No apology required from wise disciple

by Letters Editor · January 6, 2011

From Tony Meehan, Cape Town

Bishop Kevin Dowling states his reasons for the use of condoms in some circumstances. These sentiments are reported on internationally, including the BBC television programme Hard Talk. He is taken to task.

Pope Benedict makes the same statement but we are told that he said something different. It is the same if you take it in context of what he thinks he means and how we should understand how simple the whole thing is if we apply our minds to the complex systems of theological misunderstandings and the interpretations of gobbledegook!

After taking the Church to task on a number of issues in his address to Catholic laity, Bishop Dowling tells us that he didn�t actually mean what he said and apologises for any misunderstanding (December 8). With his cap firmly in his hand we read how it was �unfortunate� that a journalist let the cat out of the bag and told the world what he had said.

He continues to say that his talk was only for a select few. This, of course, begs the question: Why would a bishop of the Catholic Church be afraid to tell the world about things that worry him; and most other Catholics? What�s wrong with saying the wearing of the cappa magna in America amounted to a triumphalism in a Church torn apart by sexual abuse? What happened there, he said, bore the marks of a medieval royal court, not the humble, servant leadership modelled by Jesus.

In his talk, Bishop Dowling raises the question of celibacy and the ordination of women being �withdrawn from discussion�. Like many, he clearly believes this to be wrong irrespective of whether he accepts the �teaching authority of the magisterium�.

Bishop Dowling says that the talk gave the impression that he was criticising the person of the Holy Father. This, I�m afraid, could be true; and more so from the comment, �I think the moral authority of the Church�s leadership today has never been weaker�. However, there is no doubt that this is fair comment and would attract the agreement of many, many �faithful� Catholics.

It is my opinion that the bishop�s long and apologetic statement headlined �I�m loyal to magisterium� was totally unnecessary and possibly written �under instructions�.

Bishop Dowling is a humble hero who has the support of many thinking Catholics. He is a wise and wonderful disciple from whom no apology is required.