THE PRIEST the journal of Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia. ISSN 0818-9005 Where Peter is, there is the Church. Vol 11 No 1 – May 2007 IN THIS ISSUE Chairman’s Remarks Father Michael Kennedy 1 This Pope engages Editor 2 Father Terence J. Purcell, PE, OAM a tribute Father John J Walter 3 Benedict XVI’s Augustinian engagement with the world Tracey Rowland 4 Four Key Influences on Benedict XVI Father Anthony Robbie 8 Times have now changed Father Paul-Anthony McGavin 11 Pasch and Eschaton in Ecclesia Father Glen Tattersall, FSSP 12 Photo credit: Isai1224, Flickr The Place of Latin in the Church David Birch 16 In the course of the extraordi- Dr John J Billings, AM, KCSG a tribute nary Synod of Bishops, there Editor 18 was frequent insistence on the “Another church that looks and feels like a church” Father John Fowles CCS 19 need to avoid any antithesis “Thank you” to the priest who allowed my father to choose ... between the “ars celebrandi” Father John Speakman 22 – the art of proper sacramen- Editor’s Corner tal celebration – and the full, Editor 22 active and fruitful participa- Father John Whiting: a tribute Father Paul Crotty 24 tion of all the faithful. The Growing vocations primary way to foster the Editor 24 participation of the People of A Parish Priest’s lfe-long testimony to celibacy God in the sacred rite is the Father Patrick Stratford 25 proper celebration of the rite “Diyanet” Address in Turkey itself. The “ars celebrandi” is Pope Benedict XVI 26 the best way to ensure their Bishops Talk Tabernacles USANCCB 27 “actuosa participatio”. The Antarctic journey: coincidence and providence “ars celebrandi” is the fruit Father Lew Wray 28 of faithful adherence to the “Coming into focus” – it’s not just “us”! liturgical norms in all their Father Timothy Deeter 29 Canonical Reflections: “Toward Healing”/“Encompass” richness .... Father John Doherty & Father Julian Wellspring 30 Pope Benedict XVI My Vocation Story Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 38 Sister Mary Clare Francis, OP 34 22 February 2007 “This Pope engages” (Editorial, page 2) Photo credit: Nicholas Manginas THE PRIEST the journal of the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy Editor: Rev Paul-Anthony McGavin, MTh, PhD, MACE. Associate Editor: Professor David Birch, DPhil (York). Editor: PO Box 246, Jamison Centre ACT 2614 [email protected] Assistance to the Editor for this issue: Mrs Marie Swanson; Rev Glen Tattersall, FSSP; Mrs Maryse Usher; Rev John J Walter, PP; Rev Lew Wray. Chairman’s Remarks Earlier this year in March, several members of the ACCC Execu- However, priests also have serious concerns and reservations tive met with the Bishops’ Commission for Church Ministry. about the protocols. Priests’ main areas of concern seem to be This Commission is chaired by Bishop Michael Malone and the following: that priests accused of boundary violations that includes Bishops Brian Heenan, William Morris, Luc Matthys, are not crimes against children are being treated in the same Donald Sproxton, and Brian Finnigan. In the two-hour meeting way as those of sexual abuse of children; that the accused we had a very cordial and fruitful discussion with the bishops priest is often not aware of his rights and often concerned on a range of issues. These included: that his rights are being overlooked; that undue pressure 1. the need for a properly prepared national implementation can seem to be applied to attend psychological assessment of the new Missal translation when it is completed, along with and programs run by Encompass for testing and treatment; adequate education for both clergy and laity and the production and whether or not the protocols are compatible with Canon of fittingly dignified liturgical books; Law. A further concern complicating the matter is the poor level of understanding that many priests seem to have about 2. the importance of uniformity in liturgical and sacramental the protocols. practice throughout the country; 3. the difficulties that can sometimes be encountered by priests It was quite clear from our meeting that the bishops remain when dealing with large centralised bureaucracies in diocesan committed to the Towards Healing protocols, but they did Catholic Schools Offices; and acknowledge and are aware of our concerns. We are most grateful that the bishops did agree to clarify the protocols 4. the need to find appropriate pastoral approaches to the ongoing current standing with Rome, to revisit the matter of education sacraments of initiation for children. (This last issue will actually of the clergy regarding the protocols, and to find an effective be the subject of a paper and a panel discussion at this year’s way to make accused priests aware of their rights. ACCC conference in Melbourne to be held 2-6 July 2007.) The March meeting was the first between the ACCC and the A final matter we discussed with the bishops was the concern