ABC News
August 25, 2008
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/25/2345484.htm
A member of St Mary's Church in South Brisbane says most parishioners do not want to break away from the Roman Catholic Church.
Brisbane's Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby says the parish is not in line with the church and he has asked it to decide whether it wants to operate independently.
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| Brisbane's Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby says the parish is not in line with the church. Photo by Dave Hunt |
Archbishop Bathersby says the wording of prayers and the placement of what he believes is a Buddhist statue in the church are unorthodox.
"At the present time they're not in communion with the church and they have to make that significant decision about it," he said.
Archbishop Bathersby outlined his concerns in a three-page letter to the parish.
"I haven't put a timeframe on it. I know they're having a meeting tonight. I would hope wisdom will prevail as they discuss these very important matters," he said.
St Mary's priest Father Peter Kennedy says the statue in question is a young monk praying but it is not Buddhist.
Father Kennedy says a meeting tonight about the future of the church will be the first of many.
Long-time parishioner Brian O'Halloran says St Mary's practices are not improper.
"The feeling of the Church of St Mary's is very much that it is of the Church of Rome and of the Diocese," he said.
"We are Catholics and the people that are coming to St Mary's are committed to this church."
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