I must challenge the assertion by Charles Shann (Letters SFT 9/6/11) that Bishop Morris was dismissed for failure to uphold the Doctrine of the Church. This is a most serious charge, (and most hurtful to the Bishop) and Mr Shann must support this assertion with evidence.
The Vatican said simply that “it has been determined by Pope Benedict that the diocese would be better served by the leadership of a new bishop”.
This is not “failure to uphold the Doctrine of the Church”. Mr Shann may have sources not available to the rest of us. If so, he owes it to your readers, and to Bishop Morris, to state what charges (of failure to support Doctrines), were made, by whom, and of what he was found guilty. If he cannot tell us, I ask him to withdraw the assertion.
It is well known that Bishop Morris effectively questioned the claim by Benedict XVI that JP II’s requested closure of debate on ordaining women, carried infallible authority. In that regard the Bishop has much company. Mr Shann may be interested in “Essays in Theology” by Fr Richard O’Brien, a world renowned theologian and Professor of Theology at Notre Dame University, as reported by the National Catholic Reporter, (10/6/11). Part of that essay states:
“Moreover, individual Catholic theologians, major Catholic theological organisations in the United States, and the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland have expressed serious doubts about the claim that the Church’s current prohibition of the ordination of women to the priesthood is grounded in an infallible teaching.
“Therefore, if this was the decisive reason for the sacking of Morris, his removal seems to have been without sufficient warrant. As such it would constitute a grave injustice to him, to the diocese of Toowoomba, and to the church in Australia.”
It seems likely that Bishop Morris has been “collateral damage” in a dispute about the limits of papal authority. Allegations about his personal integrity and his commitment to his church are entirely unfounded.
Liam O’Dea,
Elbow Valley
