| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (55 min. 21 sec.) ; 333047817 bytes |
| Summary |
In February 2009, St Mary's church in Brisbane was at the centre of one of the biggest rifts in the history of the Australian Catholic Church. In the eyes of Rome, 72-year-old Parish Priest Father Peter Kennedy is a heretic, out of step with the Vatican on the most fundamental tenets of Catholicism. Kennedy's transgressions include questioning the Virgin Birth, the infallibility of the Pope and even that Jesus was the literal Son of God. In practice, Peter Kennedy rejects wearing vestments, allows all members of the church, including women, to recite the Eucharist, and changes the wording of the baptism. In the view of the Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, Peter Kennedy has put himself "out of communion with the Roman Catholic Church".Peter Kennedy, however, passionately believes that the church is undemocratic and in desperate need of reform. Under his leadership St Mary's has become known for its social activism. Programs such as MICAH, under parishioner Karyn Walsh, have helped the homeless and victims of abuse by institutions, including the Catholic Church.When Father Kennedy is finally sacked by the Catholic Church for unorthodox practices, the decree issued by Archbishop Bathersby not only removes him from the church, but also effectively exiles over 1,000 members of his community, who have followed him for almost thirty years.The Trouble with St Mary's provides unprecedented access into this community and its leader as they attempt to find a new way of being spiritual outside of the Catholic Church.PRODUCTION DETAILSCompass Executive Producer: Rose Hesp; Writer/Producer/Director: Peter Hegedus |
| Event |
Broadcast 2011-05-29 at 21:55:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Clergy -- Dismissal of.
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Communities -- Religious aspects.
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Congregationalism.
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Queensland -- Brisbane.
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Streaming video
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| Author |
Doogue, Geraldine, host
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Fitzpatrick, Terry, contributor
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Fitzwalter, John, contributor
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Furtado, Camille, contributor
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Grenier, Brian, contributor
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Hazell, Rebecca, contributor
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Howell, Ken, contributor
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Kennedy, Peter, contributor
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Sullivan, Mick, contributor
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Thomas, Brenton, contributor
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Tolle, Eckhart, contributor
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Watson, Sam, contributor
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