Post Script Erratum: I refered to the book The Long Revolution, I meant to refer to Raymond Williams' book Marxism and Literature

bushbasher,
You just repeated whom you don’t respect. My concern was not about persons but about a kind of language I don’t respect. So, I suppose, we are fifty-fifty.

relda,
I can also happily accept your defense of Father Kennedy’s right to have his own “institution”, different from the Catholic Church, but this is not the issue here. Pericles sees Christianity as the “product”, its Catholic version as the (Woolworth) “brand“ and Father Kennedy‘s version as his own “Novelty Shop“, one of the “many paths to God, not just through the Roman Church" as you yourself quoted. At least this is how I understood Pericles, and I agree completely with his conclusion.

I did not quite understand your interpretation or Pericles’ analogy, but certainly many ‘dislike‘ and many ‘love‘ Kennedy’s Church, however this is not just a question of liking or disliking.

Of the things you list some are indeed questions of taste but what you do not seem to realise is that what Catholics call sacrament is an essential part of their identity, which is probably not the case with other Churches. There are seven sacraments, one of them being Holy Communion, but not attendance, or participation, at mass. Any Catholic mass is open to anybody (unless he/she wants to disrupt the liturgy), including Muslims or Jews, practicing homosexuals or heterosexuals that are not married. I have never heard that the Catholic Church would object to giving “open acknowledgement to the traditional owners of the land on which the church is built“ or to making the church available as a shelter for needy, as long as they use it in an appropriate manner. [As for sitting on the altar, I do not think you would like a visitor sit on your laptop, not because you dislike him, but because that is not the way to behave or to use a laptop.]

Only where sacraments, like Communion, are concerned, there are strict rules, and there are also traditional, less strict, rules on how to participate in the liturgy of the mass, binding for everybody, including Catholics, especially the priest.

fine, george. i'll accept a draw. you have more relevant fish to fry.

Yes your right but your problem is : How come his church is full and pulsating with life all yours are very lonely places .

Wow, ShazBaz, please introduce yourself next time you're in my church. You've obviously been there if you know how "lonely" it is. I just haven't noticed you through the crowds.

Time to stop the silly generalisations.

Otokonoko's church might be an exception, but ShazBaz001, Father Kennedy's church is full because he has discarded all the superfluous trappings of the Catholic tradition to become a real practicing Christian. That is why he must leave. To remain would be very churlish and would show that he lacks the courage of his convictions.

David