Cardinal Clancy’s look to ‘blue sky’

Sydney
7 July 2002

Bishops take their message to the top

MPs misled on embryos: ethicist

Cardinal Clancy’s look to ‘blue sky’

Golden wedding Mass at Cardinal Gilroy Village

200,000 boost lifts number of Aussie Catholics above 5m

Penny-farthing raises ante

Tas firm wins sacred text rights for web

Pope presents pallium to Archbishop Wilson

NZ bishops apologise to abuse victims

Church guidelines for priestly behaviour under review

Religious still ‘prepare for the unknown’

Flags for World Youth Day pilgrims

Fr Maurice O’Connor OSA (1921-2002)

Vatican gives nod to neocatechumenism

Caritas set to hit $6m target

‘Most travelled priest’ – golden jubilee

Editorial: Spiritual gold

Letters: Sex abuse issue

Conversation: People ‘often look for God in wrong places’ - Cardinal Clancy, retired Archbishop of Sydney

Reflections: Proclaiming the ‘Gospel of life’!

Respect for human dignity

‘Hundreds in crisis’ in Macarthur area

‘Times have changed’ at St Anthony’s

New clinic offers alternative to IVF

Inspirations: Bush retreat is a winner with kids

Cardinal Clancy’s look to ‘blue sky’

By Kathleen Carmody

Cardinal Clancy’s new book, Come Back! The Church Loves You, strives to sweep aside the clouds of controversy and contemplate the blue sky that is the Church and the Catholic faith.

The book was launched last week at St Mary’s Cathedral by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr George Pell.

The book, which takes its title from a statement by the Pope in Sydney in 1986, came out of a concern about declining numbers of Catholic practising their faith.

It is prompted by the conviction that there are many non-practising Catholics who would like to return to the faith, but lack a proper understanding of it.

The book does not seek to argue or defend the Church’s case, but simply to present it clearly and briefly.

Dr Pell said that the theme of the book was something at the heart of every bishop’s concerns, given the rise in the number of unbelievers and the decline in “the number of Catholics who regularly practise their religion”.

Cardinal Clancy said the book did not dwell on the controversies that have characterised the post-Vatican II period, as this might only serve to confuse people more. He accepted that the book may attract criticism for this.

“I think it does repay us sometimes to brush aside all the clouds and contemplate the blue sky, and that’s what we attempt to do with this little book,” he said.