WORLD

National Catholic Reporter, Jan 5, 2001 by Teresa Malcolm

The discontent came to a head last October when priests learned that Ward had failed to follow the guidelines on child abuse laid down by the bishops' conference in 1994 by accepting Fr. Joe Jordan for ordination. Jordan had already been passed over for ordination in the Plymouth diocese.

Jordan, ordained by Ward in 1998, was sentenced last September to more than four years in prison for sexually abusing two boys, and sentenced again in October for an additional three-and-a-half years on six charges of indecent assault committed while he was a teacher.

Two years ago Ward's spokesman, Fr. John Lloyd, was convicted on 11 counts of indecent assault, one charge of rape and one charge of sodomy, cases that came to light after he had already been sentenced to 21 months in prison for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl soon after he baptized her. In October 1999, Lloyd was stripped of his priesthood by the pope.

Rome has appointed Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham, the diocese that covers northern Wales, to act as apostolic administrator. Regan told the BBC that his appointment gave the church in south Wales a chance to come to terms with what had happened. "I want to listen to people and discern with them the best way forward," he said.

Prominent Australian Jesuit leaving order

A prominent Australian Jesuit, head of a major publishing home, has left the order to "discover God."

Fr. Michael McGirr, 39, announced his decision in December, ending a controversial career at the helm of Jesuit Publications, which produces Australia's widest circulating religious magazine, Australian Catholics.

A spokesman for the Jesuits said McGirr probably would seek laicization.

McGirr, whose views on same-sex couples, women priests and other issues were at odds with church teaching, said he would start a new life as a freelance writer and editor.

"It's not a crisis of faith, it's a rediscovery of faith," he told the Melbourne Age newspaper. "It's about seeing God not as an employer and a taskmaster, but more as a friend."

Under McGirr, Jesuit Publications became well-known as a successful publisher of books, cards and religious magazines, including the company flagship Eureka Street, a magazine covering public affairs, theology and art.

McGirr said he had become more and more disillusioned with what he claimed was the authoritarian style of Catholic teaching. "I started experiencing God asking me to be a bit more trusting ... to take less of my identity from the Jesuit community and from the institution of the church," he said.

McGirr was a Jesuit for 21 years, including seven years a priest.

Prelate urges forgiveness after Indonesia bombings

Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja of Jakarta asked Catholics to promote Christmas peace through forgiveness after bomb blasts near churches Christmas Eve killed at least 13 people and injured almost 100.

In his homily Dec. 25 at Jakarta's cathedral, the cardinal said: "Do not retaliate. We must respond to the situation in a rational manner. The meaning of Christmas must urge us to reconcile with everybody."