Sydney
1 Dec 2002
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St Cecilia’s children go ‘bush’ for the day
Radical bid for men-only teaching job offers
Crackerjack way to see charity in action
Destruction of human life for profit - research fear
Fr John says ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’
Real meaning of Christmas
Perth statue: Archbishop orders inquiry
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Avoid war at all costs: Caritas
Christmas Bowl gets helping hand from a Leunig angel
Govt bows to Church pressure
A walk against war
Persecution: UN should be forced to act
Casting a NET to reach young adults, older kids
Tom Singer, lost in a ‘coward’s war’
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Letters: Breadwinners?
Conversation: Terry Underwood, Ambassador, Year of the Outback
Reflections: US bishops pose questions on Iraq
Kids go ‘bush’ at St Cecilia’s to help drought victims
It’s ‘family first’ for SOS (son of Sergio)
Dad had to face racism on field
Retreat helps with the healing
Love of books pays off for coastal school
‘Greedy people’ let the needy go without
Third degree burns
Perth statue: Archbishop orders inquiry
By Johanna Bennett and Marilyn Rodrigues
Archbishop Barry Hickey, Archbishop of Perth, has ordered an official investigation into the weeping statue that has drawn thousands of people to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Rockingham, south of Perth, each weekend since March.
After a period of waiting to see whether the weeping would stop - and interest in the statue blow over - he has decided “it is time to make a proper investigation for the sake of the people”.
Scientists who tested the statue of Our Lady on behalf of Channel 7’s Today Tonight in September found that the substance dripping from its eyes was some kind of rose-scented oil.
They put forward some suggestions of how it could be faked, but could not positively explain how it was produced.
Archbishop Hickey says their tests took only a day. Now, he says, there is a need for a more extensive test to find out whether the source or cause of the ‘crying’ can be established.
“I let it all run a while, because I thought it might stop, but it keeps going on and on,” he says. “It is three months now and out of respect for the people I think it is time we tested it officially.”
Archbishop Hickey has appointed a team of three people to examine the statue, asking them not to damage it in the process:
Dr Thelma Koppi, a non-Catholic, is a microbiologist at the University of Western Australia, with access to other scientists who may be able to help with their knowledge.Fr Kevin Long, a theologian, who lectures at the University of Notre Dame.
Dr Michael Shanahan is a surgeon.
The aim of the investigation is not to examine any ‘cures’ attributed to the statue, but to test it officially to rule out any question of fraud.
The archbishop said that while some people might think the statue is a fraud, the overwhelming majority do not see it that way and are quite convinced it is a true phenomenon.
He said he had met the statue owner, Patty Powell, who is “a normal woman, involved in community work, a typical Aussie” who does not know why the statue is weeping.
“There are many reasons why Mary would be weeping today,” he said. “She (Patty) is so in awe of the fact.
“It is in her house during the week and she lets it go to the church every weekend.
“There are thousands at the church each week.”
The statue of Our Lady was first seen weeping on March 19 during the feast of St Joseph, and then during Easter.
It stopped, but resumed weeping on August 15, the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
Many people have approached the parish to request samples of the oil for themselves.
And there have been claims of cures.
Archbishop Hickey says he does not know what he thinks about the statue personally, but said: “To see the statue weeping does affect one.
“It is easy to see why people turn to prayer when they see it. It is impressive.
“I have heard of people returning to their faith because of it.”