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NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022 1
The national Catholic newspaper May 8 - 21, 2022 • No. 636
Canonist calls for What Cardinal Dew
more lay involvement would like the next
in Church governance 3 Pope to do 5
Voice of Church retires
Dame Lyndsay
calls it a day
– pg 4
‘PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR’ - ARPA AWARDS 2020
2 NZ News NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Late bishop’s Holy Week homilies
by MICHAEL OTTO
Otara school The Holy Week homilies of the late Bishop Basil
Meeking, seventh Bishop of Christchurch, for the
p16 last seven years of his life, have been published
in a book.
The book, titled “Holy Week with Bishop Basil
Meeking”, was put together by Christchurch priest
Fr Michael Pui, who was the executor of Bishop
Meeking’s will. The preface to the book explains
that Bishop Meeking’s homilies for the 2020 Trid-
uum were never preached, because New Zealand
had gone into a Covid-19 lockdown, and Bishop
p9 Meeking had also been hospitalised after a fall.
A few weeks later, Bishop Meeking died on June
Compassion role 11, 2020. During his time in hospital, Fr Pui kept
in daily contact with him by phone.
“It was in one of those daily conversations that
I had with him that the genesis of this book came
into being,” Fr Pui wrote in the preface.
“The idea of getting some of his ‘work’ or homi-
lies published came out of the blue in one of those
Bequest help daily conversations. It was the first and last time
he ever expressed that thought. It had never been
p16 part of our regular conversations when we met reg-
ularly to update his wishes, after he appointed me
to be the executor of his will and [have] enduring
power of attorney.”
The conversation about “publishing his work”
came at a time when Bishop Meeking’s medical
condition was such that he varied between periods
of having a clear and lucid mind, as against periods
of confusion, Fr Pui wrote.
p5 NZ refugee decision welcomed “It meant [that] I could not really clarify what
he wanted to explore. Mostly our daily conver-
sations during the time of lucidity were to do
p9
The book of Bishop Meeking’s Holy Week homilies
Museum opens in Far North with his immediate needs. After he died, it took
me some soul-searching and praying to come to
p10 Easter in NZ the decision on what to do. Time and providence
provided clarity.”
p19 Three women in Old Testament Most of the homilies, apart from those for
Chrism Masses, were preached, or were scheduled
to be preached, at a parish in Melbourne which
Bishop Meeking would visit. Fr Pui wrote that the
On the front cover: At a farewell function for Dame Lyndsay collation of the texts was made possible because
Freer on April 30 were Emeritus Bishop of Auckland Bishop Pat- Bishop Meeking kept hard copies of his homilies
in his later years.
rick Dunn (left), Dame Lyndsay and Auckland diocese general
Fr Pui recalled many times seeing Bishop Meek-
manager James van Schie (Photo: Teresa McNamara) ing take the hard copy of his homily from his sleeve
before commencing preaching from the pulpit. Fr
Pui called this the bishop’s “trick up his sleeve”.
“Reading this book, you will find that Bishop
Basil Meeking put a lot of thought into crafting his
homilies. May his homilies for the Holy Weeks of
his final seven years, and especially those of 2020
Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New Street, Ponsonby,
(that were never preached) help you capture the
Auckland. P.O. Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. essence of Holy Week and the Holy Triduum. May
Phone: (09) 360-3067 or (09) 378-4380. they also give you a glimpse of him as a bishop, a
Email: admin@nzcatholic.org.nz priest, a theologian, a preacher and a Christian,”
Website: www.nzcatholic.org.nz Fr Pui wrote. Bishop Basil Meeking in 2017
NZ Catholic back to full print circulation
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NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022 NZ News 3
NZ canonist backs more laity in Church governance
by MICHAEL OTTO ship” throughout the world raises “Pope Francis has promoted syn- sis was exacerbated by an arbitrary,
the question of whether a different odality, meaning the active partici- antinomian approach to canonical
A New Zealand canon lawyer has selection process would be a preven- pation of all members of the Church procedures and penalties. If canon
written that the clerical sexual abuse tative measure. in its processes of discernment, law had been implemented, the com-
scandal has shown the need for He quoted a published opinion consultation, and cooperation at mission of many crimes could have
more allowance for laity in Church of Rik Torfs that the job description every level,” the New Zealand canon been prevented and both victims and
governance. of a bishop has changed, “and this lawyer added. the Church at large could have been
In a paper last year in Studia Ca- needs to be reflected in the qualities “Pope Francis believes that this spared considerable pain.”
nonica, Msgr Brendan Daly analysed required of episcopal candidates” . renewal of the Church cannot be Among the proposals in The Light
the 21 recommendations made in . . “Bishops need to be people with deferred [as] ‘the path of synodality from the Southern Cross was a Na-
2017 about the Catholic Church by moral courage, who can make the is the path that God expects from tional Catholic Synodal Leadership
the Australian Royal Commission right decisions in difficult situ- the Church of the third millennium’, Council, to work with the Australian
into Institutional Responses to Child ations. A respectable but lenient Msgr Daly quoted Pope Francis say- Catholic Bishops Conference. A body
Sexual Abuse, and the Holy See’s churchman, intent primarily on ing at the fiftieth anniversary of the along these lines is reportedly in the
responses to the recommendations maintaining the reputation of the synod of bishops. working document leading up to the
forwarded to them by the Australian Church, could be a liability when “Synodality will result in better second assembly of Australia’s Ple-
bishops. Msgr Daly also provided dealing with a clerical abuser.” decisions in all areas of the Church’s nary Council, scheduled to be held
his own commentary. The Austra- A governance review of the Cath- life. The response of the Holy See to in July. One of the themes of the
lian bishops accepted all but one olic Church in Australia, to which the recommendations of the royal working document is “Ecclesial Lead-
of the recommendations, with the Msgr Daly contributed, recommend- commission reminds the Australian ership and Governance – Growing as
exception concerning the seal of the ed wider consultation with laity Church and all Church leaders that Disciples and Servants of the Gos-
confessional. during the episcopal appointment there needs to be a proper apprecia- pel”. Discussion on this document
The royal commission’s final process, “as well as ensuring that tion of the value of canon law in ec- will help with preparing resolutions
report commented on the “lack of candidates for the episcopacy have clesial practice. The sexual abuse cri- for the second assembly.
responsibility, transparency, and proven competence in dealing with
accountability within the Catholic sexual abuse cases”.
