Well for any that are unaware, its all happening at South Brisbane! Look what happens when someone who has kept a mantle of tradition (or at least an appearance of one) but then through conviction is moved to challenge those traditions. Father Peter Kennedy who has been a parish priest in Brisbane's south for 28 years under Roman Catholic authority has shifted, along with his congregation, away from many of the norms of Roman Catholic Liturgy. This shift has finally come to a dramatic head as Fr Peter's efforts to 'remain under the radar' have come to an inevitable conclusion.
The Empire has inquired into what has gone on, and is displeased at what it sees. Fr Peter's acceptance of Gays into the fold, inviting females to have ministerial roles, laying down his own ministerial position to be on equal terms with his community, changing traditional practices and even seating arrangements! has all landed him in hot water.
There was a minor confrontation four years ago, people were notified and a letter was sent but ignored. Now things have been ramped up somewhat and Fr Peter has had his status as a priest revoked. He has been told to remove himself from his ministry but has refused to budge. He remains because his 1000 strong congregation stand squarely behind him. This defiance has come to a head in the last week as the ordained replacement for Fr Peter is due to arrive and take over.
Local police were called but not wanting to be the meat in the sandwich they asked for the new replacement to use common sense and stay away. At the same time the congregation gathered in a show of protest against the removal of Fr Peter. As all this was going on, just to add to the drama, someone made a phone call: a bomb threat toward the new replacement warning him off.
So the push and pull between postmodern revolutionaries and fundamental traditionalists rages to a head.
Now the latest chapter is that mediation has been called. There will be a civil hearing into the matter overseen by a QC.
Anyway I was excited about Peter and his conviction to lead his flock in this way. Following the lead of the great revolutionary who flew in the face of both Empire and the religious elite of His day. Feasting and communing with the outcast, the downtrodden with an attitude of service rather than dominance.
I was wondering how the RC Empire was expecting to win this one? It's a bit of catch 22. Can't keep up those age old traditions without losing the congregation. Will it be a matter of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.....again...?
3 comments:
The RC Church is not an empire it is a religion and there are some Catholics who like the traditions of the church. Some Catholics follow the teachings whilst others are seen to be fundamentalists and over judgmental fogies... I do agree that the Roman Catholicism need to be modernised, but we are all Christians in the end, each and every religion has its fundamentalists...and traditionalists. Good on Fr Peter.
Before I reply to your comment I want to make it abundantly clear that I do not single out the Catholic Church when I brand most if not all forms of 'church' as we know it today as a reflection of empire. When I brand the church like this I am pointing directly to its practices and traditions that establish an unbiblical hierachy of clergy/pastorate over the laity/unqualified. A direct reflection of empirical hierachy seen in Kingdoms past and in governments/corporations today. This I believe has more to do with churches adoption of its surrounding culture over time than it has to do with biblical ideas of church. In calling the church an empire in this instance I am trying to drive home the point that most if not all established denominations often regard tradition over all else and often without critical analysis of the consequences. And saying if it looks like, acts like, treats people like an empire then a spade is a spade... so to speak.
I agree it is comfortable to have traditions and I agree they can be popular. What i guess a lot of people (like Fr Peter) are realising is that some of the intended functions of the church found in the New Testament can be severely hindered even to the point of erradication by traditions. Please understand also that this post was not about supporting the modernisation of church. There is plenty wrong with our contemporary society that does not need to be reflected in church. On the contrary I believe a more thorough analysis of New Testament ideas of church function are required which means digging back to old ideas long forgotten and overridden by tradition. I actually find a lot to be excited about in Fr Peter's ideas for church and they have nothing to do with gays or women's stature within it.
For a detailed read of where I am coming from I recommend the book: Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna. Thanks so much for your comment.
I still think you are a gorgeous man though ............ LOL.
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