By Anthony Barich
AUSTRALIA’S Catholic Bishops have backed Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to remove Toowoomba Bishop William Morris and acknowledged that the prelate was judged to have “doctrine and discipline” problems that led to his downfall.
Following the 2 May removal, the Bishops held a special Plenary Meeting in Sydney to discuss the issue and committed themselves anew to “teaching faithfully what Christ taught as the Church has handed it down”. In a 12 May letter to Brisbane Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan, whom the Pope appointed Toowoomba’s apostolic administrator on 2 May, Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson said the Australian Bishops pledge to “reaffirm our faith in this mission which the Successor of Peter has received from Christ Himself, and we gratefully acknowledge Pope Benedict’s faithfulness to the Petrine ministry, even when it involves very difficult decisions”.
Australia’s Bishops acknowledged that, in removing Bishop Morris after several requests for his resignation by three Vatican congregations and the Pope himself, Pope Benedict was exercising his “Petrine care for the whole Church”.
“This has been difficult and distressing for all concerned, and it is not surprising that the decision has caused varied and intense reactions,” the letter said.
“We appreciate that Bishop Morris’ human qualities were never in question; nor is there any doubt about the contribution he has made to the life of the Church in Toowoomba and beyond.
“The Pope’s decision was not a denial of the personal and pastoral gifts that Bishop Morris has brought to the episcopal ministry. Rather, it was judged that there were problems of doctrine and discipline, and we regret that these could not be resolved. We are hopeful that Bishop Morris will continue to serve the Church in other ways in the years ahead.”
The Bishops will address the Pope’s decision and the process that produced it with the Pontiff during their 10-22 October ad limina visit to Rome.
During their Ad Limina visit, Australia’s Bishops will pray at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, to whose intercession they will entrust their own ministry, the Diocese of Toowoomba and the Church inAustralia.
The Bishops discussed the Bishop Morris episode at length during their 5-12 May Plenary Meeting at Mary Mackillop Place in North Sydney, and heard from the leaders of 40 Religious congregations who have members working in Toowoomba.
The prelates also reflected on their responsibility as Bishops and on what it means for them to serve the communion of the Church and to exercise their ministry collegially as pastors of Christ’s flock, as teachers of the apostolic faith and as moderators of the sacred liturgy.
“We also reflected upon the unique role of the Pope as head of the College of Bishops. It is his task to guard and promote the communion of the Church and the integrity of the Church’s faith,” the Bishops’ statement said.