Church’s practices and law”, Msgr
Daly wrote. The report also showed
what Msgr Daly described as “the
catastrophic failure of bishops and
The governance review, the re-
port of which was titled The Light
from the Southern Cross, also rec-
ommended “a national protocol
New community connectors
by ROWENA OREJANA men) to help us reach out to anyone
religious superiors to deal with the on seminarian selection, training,
perpetrators, to protect victims and and ongoing formation; that each in need,” Sir Oscar said.
potential victims, and to prevent diocesan bishop (or dioceses in com- The NZ-Filipino Sto Nino Devo- He added as community connec-
abuse”. bination if appropriate) establish a tees Trust, also known as Sinulog tors, they will be able to provide
One of the royal commission’s panel involving women and lay men NZ, has recently been appointed easier access to information, sup-
recommendations was that the Aus- for the selection process for entry as Community Connectors — Care port and services across multiple
tralian Catholic Bishops Conference of candidates into the seminary and in Community Welfare Providers government agencies and service
request that the Holy See establish a discernment prior to ordination; that working with the Ministry of Social providers.
transparent process for appointing lay people take a critical role in the Development (MSD) and other Gov- This includes access to food and
bishops, which includes the direct formation of seminarians and eval- ernment agencies. essential items, mental health ser-
participation of lay people. A re- uations of suitability for ordination; Sinulog NZ co-founder Sir Oscar vices and even heating for the home.
quest was also made that the current and that there be a requirement for Batucan said this means they can “There are people affected by the
criteria for appointing bishops be each diocesan bishop to consult the now help Filipino migrant workers lockdowns in many different ways.
published. The Holy See’s response panel before accepting a foreign as well as Filipino-Kiwis who are Counselling is available and is fund-
noted the documents and canonical priest”. isolating due to Covid-19 access ed up to 4-5 sessions through the
provisions that set these out, as well In conclusion, Msgr Daly’s paper important Government services. Ministry of Health,” he said.
as the involvement of laity in the noted that the royal commission Sir Oscar and Dame Miriam Dame Miriam added that they
consultation process preceding the blamed “clericalism as a key cause Batucan had already been helping are forwarding information on job
appointment of a bishop. The Holy of failures to deal with the sexual migrant workers on a lot of other vacancies from the Ministry of So-
See response also noted the need abuse of minors within the Catholic issues like reduced wages during cial Development to those who lost
for discretion and the possibility Church. This is part of the systemic the previous lockdowns. their jobs.
of improvements, with child safety failure that led to neglecting the Sir Oscar noted Filipinos make “Emergency help is available
being given due consideration in the input of laity”. up the third largest Asian ethnic even to non-residents,” she said.
process for identifying candidates A true separation of powers and community in New Zealand. Those who need help can email
and naming bishops. more allowance for laity in Church “With this appointment, we are their queries to santonino@xtra.
Msgr Daly wrote that the “mas- governance are needed, Msgr Daly encouraging our kabayans (country- co.nz.
sive failures in episcopal leader- added.
St Anne’s Manurewa limits Easter liturgies numbers
by NZ CATHOLIC staff day and Tuesday since the church re-opened, the “The church has poor ventilation. The air con
MOH had been informing them of Covid cases at fans only circulate the used air. They do not bring
St Anne’s Church in Manurewa observed red their previous Sunday Masses. in fresh air,” he explained. “Plus, the ceiling
traffic light Covid-19 protection framework pro- “They repeatedly ask us to be more vigilant is low.”
tocols at its Easter liturgies because the church is and more compliant. We respond that we are He noted that a number of parishioners are
a “high Covid exposure” place, according to the following all the MOH rules in every detail,” Fr elderly or have health issues. Some are not vac-
Ministry of Health. McAfee said. cinated “for good reasons”.
This meant that only 200 parishioners were Fr McAfee said that the high Covid-19 case “This makes them more vulnerable. We all want
allowed inside the church and 150 in the hall. numbers is one of three reasons he decided to St Anne’s to be a safe place,” he said.
Others were asked to stay outside. stick to the red traffic light protocols. The church had since moved to the orange
In a newsletter dated April 17, St Anne’s parish The other reasons, he said, are poor ventilation light setting, and requested that parishioners
priest Fr Peter McAfee, SM, said that, every Mon- and a high number of vulnerable parishioners. keep their masks on inside the church.
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4 NZ News NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022
Dame Lyndsay calls it a day after 37 years
by MICHAEL OTTO Lyndsay continued her Auckland diocese commu-
nications position. She also worked for the Society
Perhaps the most widely-recognised Catholic of Mary. In recent times, she has assisted Bishop
voice in Aotearoa New Zealand will no longer be Dunn in the new field of social media.
heard or seen in an official Church capacity. This is one aspect of the media landscape that
Dame Lyndsay Freer has retired from her has changed over the years, and it isn’t the only
role as media and communications officer for one.
Auckland diocese, bringing the curtain down on Many people in media used to see the Church
a 37-year career as the go-to “Church person” as an anachronism, and as irrelevant, Dame Lynd-
for media. say said, but that changed with a properly-func-
With Pope Francis accepting the resignation of tioning national communications office. However,
Bishop Patrick Dunn as Bishop of Auckland late she fears that many in the media have reverted
last year, Dame Lyndsay said she felt it was the to their former outlook.
right time for her to step down as well. “Media sees Church law in direct conflict with
“With a new bishop coming on to the scene, society’s prevailing values of individual freedoms
this was time for him to make his own decisions and basic human rights. They believe their role
on how to deal with the media. I felt my shelf-life is to challenge such teachings. There is deep re-
had come to an end in terms of being employed sentment that institutions have the right to tell
by the diocese, so I thought it was the right time,” people how they should behave and live their
she told NZ Catholic. personal lives.”
