Lauren Huxley ‘honoured’ to meet Pope
By Katelyn John; 18/6/08
Sydney bashing victim Lauren Huxley has described being blessed by the Pope as a huge honour and a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Just metres from the courtroom where Robert Black Farmer was last month sentenced to 24 years’ jail for her attempted murder, Ms Huxley and nine other Sydney youths today met Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony for disadvantaged youths at Darlinghurst’s Church of the Sacred Heart. Dressed in a grey dress and black coat and supported by her father’s arm around her waist, Ms Huxley exchanged a few words with Pope Benedict and received a blessing. After the ceremony, Ms Huxley told reporters meeting the pontiff had been an “unbelievable” experience.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24042439-26103,00.html
A world away from what this Catholic festival should represent
19/7/08
It is becoming increasingly obvious to wide sectors of the Catholic laity that the church hierarchy, exemplified by Cardinal Pell, has lost touch with grassroots problems. These problems include fewer priests, falling church attendance and the non-involvement of our young people (Catholic World Youth Day notwithstanding). Women are permitted into the lower levels of the church but are barred from higher office by an all-male hierarchy. This comment does not infer any criticism of the hardworking nuns, brothers and priests in the numerous orders and dioceses around Australia. Yet Cardinal Pell and his fellow bishops pay homage to an outmoded system developed for a different scene in the early centuries, which is patently not working in the 21st century. Cardinal Pell also sees secularism as the root of evil in our society. We need a church that is open to change, otherwise the largest church will march into obscurity. Fran Black; Campbell (ACT)
See: http://www.smh.com.au/letters/index.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2
Pope ‘deeply sorry’
19/7/08
Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to people sexually abused by members of the clergy in Australia. He raised the issue during a ceremony to consecrate the altar of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, where the Pope has been participating in World Youth Day activities. “Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country,” Pope Benedict said in his homily. “Indeed I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. “These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation.
See: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-youth-day/pope-sorry-for-abuse/2008/07/19/1216163201767.html
Tags: Australia, LettersAdd new tag, Luke Rawlings, Violence, WYD