Qld Theatre Company to stage play about "exiled" South Brisbane Priest
Posted by Pete on August 19, 2016, 7:57 pm
From the QTC website :
"It would be beyond belief if it wasn’t true.
In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was rocked when the Catholic Church stepped in to oust beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy from his post at St Mary’s in South Brisbane.
He led more than 700 devoted parishioners, but the Church’s higher powers doubted his faith. They scorned the statue of Buddha in the foyer and frowned when he blessed same-sex couples, or let women into the pulpit.
So, on a stormy night, after refusing to resign or to fall in line with orthodoxy, an excommunicated Father Peter is packing up to go into exile – when a mysterious young homeless visitor walks out of the rain, wanting to know the story behind this unconventional holy man and what drove him to defy one of the world’s most powerful authorities.
Gripping and inspirational drama, St Mary’s in Exile is the story of a tight-knit community, a poignant reminder that the word “church” refers not to the 123-year-old heritage listed Renaissance building, but the bond between the disparate people who gather there. A bond that endured when Peter handed over the keys amid a media frenzy, and led his flock down the street to the Trades and Labor Council building, where they still worship every weekend. Penned by acclaimed Brisbane playwright David Burton (April’s Fool, The Voice in the Walls, Hedonism’s Second Album)."
“In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was rocked when the Catholic Church stepped in to oust beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy from his post at St Mary’s in South Brisbane.”
The reality is that faithful Catholics wondered why it took so long to discipline and defrock Fr Kennedy when he had been exposed for his grave errors for many years in misleading those who attended his concoctions.
“Gripping and inspirational drama, St Mary’s in Exile is the story of a tight-knit community, a poignant reminder that the word “church” refers not to the 123-year-old heritage listed Renaissance building, but the bond between the disparate people who gather there.”
Thus is Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church disregarded and reviled, for a self-made “bond” that cafeteria Catholics choose for themselves.
--Previous Message-- : : From the QTC website : : : "It would be beyond belief if it wasn’t : true. : : In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was : rocked when the Catholic Church stepped in : to oust beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy : from his post at St Mary’s in South : Brisbane. : : He led more than 700 devoted parishioners, : but the Church’s higher powers doubted his : faith. They scorned the statue of Buddha in : the foyer and frowned when he blessed : same-sex couples, or let women into the : pulpit. : : So, on a stormy night, after refusing to : resign or to fall in line with orthodoxy, an : excommunicated Father Peter is packing up to : go into exile – when a mysterious young : homeless visitor walks out of the rain, : wanting to know the story behind this : unconventional holy man and what drove him : to defy one of the world’s most powerful : authorities. : : Gripping and inspirational drama, St Mary’s : in Exile is the story of a tight-knit : community, a poignant reminder that the word : “church” refers not to the 123-year-old : heritage listed Renaissance building, but : the bond between the disparate people who : gather there. A bond that endured when Peter : handed over the keys amid a media frenzy, : and led his flock down the street to the : Trades and Labor Council building, where : they still worship every weekend. Penned by : acclaimed Brisbane playwright David Burton : (April’s Fool, The Voice in the Walls, : Hedonism’s Second Album)." : : : : http://www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/Whats-On/Mainstage-2016/St-Marys-In-Exile : : : : :
Re: Qld Theatre Company to stage play about "exiled" South Brisbane Priest
Really? As PDH points out, what was really beyond belief was that an unfaithful priest was allowed to present pretend-Catholicism to unsuspecting Catholics for so long.
In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was rocked
Again, really? Does the writer have any evidence that Brisbane’s Catholic Community was in any way affected except to experience relief that a scandalous situation had finally been addressed? Sure, those of Peter Kennedy’s congregation who had grown accustomed to their feel-good, easy-going, pretend religion were miffed, but to claim the whole Catholic community was aggrieved is far too long a bow to draw.
Then, in regard to the ousting of “beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy” the writer needs to know that priests are not ordained in order to become “beloved”, but to faithfully instruct their congregations and administer the authentic Sacraments of the Church.
He led more than 700 devoted parishioners
The question is: where was he leading them? The answer is: not where he should have been.
but the Church’s higher powers doubted his faith.
And with good reason. Indeed, “higher powers” and plain pew-dwellers who know the true Faith didn’t just doubt his faith; it was demonstrably in error.
They scorned the statue of Buddha in the foyer
How nasty! Particularly when you consider the fact that a crucifix is required equipment in every Buddhist temple. (I joke, of course.)
So, on a stormy night,
Gripping, isn’t it? Again, I joke – pathetic is closer to the mark, but the ability to learn lines written by someone else and repeat them is no guarantee of clarity of thought.
Then we come to the bit about “this unconventional holy man”; how close does that go towards being an oxymoron?
and what drove him to defy one of the world’s most powerful authorities.
Oh, you know, pride, and that sort of stuff.