Reflecting upon her career in journalism and
Church communications, she said that her inter- n Counter-cultural
est was likely sparked when, as a young Lyndsay With so many in the media having values at
Kearns, living then in Christchurch, she won a odds with those of the Church, Dame Lyndsay saw
Zealandia short story competition, and her prize Dame Lyndsay Freer her work as distinctly “counter-cultural”. Religion
was a biography of Pope Pius XII. in many ways challenges “consumer culture”,
Reading the book enkindled a greater interest four children, who was in media management. He while media, in many ways, seek to legitimise it.
in matters to do with the Church. She would read was the brother of former Labour cabinet minister That said, she also believes that the Church has
articles about the Church and wrote book reviews, Warren Freer. The couple married and had a son benefitted from media, when it has discharged its
many of them to do with faith and ecclesiastical of their own. Ken Freer died in 1995. rightful function reporting on scandals and un-
life, for a Catholic library in the city. She also In 1985, Bishop Denis Browne was looking covering abuse and corruption. But that shouldn’t
graduated from a walk-by-faith course when she for an Auckland diocese media spokesperson, to slide into gratuitous insult, she added.
was young. follow on from Fr John McAlpine. Dame Lyndsay’s Dame Lyndsay has for years been the con-
As she looked back on her career, she noted the then-parish priest in Remuera, Msgr Philip Purcell, tact point for media reporting stories of clerical
connection between reading that papal biography suggested that she apply for the position. abuse. NZ Catholic asked her what toll this had
so many years ago, and the “high points” of her Although shortlisted for the role, as were two taken on her
work for the Church — attending two conclaves, male candidates, she didn’t like her chances. “I “I’m fortunate that I have many interests in my
in 2005 and 2013, and a papal funeral, as well as didn’t think for a minute I would get the job, be- life, outside my work for the Church. Having been
helping organise the visit of St John Paul II to New cause I also said I could only work from 9 until a more-or-less professional singer for many years,
Zealand in 1986. 3, because I had a son at school, and would need doing roles in opera and oratorio and broadcast-
In Auckland, she received singing training to have school holidays off.” ing and lots of singing engagements — having a
from Dame Sister Mary Leo at St Mary’s College. But Bishop Browne decided she was the best child and a large extended family gave me other
According to a 2003 article in The New Zealand candidate and offered her the role, with hours perspectives. My late husband was not a Catholic,
Herald’s Canvas magazine, she had been a designed to fit her requirements. and he helped me keep my feet on the ground and
regular guest artist on Concert FM, sang at wed- I tended not to bring my work home. But I have
dings and funerals, and might also have had an n Woman always been deeply distressed by the disclosures
international career in this arena. Dame Lyndsay believes she was the first of abuse within the Church community and the
But that was not to be her path. After leaving woman in such a position in the Church in New sense of betrayal that goes with it.
school, she worked for an advertising agency, for Zealand, and that this made a difference. “One of the things that did upset me was . . .
The Waikato Times, The Dominion and The Sunday “I think it softened the image of the Church,” the fact that I met quite a lot of resentment within
News, writing an “agony column” under the pen- she said. the Church community for the work I was doing.
name “Gaby Fulton”. Her time as a journalist also “I don’t say this disrespectfully, but I think, Criticism was not just confined to those outside
saw her meet and marry Ken Freer, a widower with rather than have what might have been seen to the Church!”
be a rigid clerical response to everything, here Dame Lyndsay played a key role in helping
was a woman who was a wife and a mother. . . .” with the establishment of the National Office for
Her work was recognised with her being made a Professional Standards. She recalls calling for
papal dame in 1995, the first such award in Auck- such a body to be established, and addressing a
land diocese. Nationally, Dame Betty O’Dowd from meeting of the Mixed Commission, made up of
Christchurch preceded her, she said with a smile. bishops and heads of religious orders.
In the late 1990s, the then-national commu- “I actually decided to speak frankly, and say
nications director for the Catholic Church, Fr that I was very disappointed that, while all of
James Lyons, went back to pastoral work, and the the dioceses and the orders had signed up to the
bishops invited Dame Lyndsay to apply for the document which had not long been established —
role. “A Path to Healing” — yet I was being questioned
“And I, at first, was hesitant, because I said frequently by the media about dioceses and reli-
I was not prepared to move out of Auckland, gious orders which did not follow the protocols
Jubilee Bursary where my family was.” She said that one of the
conditions of her taking on the role was that the
national communications office had to be in Auck-
that they had actually signed up to.”
She told the Mixed Commission of “my frus-
tration and, in fact, my anger that there was
for Theological and land, which was, and is, she believes, the media dishonesty in the Church and that there was a
centre of the country. serious need of reform. If we were going to say
Religious Education Highlights of her time as national communica- that we were transparent, and were going to follow
tions director included the events of 2005, when a particular protocol and process, why were we
Applications Invited she was able to be in Rome for the funeral of St not doing it, right across the board? Some were,
for Semester 2, 2022 John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI and some most certainly were not”.
(and later, in 2013, to cover the conclave that The Church’s National Office for Professional
Applications close elected Pope Francis). She also travelled through- Standards (NOPS) was established soon thereafter,
Thursday, 9 June 2022 out the country with the relics of St Therese of and Dame Lyndsay was on the committee that
Lisieux in 2005, which saw crowds gather in interviewed some of the applicants to head the
Applicants must be Catholic and churches throughout the nation in veneration, and office. Former Police Commissioner, John James-
making a contribution to the mission of the was a “wonderful demonstration of our Catholic on, a Baptist, was appointed.
Catholic Church in the Auckland Diocese. faith”. Dame Lyndsay had plenty more to say about
But in 2008, the national office of commu- the Church needing to commit more resources to
The Bursary is a contribution towards Tertiary nications was disestablished, a decision which missionary outreach, when it is currently, in her
Study for Theology and RE courses at disappointed Dame Lyndsay. opinion, spending too much money, time, and
Degree or Post Grad Level “I had the view that if a thing is not broken, resources “talking to ourselves”.
don’t fix it,” she said. But future Church ventures will not have Dame
For further information and an “We were fortunate that the media came to Lyndsay working in any official capacity. Asked
application pack, please contact: us — to our office — for any enquiries to do with by NZ Catholic, what now for Lyndsay Freer? she
Christianity, and often concerning ethical or mor- replied: “I’m doing voluntary work, within the
Michelle Jarvis al issues. We had a lot of clout with the media, Church community, largely. But I will possibly
michellej@cda.org.nz and I feared that, if it was going to be restructured see if I can do some work within the hospice
in a totally different way, that was going to be movement as well. I have family, and am still
AUCKLAND CATHOLIC DIOCESE
cda636
lost.” involved in singing and music, so there are still
Although her national role was no more, Dame lots of things to do.”
NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022 Features 5
Cardinal Dew quizzed on Church in radio show
by MICHAEL OTTO process that is being sought, it is than it is believing. People think
the process itself of getting people that if we believe a certain . . . and
If Cardinal John Dew was elected to come together and reflect and dis- it’s true, we do believe a creed and,
as Pope, what would he like to see cern together that is of importance. you know, facts of faith . . . but it is
different about the Church at the end The cardinal also pointed to recent not just by believing that people are
of his pontificate? changes made by Pope Francis to connected with one another. It is by
That was a question put to Car- allow lay people to be appointed to giving one another a sense of belong-
dinal Dew in an interview by John head Roman curial offices. ing and community, and that we are
Cowan on Real Life on NewstalkZB on Mr Cowan quizzed Cardinal Dew related and connected to each other
Easter Sunday. Cardinal Dew started about priestly celibacy. “You repre- because of the fact that we share a
his answer by stating “I would be sent a faith that talks so much about common faith.”
saying, that [being elected Pope] connection and community, but it Asked if his understanding of
would never happen to me”. calls upon its priests and nuns to what the Christian message means
The cardinal quickly referred the forgo what, for most of us, provides had changed over the years that he
interviewer to the synod process us with love and intimacy. Is that too had been a Christian, Cardinal Dew
underway, and its emphasis on lis- hard?” he asked the cardinal. said that there had certainly been
tening to many voices from many Cardinal Dew responded that changes in emphasis.
different quarters. priestly celibacy should not be seen “I think, as a schoolboy, we were
“I think whoever is the Pope, cer- as a negative thing. brought up thinking it was all about
tainly needs to continue to look for However, there is a practical side keeping rules, and that God was
ways to involve all of the People of to it, he said. watching over us to see us make
God in the Church, so that it is not “I know that, if I was married and mistakes or do something that is
just seen as an hierarchical struc- I had a partner, I would want to be wrong. I don’t think that at all about
ture, where priests and bishops and spending time with wife and family. God now.
cardinals do everything, and make But I don’t have that, and that allows Cardinal Dew “My whole sense of God is this
all the decisions,” Cardinal Dew said. me to give a lot more time, say when being who invites us into life, and
“That is the whole point behind I was in a parish, to people in a par- rich.” who wants to share the fullness of
this listening process that Pope Fran- ish. I am sometimes asked by young The face of the Church is chang- life with us. And in some ways, I
cis has asked the Church to engage people about celibacy and I say, we ing because of immigration to New think it is probably a lot simpler, and
in,” he said. can live without sex, but we can’t Zealand, Cardinal Dew said, but that religion itself can be very, very,
In this, “Pope Francis is doing live without love. We are called to when asked about the key to its simple. And we learn so much from
something remarkable”, asking be people who share our lives and lasting 2000 years, he pointed to the one another. Once it used to be that
people their views as to “where the respond, not to a greater call to love, importance of relationships. the Church was seen as a perfect
Church should be today, what the but a different call.” “I am always saying to our clergy, society, now it is recognised as the
Church should be doing”. Asked if he felt “short-changed”, and those we do have as lay pasto- People of God, travelling together
Cardinal Dew said that it is not Cardinal Dew responded, “No, my ral leaders, that ministry is always . . .”
just the end product of the synod life has been and still is, very, very about relationships, the way we try The cardinal also spoke about
to connect with one another,” he prayer, the Easter message, the
said. challenges facing the Church as pan-
Asylum-seeker decision “One of the sayings I have is that
the Church is more about belonging
demic regulations ease, and about
gratitude.
welcome but more help needed
by NZ CATHOLIC staff chair of the Australian Bishops Com-
mission for Social Justice, Mission
Australia’s Catholic bishops have and Service.
welcomed their government’s deci- “The Catholic community con-
sion to see up to 450 asylum-seekers tinues to support and pray for
resettled in New Zealand, but say all refugees and asylum-seekers
hundreds more need to be offered a in Australia and in offshore deten-
pathway out of detention. tion.
Australian Home Affairs Minis- “We ask for an end to indefinite
ter Karen Andrews announced in detention, and for pathways to per-
March that 150 asylum-seekers in manent visas for all those who are
Australia will be able to relocate to determined to be refugees or who
New Zealand each year for the next meet humanitarian criteria.”
three years. In a media statement from the
“The decision is well overdue Australian Catholic Bishops Con-
given the New Zealand Government ference, Bishop Long said that the
made the offer nine years ago,” said Church, which plays a significant
Bishop Vincent Long, OFM Conv, role in welcoming and assisting
refugees and asylum-seekers in Aus-
tralia, continues to call for a larger
humanitarian intake “so that an ap-
propriate response can be made to
those who are fleeing conflict and
violence in Ukraine, Afghanistan,
Myanmar, Ethiopia, Syria, Iraq, Dem-
ocratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea,
Yemen and Venezuela”.
The Australian representative of
the United Nations High Commis-
sioner for Refugees has estimated
that there are more than 1200 refu-
gees and asylum-seekers in Australia
or on Nauru.
That means that not all will be
able to resettle in New Zealand.
Bishop Long said a solution is
needed to the several hundred who
won’t be captured by the recent an-
nouncement.
“Australia has a moral obligation
to resolve the asylum-seeker crisis,
so that people who are fleeing from
violence or poverty are treated justly
and humanely,” he said.
“This means ensuring their claims
are assessed quickly, and that people
found to be refugees are resettled in
Australia or in an equivalent country
Bishop Vincent Long, OFM without delay.”
