AUTHOR and archivist Fr Denis Martin has relished uncovering many treasures during decades of research. The 75-year-old will soon retire after 47 years as a priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, including three decades of archive work, sifting through the Church’s rich history around Brisbane and then “digging to make a good story out of it”. “It started off as ... Read More »
PLENARY Council 2020 has moved into its next preparation phase with an announcement of six national themes for discernment that emerged from a historic process of listening to the voices of more than 222,000 people. National Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins outlined the themes and the next phase “Listening and Discernment” on June 9, speaking to nearly 100 parish and ... Read More »
CATHOLIC leaders in south-east Queensland have celebrated a decade-long reaffirmation of a “covenant of understanding” with the local Anglican church – part of an ecumenical journey described as “urgent”. “We are in new territory where everything, even the ecumenical journey, looks different than it did,” Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said during a homily at St John’s Anglican ... Read More »
BRISBANE Archbishop Mark Coleridge understands the complex moment for the Church in Australia as he prepares to lead more than 40 bishops on an Ad Limina visit to meet Pope Francis. “I think we are a Church that is suffering, is anxious about the future, dismayed by the past – and all of this will be said to the Pope,” ... Read More »
A PANEL of three judges has retired to consider whether there are grounds to quash a sexual assault conviction against Cardinal George Pell. During a two-day hearing in Victoria’s Court of Appeal, prosecutors maintained a guilty verdict should stand against 77-year-old Cardinal Pell, who is three months into a six-year gaol term for assaulting two choirboys, in 1996 and 1997, ... Read More »
CARDINAL George Pell’s lawyer has told an appeal court that his client had a “strong, credible” alibi and that crimes of sexually abusing two choirboys in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne were “literally and logically” impossible. One the first day of an expected two-day hearing in the Victorian Court of Appeal, barrister, Bret Walker SC, said the timing of the ... Read More »
A CANON lawyer has spoken out about the correct form of prayers, after a mainstream media furore about some Brisbane Catholic girls’ schools teaching gender-neutral descriptions to replace traditional terms like “Lord”, “Father”, and “Son” during prayers. “My observation is that many teachers in Catholic schools don’t know the Catholic faith, and Catholics among them don’t practise the Catholic faith, ... Read More »
A BRISBANE parish priest is to face court later this month charged with an historic count of sexual abuse. In line with protocols adopted by the Catholic Church in Australia, Darra Jindalee parish priest Fr Dan Carroll has been stood aside while the legal process is underway. Fr Carroll denies the sexual abuse allegation that dates back more than 40 ... Read More »
A BRISBANE indigenous Catholic leader has hailed the appointment of Ken Wyatt as indigenous Australians’ minister as a significant moment for reconciliation in this country. “I think that this is a great milestone and our young people need to see some leadership at the highest level,” Murri Ministry co-ordinator Ravina Waldren said. “They need to see that through reconciliation we ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
