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PERTH, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1980
No. 2188
F*7
Radical stance by Catholics in Britain
LIVERPOOL, (NC) — The National Pastoral Congress representing the Catholics of England and Wales adopted a radical stance but expressed it in polite and deferential terms. The congress brought together in Liverpool from May 2 to 6 about 2,000 delegates representing about 5 million Catholics. There were calls for a reexamination of the church's teaching on contraception, for the admission of non-Catholic partners in mixed marriages to Communion at least on special occasions, for consideration to be given to the ordination of married men to the priesthood and to the
An unexpected bonus for West Australian youths attending the four-day Seventh National: Servers' Seminar in Canberra recently was an: invitation by the Papal Pro-Nuncio, Archbishop BARBARITO, to the Queens Park servers to: call on him at the Red Hill Pro-Nunciature. He is shown talking with the visitors, left right, • Paul MULVEY and Robin PENN, of Queens Park, and Anthony CASSIDY, of Riverton, before taking them indoors for a tour of the diplomatic premises. A report on the seminar will be published next week.
Pope pinpoints real challenges The Pro-Nuncio SYDNEY: The Pope has put his finger on some real challenges, the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, told the Australian bishops at their half yearly meeting.
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The Pope during his visit to Ireland and America addressed himself to problems that affect Catholics deeply in Australia, he said. "That is why the clear, firm and bold statements of Pope John PaulII have won such an enthusiastic response everywhere," he said. "He has put his finger on real challenges." Archbishop Barbarito gave these examples."
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+ The priority of a spiritual and religious vision of human life over a merely socio-economic one. + The sanctity of marriage a n d family. + Sexuality, seen with all the nobility that gospel teaching and Catholic ethics recognise in it. + The primary importance of fidelity to their vocation by priests and Religious, as their special witness to Christ. + The constant appeals for peace and justice that will avoid war and revolution. + The insistent reminders that lay men and women
must be encouraged to work actively to consecrate the temporal order, as well as to fill responsible ecclesial roles. "Clarifications of Catholic doctrine, exhortations to particular apostolic works, suggestions about devotional practices, guide lines for missionary activity, simple words that show how well the Holy Father understands our situation - all are a source of comfort and encouragement and security in our pastoral ministry," Archbishop Barbarito said.
GUIDE "The leadership the Holy Father has given is an example to us of the effective ministry of the word to 'confirm the brethren.' "The response of the People of God through out the world shows how ready they are to hear the clear voices of their shepherds and act under their direction." Archbishop Barbarito cited the contribution made by Pope John Paul
II documents Catechesi Tradendae and his recent letter on the Eucharist. "They give clear guidance in very sensitive areas which for one reason or another had not been altogether free of ambiguity and tension," he said.
WELCOMED "Both have been welcomed with joy and satisfaction by clergy and lay people alike - almost with sighs of relief that the end of disturbance and confusion was in sight. "These things all seem to indicate plainly that the People of God are asking us to guide them clearly and firmly in their initiatives to put into effect the directives of the Holy See. "Perhaps, indeed, some lay people do not yet realise the extent to which their competence entitles them to take the initiative, es pecially in politicomoral controversy. "They may still be asking too much of us."
ordination of women to the priesthood, for a stronger, more explicit commitment on social issues, and for the bishops to consider applying for membership in the British Council of Churches.
'CONFUSION' These recommendations came in reports from seven groups, each of about 300 delegates and each discussing a s pecific group of questions. The reports were pres-
ented to a final plenary session but not voted on. "The church's teaching on marriage is at an impasse because of confusion, uncertainty and disagreement over contraception, which affects the whole sacramental life of many Catholics," the group dealing with marriage and the family reported almost unanimously. The group called for a fundamental re-examination of the church's teaching on marriage, sexuality and contraception and a strong majority of the group recommended openness t o the possibility of change and development.
AUSTN. PACIFIC DIVORCE BISHOPS MEET SYDNEY: Forty two Australian bishops from 29 dioceses and ecclesiastical jurisdictions met last week for their regular half-yearly meeting of the Australian Episcopal Conference. This week they have been joined by 38 visiting bishops from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The joint Pacific conference takes place every three years. The New Zealand contingent includes the new head of Wellington, A rchbishop Williams, Bishop Gaines, recently promoted to the new diocese of Hamilton, and Bishop Peter Cullinane. newly ordained for the new diocese of Palmerston North. Heading the Pacific confingent is Cardinal Pio Taofinuu, of Western Samoa. A large part of the Australian meeting is taken up with reports from the various committees of bishops. A selection of the reports is printed on this page and page 3 and have been supplied by Mr. Nicholas KERR, editor of The Southern Cross, Adelaide who is invited to sit in on the conference on behalf of the Catholic Press of Australia.
Concerning divorce, this group wanted the bishops both to reaffirm the church's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage and to look compassionately at the desire of those who had divorced and remarried t o be readmitted to the sacraments, possibly by considering the Eastern Orthodox practice of allowing divorcees to remarry in church. On worship and Christian unity, the group recommended that the bishops consider the possibility of admitting to Communion non-Catholic partners in interchurch marriages on such occasions as the nuptial Mass itself, family baptisms and confirmations, and other special family occasions, as well as admitting non-Catholic relatives to Communion at weddings and funerals. It also called for a review of the conditions under which general absolution is allowed. Penance services with general absolution were very popular when introduced in many dioceses a few years ago and led to an increase in individual confessions, but have been discontinued in many areas. The group considering the ministry called for much smaller dioceses so that the bishop can be a real father to his people. (CONTINUED P.2)