6 Opinion NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022
Heigh-ho, it’s time for the election show
W
hen the Annual Show was the biggest show meeting the needs of the people. It will have helped by what they see, others impatient, but all repre-
in town, and the animals, their owners, to define the issues on which the Election will be senting people and places in Australia for whose
the axemen, scone-makers, boxers and fought. The Budget delivered, all is ready for the sake the election matters. By attending to the faces
sideshow people, the merry-go-rounds and the Election, which we now know will be on May 21. of people who are seen as props to the election
modest showbags spruikers all came to town, the For many people, the question posed by the campaign, and developing an interest in the often
air lightened, and in school playgrounds the toys of election campaign will be how to survive it. It is well-researched background of social change in
the year — yo yos, water pistols or kites — sprung tempting to dismiss a campaign that sets a Govern- different parts of Australia, and its effect on the
up everywhere. It was show time. ment that has done very little for the last six years predicaments and priorities of the people who live
That is also true, though in more ponderous against an Opposition that has promised little. If there, we gain a deeper understanding of Australia
ways, of election time. . . . our ideal form of democracy and of the place of and its needs. At one level, election campaigns
For some weeks the first stirrings of election elections within it is based on an idealised vision are all showbiz and make believe, but at another,
time in Australia have been evident in the rustle of of Athens, in which policies and positions are the humanity that they can never quite stifle also
government announcements. Attention is suddenly decided by speeches based in rational argument, punctures the images that the contesting partners
then it would be reasonable to ignore the election. project of Australia.
The fortunes of government will not be decided Election campaigns also highlight the gifts and
by public debate between different visions of the work brought to what is sometimes contemptuous-
Andrew Hamilton national future. The media tent in which the elec-
tion campaign is played out will be dominated by
ly referred to as retail politics — the business that
those not gifted for the real business of politics
commentators who are concerned primarily to em- get into. We see political candidates who sought
given to areas desolated by fire or flood. Women barrass politicians and discover gaffes, to further election to serve and not to rule, who will never
are treated with old fashioned courtesy. Attack the fortunes of their own side, and to pick winners be government ministers, who are aware of, and
dogs are locked behind the shed until needed and losers. This leaves little space for hearing and focus on, the needs of their constituents, are active
during the campaign. Offensively cruel policies are weighing argument. in the communities they represent, and contribute
softened by freeing a few people from detention. That said, election campaigns are worth attend- to the groups that deal with serious matters of
Polls and pollsters, a little motheaten for most of ing to. Instead of looking at the earnest faces of Australian life.
the year, now stride boldly in Persil White togas those licensed to speak in the tent, however, we All in all, once we stop looking at what political
up to the Capitoline Hill, wreathed in auguries and should turn away from politics as politics, away parties would like us to focus on, election cam-
in hidden knowledge. Everywhere to be seen are from those for whom this is their preferred lan- paigns contain much that is interesting, admirable
signs of inventories being taken, new merchandise guage, away from those who prey on gaffes and and thought-provoking. They offer sketches of
being tried out, appearances changed, and the snafus, and away from chest bumpings. We should Australians who have deep needs, and deserve a
tents on social media and television erected for turn instead to the edges of the tent and those who Government that will take them seriously. They
the big show. can be glimpsed there. also represent an Australia facing enormous chal-
Recently, we saw a trial run — a small election The coverage of the election does incidental- lenges from climate change, inequality and politi-
in South Australia, carefully gutted for auguries ly give space to voices and faces of bystanders cal uncertainty, and deserving a government that
for the Federal Election. Now the Federal Budget throughout Australia. Behind and around the men will address these challenges seriously.
has been brought down. This is a necessary step of action in their fluorescent jackets, hard hel- Andrew Hamilton, SJ, is consulting editor of Eureka
before the calling of an election in order to provide mets, akubras, baseball caps or other props that Street, and writer at Jesuit Social Services. This article
funds for government. It also allows the Governing identify them as ordinary Australians, are people was originally published at www.eurekastreet.com.au. It
party to appear at its wisest and most generous in going about their daily business, some intrigued is republished here with permission.
Ronald Rolheiser
Then God created light again
I
t doesn’t matter whether you picture the origin defeat
of time the way science does, as beginning with Can life be raised back up when it’s in defeat?
the Big Bang, or whether you take the biblical Can a dead body come out of its grave? Can a
account of the origins of the world literally. Ei- violated body again become whole? Can lost
ther way there was a time before there was light. innocence ever be restored? Can a broken heart
The universe was dark before God created light. ever be mended? Can a crushed hope ever again
However, eventually the world grew dark again. lift up a soul? Doesn’t darkness extinguish all
When? light? What hope was there for Jesus’ followers
We are told in the Gospels that, as Jesus was as they witnessed his humiliation and death on
dying on the cross, between the sixth and ninth Good Friday? When goodness itself gets crucified,
hour, it grew dark and Jesus cried out “My God, what’s the basis for any hope?
my God, why have you forsaken me!” What really In two words, the Resurrection. When dark-
happened here? ness enveloped the earth a second time, God
Are the Gospels saying that it actually grew made light a second time, and that light, unlike
dark in the early afternoon, an eclipse of the sun, the physical light created at the dawn of time,
or are they referring to another kind of darkness, can never be extinguished. That’s the difference
of a spiritual kind? Was there an eclipse of the sun between the resuscitation of Lazarus and the
as Jesus was dying? Perhaps. We don’t know, but Resurrection of Jesus, between physical light
that is of secondary importance anyway. What and the light of the Resurrection. Lazarus was
the Gospels are referring to is a kind of darkness restored to his self-same body from which he
that envelops us whenever what’s precious to us had to die again. Jesus was given a radically new
is humiliated, exposed as powerless, ridiculed, body which would never die again.
terminally defeated, and crucified by our world. The renowned biblical scholar Raymond E.