And finally, we are subjected to a lecture on what “church” means, as if this writer would have the vaguest idea.
--Previous Message-- : : From the QTC website : : : "It would be beyond belief if it wasn’t : true. : : In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was : rocked when the Catholic Church stepped in : to oust beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy : from his post at St Mary’s in South : Brisbane. : : He led more than 700 devoted parishioners, : but the Church’s higher powers doubted his : faith. They scorned the statue of Buddha in : the foyer and frowned when he blessed : same-sex couples, or let women into the : pulpit. : : So, on a stormy night, after refusing to : resign or to fall in line with orthodoxy, an : excommunicated Father Peter is packing up to : go into exile – when a mysterious young : homeless visitor walks out of the rain, : wanting to know the story behind this : unconventional holy man and what drove him : to defy one of the world’s most powerful : authorities. : : Gripping and inspirational drama, St Mary’s : in Exile is the story of a tight-knit : community, a poignant reminder that the word : “church” refers not to the 123-year-old : heritage listed Renaissance building, but : the bond between the disparate people who : gather there. A bond that endured when Peter : handed over the keys amid a media frenzy, : and led his flock down the street to the : Trades and Labor Council building, where : they still worship every weekend. Penned by : acclaimed Brisbane playwright David Burton : (April’s Fool, The Voice in the Walls, : Hedonism’s Second Album)." : : : : http://www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/Whats-On/Mainstage-2016/St-Marys-In-Exile : : : : :
Re: Qld Theatre Company to stage play about "exiled" South Brisbane Priest
Glad to see you back after your move, John, and thanks for the input.
--Previous Message-- : It would be beyond belief if it wasn’t true. : Really? As PDH points out, what was really : beyond belief was that an unfaithful priest : was allowed to present pretend-Catholicism : to unsuspecting Catholics for so long. : : In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was : rocked Again, really? Does the writer have : any evidence that Brisbane’s Catholic : Community was in any way affected except to : experience relief that a scandalous : situation had finally been addressed? Sure, : those of Peter Kennedy’s congregation who : had grown accustomed to their feel-good, : easy-going, pretend religion were miffed, : but to claim the whole Catholic community : was aggrieved is far too long a bow to draw. : : Then, in regard to the ousting of “beloved : priest Father Peter Kennedy” the writer : needs to know that priests are not ordained : in order to become “beloved”, but to : faithfully instruct their congregations and : administer the authentic Sacraments of the : Church. : : He led more than 700 devoted parishioners : The question is: where was he leading them? : The answer is: not where he should have : been. : : but the Church’s higher powers doubted his : faith. And with good reason. Indeed, : “higher powers” and plain pew-dwellers who : know the true Faith didn’t just doubt his : faith; it was demonstrably in error. : : They scorned the statue of Buddha in the : foyer How nasty! Particularly when you : consider the fact that a crucifix is : required equipment in every Buddhist temple. : (I joke, of course.) : : So, on a stormy night, Gripping, isn’t it? : Again, I joke – pathetic is closer to the : mark, but the ability to learn lines written : by someone else and repeat them is no : guarantee of clarity of thought. : : Then we come to the bit about “this : unconventional holy man”; how close does : that go towards being an oxymoron? : and what drove him to defy one of the : world’s most powerful authorities. Oh, you : know, pride, and that sort of stuff. : : And finally, we are subjected to a lecture : on what “church” means, as if this writer : would have the vaguest idea. : : : --Previous Message-- : : From the QTC website : : : "It would be beyond belief if it wasn’t : true. : : In 2009, Brisbane’s Catholic community was : rocked when the Catholic Church stepped in : to oust beloved priest Father Peter Kennedy : from his post at St Mary’s in South : Brisbane. : : He led more than 700 devoted parishioners, : but the Church’s higher powers doubted his : faith. They scorned the statue of Buddha in : the foyer and frowned when he blessed : same-sex couples, or let women into the : pulpit. : : So, on a stormy night, after refusing to : resign or to fall in line with orthodoxy, an : excommunicated Father Peter is packing up to : go into exile – when a mysterious young : homeless visitor walks out of the rain, : wanting to know the story behind this : unconventional holy man and what drove him : to defy one of the world’s most powerful : authorities. : : Gripping and inspirational drama, St Mary’s : in Exile is the story of a tight-knit : community, a poignant reminder that the word : “church” refers not to the 123-year-old : heritage listed Renaissance building, but : the bond between the disparate people who : gather there. A bond that endured when Peter : handed over the keys amid a media frenzy, : and led his flock down the street to the : Trades and Labor Council building, where : they still worship every weekend. Penned by : acclaimed Brisbane playwright David Burton : (April’s Fool, The Voice in the Walls, : Hedonism’s Second Album)." : : : : : http://www.queenslandtheatre.com.au/Whats-On/Mainstage-2016/St-Marys-In-Exile : : : : : : :