As I see it, this is a classic case of an inflexible, dogma-blinkered authority being unable to tolerate another way of looking at the Christian mission. Jesus must be weeping.

Possibly, Spikey.

>>As I see it, this is a classic case of an inflexible, dogma-blinkered authority being unable to tolerate another way of looking at the Christian mission. Jesus must be weeping.<<

But surely this is more like expecting Colonel Sanders to be comfortable with you selling lentil burgers and alfalfa in your KFC franchise?

The only reason - I suspect - they have been getting away with it for so long is that so far at least, they haven't been selling Big Macs.

I don't think it is unreasonable to insist that someone using your brand name accepts the responsibilities that go along with it - there is a pretty clear set of instructions, I would imagine, in the RC franchise code of conduct.

Given the number and diversity of religions, I don't see too much difference between a normal process of protecting the image and integrity of your brand, and what the Catholic church is insisting upon here.

Well Pericles, it's a droll analogy - the church as fast food franchise. Anyone for more bread or wine? Chicken or lentils? The Colonel or Macca's? Catholic or Protestant?

So it's come to this: "I don't think it is unreasonable to insist that someone using your brand name accepts the responsibilities that go along with it - there is a pretty clear set of instructions, I would imagine, in the RC franchise code of conduct."

So it's normal practice for the church to protect "the image and integrity of your brand"? I would have thought that if that's what the Catholic Church is doing, it ought to sever its contract with its current PR firm and find someone with better skills. How about we put Cardinal Pell on to the Gruen Transfer? They can sell anything there.

I'm an evangelical Protestant but I have a lot of sympathy for Archbishop Bathersby in his need to deal with flagrant violations of central matters of faith and doctrine by Father Kennedy.

No doubt Father Kennedy is a good man, and ministers caringly. So also does a good secular counsellor, like Dr Wendell Rosevear (also here in Brisbane), or another religious counsellor like Major Joyce Harmer (Salvation Army chaplain to 'hard case' prisoners). The issue is not the desire to care, but the theological content attached to it.

I don't understand why Father Kennedy appears to think he has to junk core Christian (not just Catholic) beliefs, such as the divinity of Jesus and the reality of the miracles, in order to practise social justice.

Use of the baptismal formula referring to "the Creator, the Liberator and the Sustainer" is feminist theology. Some women who have suffered abuse have difficulty with the traditional language of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (a formula which comes from the Great Commission in Matthew 28). While Spirit is non-gender-specific in English, it is feminine in some languages. But the terms Father and Son are certainly male. Unfortunately for supporters of feminist (or de-sexed) theology, there's no getting away from the fact that Jesus taught us to pray starting "Our Father ..." Nor is there any getting away from "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Father Kennedy's toleration of a Buddhist statue in the church reflects the new Age-type belief that "there are many paths to God and all religions are essentially the same." They are NOT. Jesus made exclusive claims about himself when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes unto the Father but by me"

Glorfindel, Jesus also said: "Some sheep have eyes not of this fold".

Glorfindel

"Jesus made exclusive claims about himself when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes unto the Father but by me".

Then why is the religion of Chrisianity divided into so many denominations and sects?: Catholics, Protestants, Unitarians, Baptist, J.W.'s and so on and on.

The Catholic religion itself did not start with Jesus himself. There was no hierarchy at all during Jesus' time, it was an oral tradition - unless you are referring to the Jewish religion. Jesus never appointed a leader or 'pope'. Even though St Peter is held by the Catholic Church as the first pope, this was not so during the time of Jesus.

I would posit that Father Kennedy's 'open church' better reflects Christianity than the papal driven Catholic church with its rosaries, rituals and self-reverential 'righteousness'.