There’s a darkness that besets us whenever the Brown tells us that the darkness that beset the
forces of love seem overpowered by the forces of Photo: Nathan Watson, Unsplash world as Jesus hung dying, would last until we
hatred. The light extinguished then is the light of believe in the Resurrection. Until we believe that
hope, but there is deeper darkness and this is the God has a life-giving response for all death, and
kind of darkness that the Gospels say formed a tion of Jesus was also a radically new light for the until we believe God will roll back the stone from
cloud over the world as Jesus hung dying. soul, the light of hope. What is this latter light? any grave, no matter how deeply goodness is
What’s being insinuated here is that, at Jesus’ There’s a famous song written by Robbie buried under hatred and violence, the darkness
crucifixion, creation went back to its original cha- Robertson made popular in the early 1970s by of Good Friday will continue to darken our planet.
os, as it was before there was light. But, what’s Joan Baez, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Mohandas K. Gandhi once observed that we
also being insinuated is that God created light a Narrated in the first person by a man called Virgil can see the truth of God always creating new
second time, this time by raising Jesus from the Caine, the song is a sad lament about the distress light, simply by looking at history: “When I de-
dead, and that this new light is the most stagger- experienced by a poor white Southern family spair, I remember that, all through history, the
ing light of all. Moreover, unlike the original light, during the American Civil War. All that could way of truth and love has always won. There have
which was only physical, this light is a light both go wrong for them, seemingly had gone wrong, been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they
for the eyes and for the soul. including the death of their young son, killed can seem invincible. But in the end, they always
For the eyes, the light of the Resurrection is in the war. Their situation is dark, lacking any fall. Think of it, always.”
also a radically new physical phenomenon. At hope. At a point in the song, the narrator offers Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher,
the Resurrection of Jesus, the atoms of the plan- this lament about his brother’s death: and award-winning author, is president of the Oblate
et were shaken up from their normal physical He was just eighteen, proud and brave School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He can
workings. A dead body rose from the grave to a But a Yankee laid him in his grave be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.
life from which it would never again die. That had I swear by the blood below my feet com Follow on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrol-
never happened before. Moreover, the Resurrec- You can’t raise the Cain back up when it’s in heiser/
NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022 Opinion 7
Catholic social The Habit
teaching vs woke
“W
hen I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty
said, in a rather scornful tone, “it
means just what I choose it to mean,
neither more nor less.”
This statement, from Lewis Carroll’s 19th
century “Through the Looking Glass”, echoes
down to our time and to our place. We now have
a law in New Zealand that allows for the prescrip-
tion of “safe areas” near abortion facilities on a
case-by-case basis. It is hard to image a greater
misnomer. As Maria Steen wrote recently in The
Irish Times, that “the very idea that a hospital
carrying out a procedure to end an innocent life
has to be surrounded by a ‘safe zone’ is an af-
front, not only to morality, but also to language”.
She went on to write about society’s “unques-
tioning acceptance of the euphemisms that have
come to dominate all discourse on abortion”.
Full marks to The Irish Times for allowing Steen’s
view to be published, rather than “cancelled”,
but her voice is a rarity in today’s media. One
of the primary ways in which the prevailing
discourse on topics like abortion is spread is
through media. And media is not what it used
to be. The make-up of newsrooms has changed
much over recent decades. Veteran New Zealand
journalist Karl du Fresne noted on his blog that
today’s newsrooms are dominated by “youngish,
university-educated” people who are predomi-
nantly middle-class, as against the newsrooms
of the yesteryear where the trade of journalism
was learned on the job, and its practitioners were
Letters
mainly working class.
Blasphemy Euthanasia
He cited US journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, produces the epidemic Him being the Architect of
we observe in our young all creation.
who has written of the “woke” takeover of jour- people’s lives, resulting in Our Lady of Fatima
nalism. This “per- attempted and successful issued many warnings
meates almost In the article about the suicides? about communism after The Ministry of Health’s
Editorial every aspect of
news coverage
softening attitude to blas-
phemy (NZ Catholic, May
I guess it’s not trendy
or acceptable any more to
the Russian Revolution
in 1917.
Registrar [assisted dying]
Dr Kristin Good, has pro-
7) Fr Duffy said that the
and commentary, Catholic Church should
simplify such important Thanks be to God that vided her first quarterly
from what the media choose to cover (and just as and complex issues. It’s Pope Francis consecrated report on the assisted
and does encourage re- too easy and naïve to even both Russia and Ukraine
crucially, what they decide to ignore) through to dying service.
spect for the name of God suggest that we live in a to her Immaculate Heart
the way the news is presented and the editorial Sixty-six vulnerable
by teaching the Ten Com- culture that scorns pro-life just recently.
tone in which it’s reported, all of which tends patients were killed by
mandments. decisions based on Chris- When it comes to errors the state in the period
to reinforce prevailing ideological orthodoxy”. I know I learnt the tians commands such as in the field of science, the between the End of Life
Earlier this year, speaking to diplomats, Pope Ten Commandments at “Thou shalt not kill”. Sim- theory of evolution is un- Choice Act coming into
Francis criticised what he called “a mindset that school (a long time ago), ply put, “love God, love fortunately one misguid- force on November 7,
rejects the natural foundations of humanity and but how often do we have your neighbour” is much ed hypothesis because it 2021 and March 31, 2022.
the cultural roots that constitute the identity of a reminder in a Sunday too restricting. Let’s bring is not grounded in factual These patients were killed
homily of any of the Ten
many peoples”. He also deplored “ideological Commandments and their
in catchphrases like “free- truth. by a doctor with a lethal
colonisation” that “leaves no room for freedom dom of choice”, “my body, Genetic science tells us injection or assisted in
implications in our lives, my decision”, and other that typically males have
of expression”. their suicide.
or reminders of our rever- such fallacies and selfish one X and Y chromosome
“A kind of ‘one-track thinking’ is taking The government of Ja-
ence for the name of Jesus statements. Align this with (XY) while females have cinda Ardern pays doctors
shape,” he continued, “one constrained to deny Christ? Not very often. large amounts of narcis- two X chromosomes (XX). up to $3000 for each pa-
history or, worse yet, to rewrite it in terms of I know the homilies sism and blatant consum- Even an ultrasound scan tient they kill and remove
present-day categories, whereas any historical are supposed to be based erism, and you then have can detect this biological from the health system.
situation must be interpreted in accordance with around the Mass read- the recipe for the anti-life reality in utero. In November, the Min-
a hermeneutics of that particular time.” ings, but I think reminders epidemic that we have in The naturalist Charles ister of Health stated that
of other matters of faith
So who gets to decide the “one-track thinking” should not be overlooked.
this country today. Darwin had scant or little New Zealand was now
that so pervades newsrooms? What value does a knowledge of genetic or ready for assisted death.
