As 2009 recedes into the past and 2010 progresses apace, it must be acknowledged that last year was a not uneventful year for the archdiocese of Brisbane. Among the events and occurrences of significance from 2009 may be mentioned:

1. The choice of Frs Peter Kennedy and Terry Fitzpatrick and much of the “St Mary’s Community” to move from the South Brisbane St Mary’s parish Church to their “St Mary’s in Exile” accommodation in the TLC building, (previously reported in Lepanto);
2. Apparent cessation - for now - of the controversial Womenspace operation towards the end of 2009, (see “Behind The Scenes at Womenspace” article in this issue, dealing with the notice of closure; excerpts from a restricted circulation “Women-Church” article on Womenspace by Sister Anne McLay; and our reproduction of a message from behind the scenes at Womenspace concerning their - as they put it - “Goddess theology or New Age Catholicism” and sponsorship by “Wicca friendly priests and bishops”). Whether Womenspace’s demise is permanent remains to be seen. It seems, however, that the Presentation sisters will no longer be providing this occult front group with a base for their operations. Womenspace, of course, would not exist without the resources and support of female religious orders;
3. The lay-led restoration of perpetual adoration at Villa Maria (reported in Lepanto previously); and
4. Claims by Frs Peter Kennedy and Terry Fitzpatrick that John Bathersby, was personally instrumental in leading Terry Fitzpatrick (and others) into Buddhist practice, (see “Book Review: Fitzpatrick Challenges Bathersby” in this issue). The archbishop has on a number of occasions been asked to respond to the claims. At time of writing, he has not responded.

While 2009 may ultimately prove to have been something of a landmark year for the Catholics of Brisbane, much remains to be done. The archdiocese of Brisbane, following many years of not-always-easy-to-fathom leadership, is in need of a Catholic recovery strategy. The situation and the legacy are far from satisfactory. Despite some positive signs, too many indicators are negative: historically low mass attendances, generalised doctrinal and moral confusion, the on-going and long term failure of the Catholic religious education system, Catholics aborting their children at much the same rates as the rest of the community, bloated Catholic bureaucracies pursuing their own perceived self interests, long standing failure to effectively project Catholic influence at the political level, a largely - and with honourable exceptions - demoralised clergy and a number of religious orders in apparently terminal decline. Altogether, a sobering report card to accompany the recently concluded 150th year anniversary celebrations for the diocese.

If St Mary’s and Womenspace were dealt with in 2009, there remains at least one other neo-Gnostic front group still ostensibly operating as a Catholic organisation – the Sisters of Mercy’s Earth Link / Four Winds operation, (see “Earth Link: Business as usual” article in this issue). This organisation continues to present a challenge to the local Church and to the archbishop.

Of the events and happenings in the archdiocese in 2009, wondrous and ordinary, ethereal and mundane, public and obscure, there was another at the very end of 2009 which remains fresh in the memory – the appearance of what may be described as a “puff” piece by Des Houghton in the Courier-Mail, “Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby prepares to retire” (http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/brisbane-archbishop-john-bathersby-prepares-to-retire/story-e6frereo-1225813618676). In the story, we find that Archbishop Bathersby, “known affectionately in the community as The Bat”, has been “mates with the past three popes” and that the 73 year old Archbishop fondly anticipates that the Pope will accept his resignation when he turns 75. While the past year was the “toughest of his life”, it was nonetheless “one of the most spiritually rewarding”. Also, almost in passing, “A row in the South Brisbane parish resulted in a (un-named) malcontent priest banished from St Mary's for unorthodox teachings.” The former friendship, it seems, is well and truly over.

Experience has shown that when such coverage occurs – “soft propaganda”, by any standard – there can be some confidence that the Archbishop is under pressure and that the popular mood requires a little fine tuning. In any case, this article was brought to Lepanto’s attention by an interested observer via an email message titled, rightly or wrongly, “Damage Control”.

As the focus turns to 2010 and 2011, more than a little discussion centres on the succession to the leadership of the archdiocese. One or two of those considered in certain quarters to be potential successors appear to have already put their personal campaigns into high gear. Needless to say, the next appointment will be a matter of no small significance for the archdiocese. It is difficult to imagine anyone who has lived comfortably with this administration or who has gained preferment in this administration being an acceptable candidate. Rome’s questions to possible candidates should include:

1. How have you lived with the current administration of the archdiocese?
2. How did you make your disagreement known? Please provide evidence.
3. Bearing in mind your vow of obedience, what did you do about the state of things? Please provide evidence.
4. Where did you stand on St Mary’s? Please provide evidence.
5. Where did you stand on Womenspace? Please provide evidence.
6. Where did you stand on Earth Link? Please provide evidence.
7. What have you done over the longer term to promote the Gospel of Life and the victory of “the culture of life” over “the culture of death”? Please provide evidence.
8. How over the longer term have you made your position known on the questions of abortion and contraception? Please provide evidence.
9. Most critically, what have you done over the longer term to demonstrate that you are prepared to accept unpopularity in the service of Christ? Please provide evidence.

Only a candidate conspicuous for his humility, orthodoxy and courage would have any prospect of reforming this archdiocese. Rome would do well to look not so much at the more obvious candidates but rather to look for those who are not in favour, who do jobs others do not want and who perhaps may even be quietly despised for their catholicity. The right material is unlikely to be found in candidates who lack scar tissue.