Letters: Confession

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
22 February 2004

A melting pot of faith

Jobs plan may hurt disabled

Theology of Body

First PNG Michaelites

Census data

‘Quiet revolution in our school buildings’

‘Outstanding’ approach to teaching

Cardinal will launch Project Compassion

Pregnant pause: First all-night ‘wake up’ call of baby acrobatics

Human rights

Alternative to IVF

Young take steps on interfaith road

Questions to shape choice of next Pope

Editorial: Value for money

Letters: Confession

Conversation: Fr Con Keogh, honoured for helping people rehabilitate themselves - ‘Insane’ priest who draws others to God

Easter – a renewal of life

Pancakes for peace

Catholic schools build for the future

St Joseph’s – a happy partnership where ‘everyone is bubbling over’

‘Getting value for their money’

Shot fanned flames of fear

Knocked out by Marists

Obituary: Capuchin Fr Ted gave up farming and shearing for a ‘late’ vocation

Obituary: Fr Colin, Renaissance man

... mud, sweat and gears? Crazy!

Riverview’s ‘Big Bird’

Letters: Confession

I am writing regarding my favourite sacrament, confession.

When I was younger (some years back) and went to Mass, there was always confession beforehand.

Sometimes another priest would hear confessions, even while Mass was being celebrated.

It was very convenient and the queue never stopped.

Today, confessions are heard at some awkward time and it seems hardly convenient for anybody. It is hard enough to go for Mass, especially when you have a family to bring along.

Why are we expected to double the effort and first go to confession and later go to Mass? Why can’t we have it one after the other, like in the good old days?

Joseph Cilia
Rossmore, NSW

TRADITIONAL?

I cannot comment on the quality of the review by Fr Peter Malone MSC of the Mel Gibson movie The Passion of the Christ (A credible Jesus in realistic Passion play, CW 15/2).

Yet I should like to comment on his mention of Mel Gibson’s “Catholic affiliation and support of traditional Catholicism”. It has been published widely that he does not accept the authority of the Pope.

The primacy of the Pope is very traditional, that he is the successor of St Peter as Bishop of Rome, that this had been accepted from the earliest times by St Clement – Peter’s third successor – by St Irenaeus (125–202), the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) and others long in the past,

All of us who accept Vatican II and Pope John Paul II believe we are traditional enough.

I’m quite sure Fr Malone’s review of the film is worth noting as he is such a fine reviewer.

I hope the claim that Mel Gibson is a “traditional Catholic” is not accepted – not, that is, without the traditional grain of salt.

Ken Scully
Bensville, NSW

DUNBAR WINDOW

Even though my association with St Mary’s Cathedral extends back more than half a century it was still exciting to read of the recent discovery in the Hardman archives in Birmingham of the Dunbar window drawings (Dunbar mystery unravelled; The stained-glass detective, CW 1/2).

When the stained-glass windows were being ordered prior to the opening of the present edifice in 1882, problems were experienced with the thinness of the glass and paleness of the colours.

Correspondence with the manufacturers, the Hardman Co of Birmingham revealed that the harshness and strength of the Australian sun necessitated the use of thicker glass and richer colours.

During his sojourn as Cardinal Clancy’s secretary, Fr Paul Hilder was able to solve a mystery which had puzzled historians for more than 60 years concerning misplaced windows on the eastern side of the cathedral.

When copies of the Hardman drawings were received in Sydney it became clear that several of the panels had been installed incorrectly.

For anyone not familiar with the beautiful stained glass in the Cathedral I would suggest joining a tour which would be enlightening in this regard.

If Sydney is too remote, try to obtain the book brought out on the 150th anniversary of the laying of the first foundation stone.

The book is entitled St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney 1821–1971.

John Cummins
Murwillumbah, NSW

CHILDREN

It’s very encouraging to read that the Holy Father has dedicated this year’s Lenten message to the treatment of children and large families.

The Pope says that Our Lord’s words – “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” – “calls upon us to see how children are treated in our families, in civil society, and in the Church”.

As parents of three very young children, my wife and I see people’s attitude to children everywhere we go.

There are positive comments “what beautiful children!”, but these are, unfortunately, rare.

Most people focus on the burden: “you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Strangers will even tell us: “Don’t have any more!”

And when we’re told “you’ve got your hands full”, we are tempted to respond “yes, full of blessings.”

As a growing family on a single-income, we sometimes have good reason to visit St Vincent de Paul stores, but unfortunately, the anti-child attitude seems to have quite a hold in some we have visited.

Some people are very patient with the normal excitement and curiosity of little children.

Others are not. With charitable places especially, a young family should be welcomed, particularly by a respected, worldwide movement of charity and kindness like Vinnies.

Perhaps it is time for volunteers, Church workers and indeed all of us to examine ourselves regarding our attitude to young children and large families.

As Christ said: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, for to such as these belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Anthony English
Denistone East, NSW

COURAGEOUS

Jack Turner is courageous (Abortion, Letters CW 8/2) in categorising abortion as “a crime that no human law or authority can claim to legitimise”.

Without a shadow of doubt it is immoral. Apart from that we should look more closely at abortion law in Australia, which varies between the States.

For NSW, the Crimes Act is the relevant statute. Abortion is illegal but this, most unfortunately, is not enforced.

Scientifically we are told there are few, if any, medical indications for abortion.

However, two grounds are mentioned; One is the health of mother and child and the other “therapeutic” for psychiatric reasons.

The risk of losing mother and child if an abortion is not performed was estimated in 1960 by Jeff Coate, one of England’s greatest gynaecologists, to be one in 1000, and this before so many great medical advances since then.

As regards therapeutic abortion, the question still remains whether there are any psychiatric disorders of sufficient seriousness to justify abortion.

In 1963, at the Women’s Hospital, Crown St, Sydney, there were nine abortions. The projected figure 10 years later was 1000.

Some lies told here?

James Garvey
Penshurst, NSW