More importantly, I young person see in his hereditary science. Like-
Speaking to Angelus News last year, Bishop This quarterly report
would like to hear re- or her life when we abort wise, he was unable to
Robert Barron stated that “the advocates of the should fill our souls with
minders of the miracle 600,000 “problems”, or explain endemic species
so-called ‘woke’ ideology today have not been terror and apprehension,
that occurs at every Mass: allow old people to choose being specific to certain as we consider living in
shy about articulating the philosophical under- the Consecration, and to take their lives legal- countries. a state where the gov-
pinnings of their perspective. They do indeed how reverently we should ly, by injection? Surely, The accredited bota- ernment is prepared to
find inspiration in Marx, Nietzsche, Sartre, Der- receive the Blessed Sac- the resultant and proven nist and monk, Gregor decide who should live
rida, and Foucault, among others”. rament. mental trauma allied to Mendel, correctly posited and who shall be killed,
Bishop Barron wrote that ‘woke’ ideology de- Kathleen Kenrick, abortion and euthanasia that traits are produced all under the guise of a
Dunedin.
rives several principles from writers like these, are reason enough to take by genes, alleles. These health service.
such as the world being divided sharply into a long, hard look at the make up the DNA of all When the state assumes
the oppressors and the oppressed, an emphasis
on categories and classifications with collective Culture society we have produced.
Alarmingly, we Catho-
life forms, such as eye
colour.
the right to decide whose
lives are of value and who
lics do not reflect statis- Reportedly Darwin nev- may be killed, we are liv-
guilt, and the employment of “divisive and ag- A question we Catholics tically any contrary op- er intended his theory of ing in a tyrannical state.
gressive strategies of accusation that are con- must surely be asking position to this prevailing evolution to end up as Would you entrust your
trary to the Gospel demand to love our enemies”. ourselves is, “ What are situation. fake science or even a family into the hands of a
“Suffice it to say that Catholic Social Teaching the root causes of the is- John Farrell, fake religion. doctor who was prepared
stands athwart all of this,” Bishop Barron con- sues resulting in suicides Pukekoke. Indeed, God moves to kill you as a treatment
tinued. “It wants social justice, of course, but so evident in our young in mysterious ways, his option?
not on ‘woke’ terms. Its heroes are not Marx,
Nietzsche, and Foucault, but rather Isaiah, Amos,
people?”
What situations prevail Evolution wonders to perform: He
plants his footsteps in
Right To Life is com-
mitted to the repeal of
Jeremiah, Jesus the Lord, Ambrose, Aquinas, and to cause our young peo- the sea, And rides upon the End of Life Choice
ple to consider ending Communism denies the storm. Act 2019.
Teresa of Calcutta”. “I fear that a lot of Catholics,
such mentally-troubled the existence and omnip- E. Smith, Ken Orr,
legitimately concerned about societal injustice lives? What kind of society otence of God, along with Waitakere City Christchurch.
and eager to do something about it, will turn, not
to our biblically-based and deeply wise social
teaching tradition, but rather to the philosophy Except for our own edi- NZ Catholic welcomes readers’ letters, although receipt of a letter does not guar-
that’s currently in the air.” torials, opinions expressed antee publication. No correspondence will be entered into concerning publication.
Bishop Barron lamented the fact that “the in NZ Catholic do not neces- Letters should be no longer than 220 words and should be topical, to the point, and
Church’s social doctrine, like the documents of sarily reflect the opinion of include the writer’s address and phone number. Ad hominem attacks are not welcome.
the newspaper or of its own- Emailed letters should be sent as part of the text message — not as an attachment — to
Vatican II, is still largely unknown to huge num-
er, the Bishop of Auckland, editor@nzcatholic.org.nz and include the writer’s physical address. Pseudonyms are not
bers of Catholics”. Maybe this could be a topic
unless otherwise indicated. accepted, except by special arrangement.
for a future synod?
8 Opinion NZ Catholic: May 8 - 21, 2022
Come, dream with me a
dream that is coming true
D
“
ear young people — it is espe- long way from when the first boul-
cially you I am thinking of as I ders bashed against each other to
allow these thoughts to unrav- form a planet capable of this — and
el. You will be architects of the future. every other wonder like it. The world will never starve
Amazing science and technology will But if the past is mind-boggling,
open doors we haven’t even come it’s the future that really challenges from want of wonders; it will
to yet. Hopefully, you will always me. Our planet, scientists say, is
be guided by what it means to be
authentically human, which involves
destined to end up like the other
planets — burned out and dead!
starve from want of wonder.”
more than what science and technol- Some scientists surmise that, by the
ogy can tell us. In fact, it also helps time planet earth dies, we will have — G.K. Chesterton.
us to safeguard against the abuse of established ourselves on some other
science and technology. planet(s). Who knows? What we do
You might glean from these pon- know is that any planet that might
derings that I am a fan of Professor have lit up to become our new home
Brian Cox. As a former musician with had better not count on getting its
the British bands D:Ream and Dare, heat from the sun; it will have been
and associate of Monty Python’s com- the sun’s demise that ensures earth’s Photo: Jeremy Thomas, Unsplash
edy troupe, Cox presumably believes demise. Cruising around from one
life is to be enjoyed. He is right. As dying planet to another seems a lot again, cleansed and transfigured. and true to our own nature than when
of trouble to go to for unpromising (Second Vatican Council, Church in we “see God”. Pausing to know we are
returns. the World, 39) in God’s presence sharpens our real-
Peter Cullinane Brian Cox relishes life; he says life
is what gives the universe its mean-
People we love, times that were
special, good things we have done,
isation that God never owed us our
existence, or needed to create; we are
ing. With sincerity and courage, he all somehow belong with us in our part of what might never have been.
professor of particle physics in the asks all the hard questions. Following future. What is truly precious to us That’s marvellous: it means that God,
School of Physics and Astronomy, the evidence of the sciences, he tells now is never really lost. The sacrific- who didn’t need us, wanted us! When
University of Manchester, and BBC us that, in some trillions of years, es we make for what is good and right we know that, we become more alive.
documentary presenter, he clearly all the other suns will have burned and just, do count. The planet Brian That also means our existence is
finds the universe cause for great out like our own, and “all life and Cox has good reason to love, we have pure gift; so, we are true to ourselves
wonder. all meaning” will vanish with them. even greater reason to love. most of all when we are being given,
It’s interesting that science and Where there was void before our uni- So, how does this picture of our i.e. being there for others — in all the
faith both evoke a sense of wonder verse came into existence, there will future sit with science’s claim that ways required by right relationships,
and awe. Science is in wonder at what be void again. I suggest the question our planet will die? Some believe with each other and with all creation.
