Bishop of Parramatta


	Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. Click here to view a pdf of the latest issue. To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
	April 2003 The Bishop's Letter By Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, April 2003 My dear people, Not the answer IN its short life the Diocese of Parramatta has been singularly blessed with many sincere and dedicated priests who have baptised thousands of the faithful, witnessed to innumerable marriages, comforted, counselled, taught those in need and commended the faithful departed to the mercy of God. At the same time they have made themselves available in the Sacrament of Christ's mercy. Best of all, the priests have generously offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and made Christ present in the Holy Eucharist: the very source of the Christian life and the highest expression of our worship. Jesus Christ, the unique High Priest, instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Ordained Priesthood, as the only means by which He gives Himself sacramentally to us in the most Blessed Sacrament. Without His Priesthood there can be no Eucharist. There is no substitute for Christ's Priesthood and giving the laity more roles in liturgical services is not the answer to a diminishing number of priests. Lay ministers cannot give us the One who is the centre of the Eucharistic Assembly. It is a great privilege for a man to be called by God to the Ordained Priesthood, and I am not suggesting that it is a position of privilege. It is a grace-filled work of lifelong service to all of God's people. As Jesus said: "The harvest is rich, but labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out labourers to His harvest." (Mt. 9:37) I ask you to ensure that no opportunity is lost to emphasise to young men the importance of a vocation to the priesthood. Where have all the women gone? It is with a sense of cynicism that I listened to nations around the world arguing the importance of the United Nations in regard to a resolution on whether or not to invade Iraq. A few suggested that the credibility of the United Nations, in this matter, was at stake. I believe more crucial questions can be put to them on another issue - their anti-human population control agenda and its shameful silence on sex-selective abortions in India, China and other underdeveloped countries. We regularly hear about the serious demographic problems in these countries. Presently, there is a shortfall of 40 million women in India because of the use of ultrasound technology to discover the sex of unborn children, despite a Government ban on the practice. In some villages twice as many boys as girls are born because of sex-selective abortions. A shortfall of women in China is resulting in tens of thousands of Vietnamese women and young girls being kidnapped and sold for up to $4,000 each to Chinese men. In parts of China there are up to 20% more boys than girls. But don't expect to hear such reports in our own media. Prevalent views on this issue are dominated by the feminist ideology of abortion in spite of the fact that the victims in these countries are mostly females. The matter of "choice" prefers death to human decency every time. The December 2002 United Nations Population Control Fund Report entitled The State of the World Population says nothing about the shortage of girls in Asia. The section on Women and Gender Inequality makes no mention about so-called "family planning and choice". The insidious "choice" has led to the death of millions of girls in the most-populated nations. On the contrary, the report stresses that "family planning" funding needs to be increased in these nations. The consequences of these facts are devastating. All over the world, social scientists and economists have targeted the United Nations Family Planning Agenda as untenable, both economically and socially. It is still more untenable, morally. But still, the United Nations' agenda persists. Surely, one could be forgiven for being cynical about an institution that is projected as a defender of rights and guarantor of world freedom. Incidentally, it was the Muslim nations who backed the Vatican in opposing such policies at international congresses Time to love? Teachers and parents tell me that children spend too much time on computer games. In many cases it seems that these games, whether played alone or with others, have become a form of escapism from the real world. All too often children isolate themselves at the computer and become totally self-absorbed. We must not forget that God has called us to be involved in the real world, to interact with the people in our lives, and to help recreate a better world with Christ. This interaction demands time and calls us to work together. If children allow computer games to dominate their time and they isolate themselves from others they miss opportunities to love others and to be loved by them. Recreation is an essential component of a healthy balanced life but restraints need to be placed on it. Some questions may be helpful: * How many of the children's recreational hours are devoted to solitary pursuits? * Do the children share their playtime with others? * Do they take time during, before or after recreation to talk with others, to learn more about the burdens others carry or the joys they share? In other words, are they becoming isolates rather than members of God's people who care for one another? Most Rev. Kevin Manning Bishop of Parramatta

April 2003

The Bishop's Letter

By Bishop Kevin Manning,
Catholic Outlook, April 2003

My dear people,

Not the answer

IN its short life the Diocese of Parramatta has been singularly blessed with many sincere and dedicated priests who have baptised thousands of the faithful, witnessed to innumerable marriages, comforted, counselled, taught those in need and commended the faithful departed to the mercy of God. At the same time they have made themselves available in the Sacrament of Christ's mercy.

