JAMES WILLIAM GLEESON ARCHBISHOP OF ADELAIDE Robert Rice A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES FLINDERS UNIVERSITY 1 March 2019 James Gleeson on the day of his episcopal ordination, 21 May 1957 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................. iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... x STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ............................................................ xii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................ xiii INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 Aim of thesis ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Value of research on Catholic bishops ............................................................................................ 7 Auxiliary bishop, coadjutor archbishop, archbishop .................................................................. 10 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 14 Thesis structure .............................................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 1........................................................................................................ 19 THE FORMATIVE YEARS ......................................................................................................... 19 Development in a devout Catholic family ..................................................................................... 19 Development in a religious civic community ................................................................................ 25 Development in a ‘Counter-Reformation’ Church and a Tridentine seminary ........................ 27 Four other influences ..................................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 2........................................................................................................ 45 GLEESON THE PRIEST .............................................................................................................. 45 Early days in the priesthood .......................................................................................................... 45 Sisters of Mercy Teachers Training College ................................................................................ 49 The Catholic Education Office ...................................................................................................... 50 Chaplaincies .................................................................................................................................... 51 Catholic Action – Catholic Social Studies Movement.................................................................. 54 The Church Triumphant ............................................................................................................... 58 Changing racial, ethnic, political and cultural milieu ................................................................. 60 Significant change of government in South Australia. ................................................................ 64 Gleeson’s involvement in civic affairs ........................................................................................... 67 False optimism ................................................................................................................................ 68 Chapter 3........................................................................................................ 70 AUXILIARY BISHOP AND COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP ................................................... 70 Annual Banka Sound Memorial Service ...................................................................................... 76 Violet Memorial Day ...................................................................................................................... 77 Colours of the original 43rd Battalion .......................................................................................... 79 iii Gleeson’s stopovers in Bombay in 1964 and 1965. ...................................................................... 80 Chapter 4........................................................................................................ 83 GLEESON AT VATICAN II AND IMPLEMENTING THE COUNCIL ............................... 83 Contributing to Vatican II ............................................................................................................. 85 Implementation of Vatican II ........................................................................................................ 91 Chapter 5...................................................................................................... 100 ECUMENICAL AND INTER-FAITH COMMITMENT, MODIFIED ECCLESIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE ................................................................................................... 100 A ‘strongly sectarian’ Church ..................................................................................................... 100 Gleeson addresses the Anglican synod ....................................................................................... 105 Gleeson addresses the Methodist Ministers Study Seminar ..................................................... 108 The Lutheran – Roman Catholic Dialogue ................................................................................ 109 The South Australian Dialogue of the Roman Catholic and Uniting Church ......................... 112 The West Lakes Church .............................................................................................................. 113 A revealing episode ....................................................................................................................... 116 A Contrast ..................................................................................................................................... 117 A waning of ecumenical enthusiasm ........................................................................................... 118 Gleeson and non-Christian religions .......................................................................................... 120 People of the First Testament ...................................................................................................... 121 Islam .............................................................................................................................................. 123 Gleeson’s ecclesiology modified ................................................................................................... 125 Gleeson’s philosophy of life ......................................................................................................... 126 Chapter 6...................................................................................................... 129 GLEESON THE EDUCATOR ................................................................................................... 129 Gleeson’s philosophy of Catholic Schools ................................................................................... 130 St Paul’s School, Strathmont ....................................................................................................... 135 Financial strain on Catholic schools ........................................................................................... 137 Lay staff replace religious teachers ............................................................................................. 139 A ‘Revolution’ concerning state aid to independent schools ..................................................... 142 Australian government support .................................................................................................. 144 State government support ............................................................................................................ 146 Accountability ............................................................................................................................... 149 A new catechetical approach ....................................................................................................... 151 The South-West Region scheme .................................................................................................. 153 Catholic children in state schools ................................................................................................ 156 Chapter 7...................................................................................................... 164 GLEESON’S INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC ISSUES.............................................................. 164 A Decade of Change ..................................................................................................................... 164 Gleeson’s sermon at the opening of the 1975 legal year ............................................................ 171 iv The Abortion Debate ...................................................................................................................