Who's been running the Church for the past few hundred years...
Friday, 27th October 2006

Dear friends,

It's good to see Archbishop Battersby taking the gloves off today in rebuttal of Michael Gilchrist's criticisms in the media yesterday. I think it is high time the conservative elements in the Church started evaluating their own behaviours. I've framed a series of questions to Michael Gilchrist which you might like to read on the front page of our website.

The stark reality is that, with only two, possibly three exceptions, the Church has been run for at least the last 160 years by Popes of a very conservative persuasion very much in line with the worldview and theology espoused by Mr Gilchrist. Just cast your eye around the internet and media in general and you will find the vast majority of Catholic proselytisation today is very firmly in the hands of people with outlooks very similar to those held by Mr Gilchrist. It is a fallacy bordering on lunacy to suggest that the so-called "liberals" have been in charge of Catholicism for the past few centuries — or that the liberals are still in charge today. Mr Gilchrist and friends and popes of similar persuasion have been very firmly in control of the Church for a long, long time.

When are these people going to begin taking responsibility for the fact that their policies and theologies have been an unmitigated disaster? When they finally get to the pearly gates and are asked for a "please explain"?

Cliff's also on the case of another one who ought be asking himself similar questions.

Have a great day wherever you happen to be ... in life, and in our world. And don't forget our competition...

Two contrasting approaches on the Limbo controversy... Cliff Baxter expresses his horror at the way some people so filled with religious fervour not only show little compassion for those who have lost unbaptized children, but portray a merciless, legislative God still brooding over our original sin. [more]

Some Questions for Michael Gilchrist In light of Archbishop John Battersby's pointed criticisms this morning of AD2000 Editor, Michael Gilchrist, we have a few questions of our own for Mr Gilchrist. [more]

Brian Coyne
Editor and Publisher
Catholica Australia