newly formed Bishops Commission for Church Ministry, that many priests have regarding the Towards Healing proto- and was considered very worthwhile by those who took part. cols. These protocols contain the principles and procedures It is now likely to become an annual meeting. The Bishops in responding to complaints of sexual abuse made against Commission for Church Ministry will personnel of the Catholic Church in Australia. We began by present a summary of our discussions to affirming that we thoroughly support the Australian bishops in the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Confer- their initiative to put in place structures necessary to deal with ence annual meeting in May. We hope and accusations of sexual abuse of children by clergy. It is imperative pray that our efforts may bear fruit. that priests found guilty of offences against children be removed from ministry, and that no further offences occur. Father Michael Kennedy, PP ACCC EXECUTIVE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES National Chairman National Vice-Chairman National Secretary Clergy ordained more than 5 years $100 Rev Michael Kennedy PP Rev Gregory Pritchard PP Rev Dr John Kennedy Clergy ordained less than 5 years $50 PO Box 443 362 Station Street PO Box 46 Retired clergy $50 Leeton NSW 2705 Chelsea VIC 3196 Ballina NSW 2478 Seminarians no dues payable Rev Anthony Robbie (02) 9746 7245 Editor Councillors NSW Lay Associates $20 VIC Rev Glen Tattersall FSSP (03) 9532 4154 Lay Pensioners/Retiree: $10 Rev Dr P A McGavin PP Rev Terrance Hegarty (07) 5424 1186 QLD Longer Term Membership 5 yrs 10 yrs PO Box 246 Jamison ACT 2614 SA Rev Lew Wray (08) 8431 4496 WA Rev Timothy Deeter (08) 9328 4518 Clergy $450 $875 Lay Associates $90 $175 Co-opted ACT Rev Kevin Brannelly (02) 6288 1979 Treasurer TAS Rev Gerald Quinn CP (03) 6234 4866 Rev Paul Crotty NZ Rev Nicholas Dillon 0011 64 28 Norman St Port Pirie SA 5540 3208 9601 Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia. Where Peter is, there is the Church. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES to: ACCC Secretariat, PO Box 8004, North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187 phone/fax: (03) 9596 4343 e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.australianccc.org/ Desktop Publishing assistance: courtesy of Ignatius House Services Printing: Active Print, Wagga Wagga NSW 1 The Priest This Pope engages What I mean by the heading “This Pope engages” is what may be seen in the Papal images that we now frequently see. Pope John Paul II was a great communicator and his personality was that of a great communicator, as manifest in the crowds he drew and the outstretched arms of people toward him and his instinct for the grand gesture. Pope Benedict XVI does not have that personality type, and his public gestures tend to understatement rather than grandness. Yet the thing that comes over is that this Pope engages those whom he meets and powerfully communicates. Photographs of his meeting with bishops (ad limina visits) convey a sense that these are working encounters with the Pope, not just formal encounters following meetings with curial staff. The photographic record of his journey to Turkey Photo credit: Umut Arabul, Flickr also demonstrated this “encounter” aspect: they portray a Pope in engagement with his guides in Hagia Sophia; a Pope in engagement with the Imam of the Blue Mosque, Father so programmatically set forth at Regensburg: his etc.; engagements that are not simply formal encounters, address in the presence of the Director of Religious Affairs but engagements that are personal encounters. And these of the Republic of Turkey. This was at the beginning of his personal engagements distinctively also are ones that engage Apostolic Visit to that country. It was the same official who ideas. represented the Republic of Turkey at the Pope’s departure, and the photographic record of the airport departure lounge What we see in the texts accompanying the pictorial record of meeting firmly conveys an engagement – it was not just encounters is the fleshing-out of ideas set forth in the Pope’s a formal affair, but a meeting of persons, and a meeting most seminal words, particularly his first and programmatic of persons that set a path for reasonableness and for the encyclical (and so far his only encyclical), Deus Caritus est, exchange of understanding and for movement toward mutual and in his path-breaking Regensburg address. What we see understanding, respect, and peace. is a consistent and gracious exposition in human encounter that God is love and a consistent and gracious exposition The quiet and low-key manner of Pope Benedict XVI is in human encounter that God Who is Love is a God Who clearly bearing fruit. He evidently builds upon the work creates and acts in reason and Who leads us in the ways of of his predecessor (indeed, predecessors), but he is clearly reason, and of reasonableness.