exists, from its smallest details to of meaning cannot so easily be put our spirits go off to heaven, leaving That is being true to our human na-
its greatest dimensions. No matter aside. Even if, as some surmise, our material creation behind. That view ture — “authentic”.
how far back scientists look for the universe originated from some previ- originates from ancient pagan belief It involves loving others the way
universe’s origins, science can only ous universe that also came and went, that material things are somehow bad God loves us: love that isn’t owed or
wonder at what exists. Faith is in and so on over and over, the question and ultimately don’t belong. Chris- measured or needing to be deserved
wonder that anything exists at all, always remains: why is there not just tian belief is different, based on the is a circuit breaker — the kind of
because God didn’t need to create. We nothing at all? ancient Hebrew belief that God made love that changes everything, and
need to find ourselves in wonder at Of course, time is on humanity’s the whole of creation “good”, and hu- the only kind that can! Many religious
what it means to be part of something side: the sun is good for another five man life “very good”. Our bodies are orders, and lay movements based on
that might not have existed. “The billion years. But however long or part of what it means to be human. the Gospel, were founded to put that
world will never starve from want of short the time-frame, it matters now It is our human nature, and the whole kind of loving into action. Outside
wonders; it will starve from want of because it is our present lives that of creation, that is being “made new”. the Catholic tradition, it is exempli-
wonder.” (G.K. Chesterton.) are either pointless already if they The early Christians spoke of the fied in those religious movements
I find myself both enchanted are pointless in the end; or wonderful risen Christ as the “first fruits” of this which were based on the twin focus
and challenged by the history of already if they are on their way to a new creation. They emphasised that of social activism and a spiritual ba-
the universe — 13.8 billion years to wonderful future. his Resurrection involved his whole sis — e. g. Methodism, Quakerism,
the first stars; now billions of stars The overall direction of evolution human nature. It was bodily, but was and many others. Catholic social
within each galaxy, and trillions of has been towards life, with its po- not a return to this life. It belongs teachings about the dignity of every
galaxies, and planets formed by the tential for more wonderful and com- to creation “made new”. In this new person and the sacredness of every
stars; our planet formed from col- plex transformations. Can evolution form they experienced his real pres- life; the common good, including our
liding debris over 4.5. billion years, deliver what it seems to promise? Or ence among them. Reflecting on their common home; solidarity and option
at just the right distance from the is it just part of the planet’s life and experience, they now realised it was for the poor, are all premised on it.
sun for life to develop; distances destined to share its fate? to be expected: “In a little while the It’s hardly surprising St John Paul II
measured in billions of light years; world will no longer see me; but you insisted that “humanity is the route
gravitational forces that could kick n Transformation will see me, because I live on, and you the Church must take”.
planets into different trajectories; the There was one transformation too will live” (John 14:19). Being true to our nature — “au-
combination of variables that gave within the life of the planet that was thentic” — is compromised wherever
us the world that is, instead of all qualitatively different from all oth- n God’s Plan a narrow focus on our own rights
the others that could have been but ers. It reached right into the life of God’s plan for our future does not blinds us to our responsibility to be
never will be. . . ! And planet earth is the planet, but took that life beyond discard material creation. It is the there “for others”; wherever deeper
microscopic within our solar system, anything evolution could do. The present form of material creation that moments for noticing God’s presence
let alone within the wider universe of Incarnation is about God’s personal will pass. It will be transformed in are crowded out by noise, hurry,
other galaxies. participation in the life of the planet the way that Jesus was transformed and the pressures of modern living;
and in human history — surpassing through his death and Resurrection. where the fast flow of information
n Special all other reasons for wonder, joy and We don’t have language for that, displaces understanding and wis-
But it is also special. The massive thanksgiving! A creation in which God because language is based on our dom; wherever superficiality replaces
transformations that were part of its has a stake is a creation with a future! experience of the world in its present depth — (e.g. where even news pro-
geo-history led to further transfor- Jesus’ life — bringing healing, hope, form. grammes are presented through the
mations in the development of life peace, forgiveness and compassion It hardly matters that the planet in prism of entertainment, sometimes
in its marvellous and complex forms into people’s lives — ratified human its present form will die. What mat- even called “shows”).
(bio-history). Last of all, and very nature’s deep hunch that this is what ters is that the Incarnation brought Authenticity involves being count-
late, human life emerged, and what we were made for. And his Resurrec- about a transformation that contin- er-cultural. Knowing this, St John Paul
emerges from human freedom — hu- tion confirmed that death does not ues. What that leads to is what we call II told the New Zealand bishops to
man history. Each of those histories, have the last word. heaven. There is more to the Incarna- “make a systematic effort in your dio-
reason for unending awe. Those who were witnesses to tion than Santa Claus at Christmas ceses and parishes to open new doors
Eventually, out of what had been these things summed them up in and chocolate bunnies at Easter. to the experience of Christian prayer
a vast wasteland of rock, volcanos, their message that all creation is I indicated at the outset that our and contemplation” (Ad Limina visit,
lava, gases and acidic seas, someone being “made new” — with a newness participation in the life of the planet 1998). Contemplation means “seeing
called Beethoven surfaced, who could that creation cannot bring about for and human history needs to be guid- God”, noticing God’s presence, in the
pull together the sounds that make a itself. There is much at stake on this ed by what it means to be authen- midst of life. This changes how we
symphony. At the right time, unlikely claim, because it means our lives tically human. Much hangs on this, think and act. That is what the Gospel
raw materials had been transformed will matter forever. The whole of including how we use the sciences means by “repentance” and conver-
into a variety of instruments and del- life is different — already — when and technology. So, what does “au- sion. It’s about how we participate
icate sounds that would beautifully we know that: all the good fruits of thentic” mean in this context? in creation’s newness, and its future.
blend and move together — moving human nature, and all the good fruits In the second century, St Irenaeus Bishop Peter Cullinane is Bishop Emer-
us and drawing us together. That’s a of human enterprise, we shall find said that we are never more fully alive itus of Palmerston North diocese.
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