I reckon this is probably Brian Coyne’s idea of “Sentire Cum Ecclesia”…
I propose that
1) We replace the absentee monarch of Australia (who is also the Monarch of Great Britain) with an elected Australian monarchy.
2) The elected monarch exactly replaces the current monarch in the current constition.
3) The elected monarch has exactly the same powers, duties and responsibilities as those of the current absentee monarch. All the monarch's functions are carried out by his/her personal representatives (as is currently the case): federally by the Governor General, and in the states by the State Governors.
4) The Governor General and the Governors continue to be selected and appointed as they currently are, that is, by the premier with the approval of the monarch.
5) The monarch is elected to sovereignty over Australia for life, but his/her sovereignty is strictly non-hereditary.
6) The elective body is the "college of electors" comprised of the state governors and federal governor general.
7) The election of the monarch must be a unanimous decision on the part of the college of electors.
LOL, David. You’re getting warm. I’m still waiting for an answer to the questions I asked last weekend in the greatest ever discussion I think anyone has yet provoked on your blog. (See cumecclesia.blogspot.com/2008/11/bishop-of-bathurst-bishop-patrick.html#links 123 comments at last count.)
Alternatively I’d welcome your considered views on what I wrote in the Catholica email today. See this post in our forum which expands it slightly: “What sort of Church do we want?”. It’s a discussion starter coming out of the lengthy commentary by Dr Graham English which we’ve published over the last two days in which he explores what sort of Church we are leaving to the next generations.
I’m serious — both as to the question I posed to you last weekend and what I’ve written today. The kind of Church I see people like yourself and the folks here at Coo-ees proposing is simply “more of the same” that has driven 86% of the baptised out the door. Do you honestly believe you have exclusive access to “Truth”? Does it not ever enter your minds to question if these men who have been leading us might have gotten themselves a little bit off track from what Jesus Christ was originally about and that it isn’t all the fault of secular society and the world outside the doors of the Church that has sucked so many people away from the practise of their faith?
“who nicked it from somewhere else”….no, good Mr Schutz, it is a Coo-ees original. (except for the actual photo, which was pinched from Catholic Press Photos).
As to the comment above from Mr Coyne, if he thinks we in “the Cloister” are propsing a “more of the sam” Church, he must be reading a different blog! But enough of Mr C.
Indeed, HW! No, re “nicked” I meant the picture, not the funny additions. Very neat, BTW. Full cred. I will make the correction.
And as for “exclusive access to the Truth”, Brian, you have as much access to the Truth of the orthodox Catholic faith as I do! We don’t want it to be exclusive. We want to share it with everyone!
Yes, that false Coyne is setting up a straw man: if indeed vibrant preaching of the holy Gospel were the norm, if we had solemn spiritual worship, if our parishes were all one could hope for – then indeed could he pose his questions. But everyone knows at what a low ebb preaching and liturgy and parish life is in Australia – mediocrity, suburban banality and vulgarity is what one finds.
It is manifest that in our churches the rich doctrine of our Faith is not preached, nor are the riches of our spiritual tradition and holy liturgy brought forth for the people – instead, they are left starving, destroyed for lack of knowledge.
The last forty-odd years have seen the dominance of the liberals, and their fruits are small and bitter. It is their experiment that has failed to deliver, not that of vigorous enthusiastic orthodoxy, which remains untried.
suburban banality
Not too much of the “suburban” if you please, Joshua. Folks in the ‘burbs are more sane than the cafe latte set up in town, at any rate.
At least, that’s true down here in Bartlett Vale.
“What sort of Church do we want?”
Of course, the better question is what sort of Church does Our Lord Jesus Christ want?
Louise, being from Tasmania myself I’ve been puzzled by your reference to Bartlett Vale – because there ain’t no such place!
Would you care to give a hint as to your location?
Tis but a joke, protecting my All Important Anonymity.
But I am in a gorgeous ‘burb, less than 20km from the glorious capital.