We have been hearing a lot of late about the Archbishop of Adelaide, Phillip Wilson.
He seems determined that until his appeal is heard he will not stand down as Archbishop.
It would appear that he is not doing the Church any favours by this stand.
In fact it is picking up more negative publicity that he doesn’t seem himself as having done anything wrong.
It was interesting to hear that the new Archbishop elect, of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli spoke out a week or so ago saying that he, Phillip Wilson should step down.
Yesterday we received in all our parishes an email from the executive of the National Council of Priests of Australia.
It stated that it, ‘wholeheartedly endorsed the appeals for the resignation of the Most Rev Phillip Wilson from his position as Archbishop of Adelaide.’
The article went on to give an explanation for the email with sound arguments of other situations in the church.
One other person who felt it his position to make comment was the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnball.
I don’t think it is his position to offer advice to the Pope, he could have offered his view to the Chairman of the Australian Episcopal Conference – Archbishop Mark Coleridge when they met for a meeting that same day.
Personally, I think the Prime Minister used the opportunity to deflect the media from asking the questions regarding his meeting with the Archbishop Mark Coleridge and Archbishop Anthony Fisher?
The arranged meeting was to discuss the very important issue, and delicate one at that, the funding to Catholic Schools in Australia.
I am sure it was made clear to him that without changes being made it will have major concerns for him and his party at the next election.
When there are over 700,000 children educated in Catholic schools that makes for a large number of parents who will consider who they vote for next time.
It would seem, at this stage, that the Prime Minister achieved his end.
Fr Michael Morley
