ABC News
February 12, 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2490075.htm
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| Archbishop Bathersby says it has been a stressful time |
Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby says he has been receiving hate mail over his decision to sack a priest.
Father Peter Kennedy has been asked to leave the South Brisbane parish of St Mary by February 21 because of unorthodox practices.
The Roman Catholic Church says the priest was dismissed for disrespecting its theology.
Archbishop Bathersby says it has been a stressful time.
"It's not nice to be called nasty names, I mean they come in letters, they come on the telephone, they come from the front gate here," he said.
"No one likes to be called names, but I realise it's a part of being Archbishop, I mean there's nothing I can do about that."
Archbishop Bathersby also says Father Kennedy does not have the power to make a treaty with Aboriginal people.
Father Kennedy gave permission for his Aboriginal parishioners to establish a tent city in the church's grounds but Archbishop Bathersby says the treaty was not approved by Church authorities.
"Father Kennedy doesn't have the authority to make a treaty with them, I mean he can't make a treaty on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church," he said.
"But I mean if documents come through claiming that, well then we'll certainly get our lawyers to have a look at that."
Archbishop Bathersby says Father Kennedy could be removed by police if required, but hopes that will not need to happen.
"I'm not sure that it will happen but if it does, we'll have to deal with when it happens," he said.
"I'd imagine that a person could be removed by police - I'm not making a big thing of that - I mean if it has to happen, it has to happen but certainly I'm not pushing that strongly."
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