Contents
Foreword 1
Preface 7
Recommendations 11
Part 1: God’s mission, the Kingdom of God, 41
and the signs of the times
1.1 Introduction 42
1.2 God’s plan and mission 43
1.3 The Kingdom of God 45
1.4 Reading the signs of the times 49
1.5 People on the planet and on the move 50
1.6 People in Australia 52
1.7 People and religion 53
1.8 Catholics in Australia 56
1.9 Women in Australia and the Church 59
1.10 People and inequality 62
1.11 People and climate change 64
1.12 People and institutions 66
1.13 Australia and the nuclear threat 68
1.14 Church communications 71
1.15 The Catholic Church and Australia’s First Peoples 73
1.16 Other signs of the times 76
Some discussion questions 76
Part 2: People of God 83
2.1 Israel: People of God and light to the nations 84
2.2 The Halakah 85
2.3 The Gentile question 87
2.4 Paul’s charter of equality and freedom 88
2.5 Vatican II and the People of God 89
2.6 Theology of the Laity – Sensus fidei fidelium 93
2.7 Vatican II and the rights and duties of Christ’s faithful 95
2.8 Lex Ecclesiae Fundamentalis and Justice in the World 96
2.9 Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Christ’s Faithful 99
2.10 Recommendations 101
Some discussion questions 104
Part 3: Church Governance 109
3.1 The meaning of governance 110
3.2 Church authority 113
3.3 Governance and power in the Church 118
3.4 The Royal Commission and governance 124
3.5 The culture of clericalism 127
3.6 Women and church governance 130
3.7 Conclusion 134
3.8 Recommendations 137
Some discussion questions 144
Part 4: Pastoral leadership and
Parish Ministry 149
4.1 The sacraments and signs of the times 150
4.2 The Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,
Confirmation, Eucharist 152
4.3 Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation 156
4.4 Sacrament of Holy Orders 161
4.5 Bishops and the Episcopate 163
4.6 Priests and priesthood 165
4.6.1 Clericalism 166
4.6.2 Selection, screening and initial formation
of candidates for the priesthood 167
4.6.3 Celibacy 170
4.6.4 Ordination of viri probati 172
4.6.5 Ordination of women to the priesthood 174
4.7 Deacons, the Diaconate and women 178
Getting Back On Mission
4.8 Matrimony 182
4.9 Sacred Liturgy 186
4.10 Parish ministry in crisis 190
4.11 Shortage of priests for parish ministry 192
4.12 Overseas-sourced priests 195
4.13 Permanent deacons 198
4.14 Pastoral Associates 200
4.15 Pastoral Strategies for parish ministry 203
4.16 Recommendations 206
Some discussion questions 220
Part 5: Plenary Council: process and
procedures 229
5.1 Synods and councils in Australia 230
5.2 Plenary Council 2020/21 234
5.3 Three stages of a plenary council 236
5.4 Who are called to attend the Council? 238
5.5 Who and how many can be invited as guests
to the Council? 243
5.6 Who can vote at the Plenary Council? 246
5.7 Plenary Council agenda 249
5.8 Liturgy at the Plenary Council 252
5.9 How will voting at the Plenary Council take place? 253
5.10 Writing the legislation 257
5.11 Recommendations 258
Some discussion questions 262
Conclusion 267
Appendices 271
1. Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI and the
Catholic Bishops of Australia (August 2011) 272
2. Open Letter to the Bishops of Australia – ‘Please Listen
and Act Now’ (May 2017) 275
3. A Model Catholic Charter of Rights and Responsibilities
of Christ’s Faithful 278
PAT SAYS
Its wonderful that the Australian Catholics are putting so much effort into reform.
But they are up against the Vatican, the Hierarcht and the Clerical establishment.
People with power never relinquish it easily.
We need a PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION to achieve RCC reform.
I’m not even sure it can ever happen.
I think the RCC Cancer is not curable 😦
Can you overturn 1700 years of dysfunction?
.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 