ABC News
May 2, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/02/3204821.htm
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| Bishop Morris (foreground) says his views have been deliberately misinterpreted. |
The Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs has quit after a row with the Pope.
In a letter to the Toowoomba diocese, Bishop William Morris says he has been forced into early retirement after a five-year investigation sparked by a "disaffected" group.
Bishop Morris says he has been targeted over his comments five years ago that the Catholic Church to be more open towards ordaining married men and women to help counter a looming shortage of priests.
He says his views have been deliberately misinterpreted.
He has been a priest since 1969 and the Toowoomba bishop for 18 years.
In his farewell address at the weekend, Bishop Morris said Pope Benedict had decided he should be replaced.
The Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, says he has received no statement from Rome relating to the diocese of Toowoomba.
The Vatican is expected to release an official statement at 8:00pm (AEST).
The vicar-general for the diocese, Father Peter Dorfield, also said earlier today he was awaiting a formal announcement from the Vatican.
"We are advised that this announcement will express his acceptance of early retirement but we understand that because of the setting, it is much stronger than that," he said.
"It is the sort of early retirement that you cannot take so in effect it is a removal from office."
Community upset
Catholics in the Toowoomba diocese say they are in shock after their bishop was forced to quit after the dispute with the Pope.
Father Dorfield says the community is upset by what has happened.
"There is a whole range of reactions - some people are just shocked and saddened, some people were in tears, some people were extremely angry," he said.
"Some people were just shaking their heads - just simply couldn't comprehend how a man who was so well regarded in our diocese, prayerful and pastoral, could be considered as not suitable to be the Bishop."
The chair of the diocese and pastoral council in Toowoomba, John Elich, says Bishop Morris has done an extraordinary job.
"Bishop Bill Morris has been poorly and unfairly treated and secondly, I guess disappointed on behalf of the church that a decision could be made with no forms of natural justice whatsoever - no access even to a report that was prepared," he said.
"I think the vast majority of priests would be supportive of Bill Morris".
A vigil mass will be held outside the Bishop Morris's house in Toowoomba tomorrow.
Shocked parishioners
Toowoomba parishioner Regina Ryan says Bishop Morris's resignation came out of the blue and that fellow parishioners were shocked to hear his resignation letter read out.
"I had a cousin who attended a mass on Saturday at another parish who actually called my mum and myself and 'I was at Mass - this is what just happened, oh my gosh'," she said.
"So I had the heads up but that didn't make it any less disturbing and surprising."
Ms Ryan says the popular bishop will be missed.
"In my travels around the diocese, Bishop William has been very active in travelling and visiting parishes," she said.
"Something like seven or eight maybe nine months of the year, he's on the road travelling to one place or another.
"He makes a point of visiting as many of the communities and parishes of our diocese as possible every single year."
Ousted priest
Meanwhile, Bishop Morris's retirement comes two years after the Catholic Church ousted Brisbane priest Peter Kennedy because of his views regarding the ordination of women and gay unions.
Father Kennedy was forced to quit St Mary's Church at South Brisbane over his support for the ordination of woman and gay unions.
He says he is not surprised by the Vatican's decision.
"It was John Paul II who said the actual ordination of women could never be discussed even and it was interesting to hear he was beatified yesterday," he said.
"The absolute authority of the Vatican that is held over bishops - you've got to remember that bishops, when they become bishops, promise obedience of mind and will to the Holy Father."
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