In support of Fr Montebello

Allow me to express my anger, dismay and frustration at the way Fr Mark Montebello was recently treated by the leading Church authorities for his outspoken comments on elected Pope Benedict XVI.

May I ask what divine right does a Curia administration have to demand an apology and later impose a ban on one of its members for daring to express an opinion that runs counter to that held by the leading Church authorities?

This confirms that the local Church, similar to the Vatican and other dioceses, is run by a tightly knit, controlled leadership that will not tolerate any dissenting opinion in an effort to protect its interests. The way the Church reacts every time it is faced by a dissenting opinion reminds me of the panic situation the Pharisees us*ed to find themselves in when Jesus challenged concepts that they considered to be of unquestionable truth.

This latest episode will no doubt continue to undermine any faith we might have left in the Catholic Church. But at the same time one should feel encouraged that Fr Montebello, after all the efforts made to silence him, remains committed to discuss controversial issues in an honest and transparent manner.

In this regard, I believe that Fr Montebello deserves our solidarity, support and respect for being capable of giving the Church a human face.