Best of all, the priests have generously offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and made Christ present in the Holy Eucharist: the very source of the Christian life and the highest expression of our worship.

Jesus Christ, the unique High Priest, instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Ordained Priesthood, as the only means by which He gives Himself sacramentally to us in the most Blessed Sacrament. Without His Priesthood there can be no Eucharist.

There is no substitute for Christ's Priesthood and giving the laity more roles in liturgical services is not the answer to a diminishing number of priests. Lay ministers cannot give us the One who is the centre of the Eucharistic Assembly.

It is a great privilege for a man to be called by God to the Ordained Priesthood, and I am not suggesting that it is a position of privilege. It is a grace-filled work of lifelong service to all of God's people.

As Jesus said: "The harvest is rich, but labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out labourers to His harvest." (Mt. 9:37)

I ask you to ensure that no opportunity is lost to emphasise to young men the importance of a vocation to the priesthood.

Where have all the women gone?
It is with a sense of cynicism that I listened to nations around the world arguing the importance of the United Nations in regard to a resolution on whether or not to invade Iraq. A few suggested that the credibility of the United Nations, in this matter, was at stake.

I believe more crucial questions can be put to them on another issue - their anti-human population control agenda and its shameful silence on sex-selective abortions in India, China and other underdeveloped countries.

We regularly hear about the serious demographic problems in these countries. Presently, there is a shortfall of 40 million women in India because of the use of ultrasound technology to discover the sex of unborn children, despite a Government ban on the practice. In some villages twice as many boys as girls are born because of sex-selective abortions.

A shortfall of women in China is resulting in tens of thousands of Vietnamese women and young girls being kidnapped and sold for up to $4,000 each to Chinese men. In parts of China there are up to 20% more boys than girls.

But don't expect to hear such reports in our own media. Prevalent views on this issue are dominated by the feminist ideology of abortion in spite of the fact that the victims in these countries are mostly females. The matter of "choice" prefers death to human decency every time.

The December 2002 United Nations Population Control Fund Report entitled The State of the World Population says nothing about the shortage of girls in Asia.

The section on Women and Gender Inequality makes no mention about so-called "family planning and choice". The insidious "choice" has led to the death of millions of girls in the most-populated nations. On the contrary, the report stresses that "family planning" funding needs to be increased in these nations.

The consequences of these facts are devastating. All over the world, social scientists and economists have targeted the United Nations Family Planning Agenda as untenable, both economically and socially. It is still more untenable, morally. But still, the United Nations' agenda persists.

Surely, one could be forgiven for being cynical about an institution that is projected as a defender of rights and guarantor of world freedom. Incidentally, it was the Muslim nations who backed the Vatican in opposing such policies at international congresses

Time to love?
Teachers and parents tell me that children spend too much time on computer games. In many cases it seems that these games, whether played alone or with others, have become a form of escapism from the real world. All too often children isolate themselves at the computer and become totally self-absorbed.

We must not forget that God has called us to be involved in the real world, to interact with the people in our lives, and to help recreate a better world with Christ. This interaction demands time and calls us to work together.

If children allow computer games to dominate their time and they isolate themselves from others they miss opportunities to love others and to be loved by them.

Recreation is an essential component of a healthy balanced life but restraints need to be placed on it. Some questions may be helpful:
* How many of the children's recreational hours are devoted to solitary pursuits?
* Do the children share their playtime with others?
* Do they take time during, before or after recreation to talk with others, to learn more about the burdens others carry or the joys they share?

In other words, are they becoming isolates rather than members of God's people who care for one another?

Most Rev. Kevin Manning
Bishop of Parramatta