mightychurch.com

My heart goes out to this man of God. On last monday’s Australian Story there was a good look at his barny with the Catholic Church hieracy. Father’s Kennedy and Fitzpatrick are doing there best to look after the less fortunate (LF), which are many in his former South Brisbane parish.The Bible always stresses that we should look after and be aware of the LF.  Jesus did not help the LF very much . In fact one could say he used the blind and cripples for his miracles just so he could get his message across. I counted 51 verses in the NT where Jesus helps outcasts. Only 4 of them did not involve miracles.
  eg John 9:13 ” I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts”  and Luke 14:13 “When you give a feast, invite the poor, crippled and lame”.
      I don’t think the present predicament (north—south divide , povery gap etc) of the poor can be compared with biblical times. Then the caste, tribe or clan system seemed to be all important. Lower status was accepted as permanent. Nowadays in the West we have a class system where in theory everyone has a chance.
    I think you can blame Mrs Bucket of TV fame for a lot of the Anglican type Haves and have nots.Mrs Bucket has a serious side. She uses her gender and position to be superior to most around her. All her family and neighbours are made miserable by her dominance and her dedication to being superior.
  Anyway , may the good Lord help Father Kennedy.

Um, no offense, but I have no idea what you’re trying to say Doug. I think your post wins for most confusing so far. :\

Ah well

51 verses hey! ......you need to get out more Doug :)

I always understood Jesus to be all about charity and good will. Possibly because i only have a childs prospective.
Poor show what’s happened to Fr. Kennedy that’s for sure.  The parish church itself should stand empty as a reminder of who’s running what and who owns what! .......but the people will return and do what they are told.
Nasty poke in the eye for the faithful I reckon.

I wish I was brave enough to suggest who Hyacinth reminds me of .........my wife and I sit and watch her often.

There might be 51 verses supporting Jesus dealing with the outcasts in society, and I have no problem with a minister/priest/pastor reaching out to the needy in society.  What I found distrubingly telling was that not once was the gospel stated, not once was Jesus referred to as Lord of all, or even referred to at all, let along being referred to as the basis for diveregence from hierarchical positions.  Jesus wasn’t in the priests’ radar at all - any priest who truly wanted to spread the gospel would have grabbed an opportunity for a half hour sermon on Jesus, who he is, the claim he has on us all, and the only right response to be made to Jesus as King; which sadly this programmes lacked in spades.

While I didn’t get the opportunity to see the Australian Story interview, I’d disagree with Doug re: Jesus’ concern for the less fortunate (LF) and say that he did more than any of us could hope for.

Yes it’s good to help the poor and needy. 

However, Jesus went beyond that, dying on the Cross, atoning for the sins of all the LF people in the world.  That to me is the ultimate love that one can show for the LF.

Hmmm Arthur.. while what you say is true…. there is also a practical element and not just a heavenly uselessness to proclaim without action…..we are called to peform this side of heaven also…as .....Jesus also called us to imitiate him and care for the outcasts of society also.

Just breaking :

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25591944-5001028,00.html
Fr Peter Kennedy given worldwide ban
Article from: AAP   June 05, 2009 03:47pm

A REBEL Catholic clergyman has been banned from acting as a priest anywhere in the world.

Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby today suspended Fr Peter Kennedy from all priestly activities.

The decree followed Fr Kennedy’s removal from the parish of St Mary’s, South Brisbane, and his setting up of a group known as “St Mary’s in Exile” at the Trades and Labour Council building near his former church.

Fr Kennedy was previously found to be out of step with the church for allowing women to preach the homily, using unorthodox prayers, having a Buddhist statue in his church and blessing same-sex relationships.

Archbishop Bathersby said in a statement he had suspended Fr Kennedy from “all priestly activities” and revoked Fr Kennedy’s ability to officiate at weddings, preach and hear confessions.

He also imposed restrictions on Toowoomba priest Fr Terry Fitzpatrick, who works with Fr Kennedy.

The church’s top legal officer, Chancellor Adrian Farrelly, said the suspension was “a very serious matter”.

“Fr Kennedy has consistently ignored a series of formal directives, following years of informal requests from the archbishop to conform with universal Catholic practices,” Fr Farrelly said.

“The Catholic Church has laws that regulate throughout the world the celebration of sacraments and pastoral care of people which Fr Kennedy has continued to flout.

“These present decrees are about ensuring that Catholics within the Archdiocese of Brisbane and beyond can continue to have confidence that the sacraments they are obtaining from all priests are celebrated validly and that pastoral practices and teaching are in harmony with accepted church directives.”

Comment was being sought from Fr Kennedy.

I’d disagree with Doug re: Jesus’ concern for the less fortunate (LF) and say that he did more than any of us could hope for.

  Yes of course Arthur, Christ did more for us than we could ever know.  That was not my point. I mean if I arrived at the door of the Archbishop and asked for a feed , he would politely tell me to get lost I’m sure.It’s just that Archbishops have got better ways of helping the less fortunate.

Craig Bennett - 05 June 2009 12:54 AM

Hmmm Arthur.. while what you say is true…. there is also a practical element and not just a heavenly uselessness to proclaim without action…..we are called to peform this side of heaven also…as .....Jesus also called us to imitiate him and care for the outcasts of society also.

Which is why I said it’s good to help the poor and needy.  Being a Christian certainly doesn’t cause us to shy away from that.