedy]," Mr Walker said.
Archbishop Bathersby, who returns to his post on Tuesday, was unavailable for comment.
However, he said last year he would take action against the priests if they refused to change their ways, but he did not specify what that action might be.
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(Source: TSH)