THERE are some news articles I should not read such as an inquest into suicide. Why did they do it?
Similarly, a Letter to the Editor was published in the Sentinel Times (19/11) titled “Not the place for religious dialogue”.
The writer has used the power of the pen in a public forum to deny another member of the community the capacity to express their views to the community – it is called the freedom of the press.
In Metropolitan Melbourne, the local community newspapers have disappeared as they are no longer viable.
One does not know what is, for example, happening at Local Government level. It is left to local activists or someone else to monitor the culture of the Council. Here in Gippsland, there are newspapers that communicate happenings to the community.
I have also grown up in the culture of the Catholic Church and experienced the same culture that existed at the time. It applies in the church, in the education system and in the home – the father ruled in the home with respect. It was the culture of the time.
In my professional life with a government agency, I was a “troubleshooter” who set about changing the culture to provide a safe and enjoyable workplace within a group. Power and authority have their place in an organisation but it depends on the culture that exists within each group.
This applies equally to religious organisations that in some cases is total control. I have spent my life since my youth working as a volunteer in church societies. There is both good and bad experiences across the spectra – it is one’s responsibility to ensure that the correct culture is established.
The scandals that have hit the churches have brought forward open forums in which newspapers played an essential part.
In the universal book, the Bible, the Prophets of the Old Testament were consistently reminding their folk to amend their culture whilst the warrior of the New Testament St. Paul was regularly conveying the same message to the new Christian converts.
The war in the Middle East and Ukraine is an ample illustration of how power and authority are used for utter domination behind a gun loaded with bullets.
The letter writer lays claim to all the attractive attributes – faith, hope, gratitude, compassion and empathy – that one has developed throughout life through family and community.
Is the writer just going to sit on one’s tail showing intolerance and denying other members of the community their right to try to improve the culture in which we live by maintaining open dialogue? The churches are just another member of the community!!
Peace to all.
John Killian, Ryanston