Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Letters

Anonymous critics annoy

byStaff writers
11 November 2007
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I AM the priest referred to in liturgy columnist Elizabeth Harrington’s comments (CL 28/10/07) regarding a vestment featured in a photograph on the front page of the Geelong Advertiser, following the AFL premiership victory of the Geelong Football Club in late September.

As was correctly pointed out in last week’s edition of the Leader, the occasion to which she referred was an ecumenical service, not a Mass.

Nor was the chasuble worn during the service. Rather it was light-heartedly placed over me by others at the conclusion of a most prayerful service attended by a full (600-plus) congregation.

The columnist wrote that it may have been a “well-meaning attempt to be ‘relevant'”.

Well, yes, it was most “relevant”, as the premiership brought enormous joy to thousands of Geelong residents and supporters, many of whom carry severe daily burdens of all kinds, and they thanked God for this long-awaited happiness.

This was not simply a celebration of a football premiership – it was a celebration of a city and a community.

Those are some of “the facts” not included in the column, written after receiving a phone call from someone whose identity is unknown to me and who had never taken the trouble to contact me to clarify the background of the supposedly “offending” photograph.

While some readers may think my annoyance at the column is making a mountain out of a molehill, the publication of the comments highlights a major area of difficulty for many of the aging and diminishing number of priests who are daily called upon to carry heavier liturgical, pastoral and administrative burdens.

The escapades of self-appointed “liturgical police” who take it upon themselves to advise either Church authorities or public media, such as The Catholic Leader, of perceived liturgical transgressions without first taking their difficulty to the priest concerned is a continuing source of burdensome irritation to many priests, even the more conservative (like me!).

These informants” bask in their anonymity, and too often authorities and media give such tactics totally unjustified credibility by undertaking comment or corrective action which fail to follow any proper process of determining “the facts of the case” pertinent to the legitimacy or otherwise of the complaint.

Related Stories

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Many, if not most, priests in Australia today are undertaking increasing pastoral responsibility – in my case, two parishes, three hospitals and five schools.

The possibility that such “liturgical police” should be given untested credibility, whether by the Catholic press or by Church authorities, adds yet another unnecessary burden to us all.

FR KEVIN DILLON

PARISH PRIEST,

St Mary of the Angels Basilica,

Geelong, Vic

ShareTweet
Previous Post

THE KINGDOM

Next Post

Poverty rate rises

Staff writers

Related Posts

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

23 May 2022
Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Next Post

Poverty rate rises

WYD symbols to Schoolie's Week

Indigenous scholarship launched

Popular News

  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Liam receives bravery medal after shark attack rescue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is lust?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

by Mark Bowling
23 May 2022
0

ANTHONY Albanese, a self-described cultural Catholic, has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister today, after...

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping