Parish keeps faith in fight for Father Bob

SOUTH Melbourne is again fighting to keep its beloved priest, Father Bob Maguire, after the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne secretly signed a contract with the Capuchin religious order to run the parish from February.

By InvestSMART · 5 Oct 2011

By InvestSMART ·
5 Oct 2011

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The charismatic Father Maguire, 2011 Victorian of the Year and a noted media personality, yesterday blamed Sydney's Cardinal George Pell, saying his removal was part of the cardinal's battle to enforce his own highly conservative view of Catholicism.

Two years ago, the high-profile priest won a battle of wills with Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who wanted him to stand down at the optional retirement age of 75 and suggested Father Maguire was not financially competent.

After a public outcry, a compromise was reached whereby Father Maguire would retire next February, but South Melbourne Parish Council chairman Tony Long said yesterday the parishioners wanted him to stay on.

Mr Long said the archdiocese signed up the Capuchins without a word to the parish, an approach he said was contemptible, tawdry and distressing.

When he and another parish councillor met two Capuchin representatives last week, it emerged only by accident that the Capuchins had been offered the parish and accepted, Mr Long said.

"We were shocked. We were working towards asking for an extension [for Father Maguire]. Given the shortage of parish priests, why wouldn't they use someone who is active and able?"

He said some might see the lack of courtesy as minor, that the archdiocese had the authority and did not need the involvement of the parish. "But it was a contemptible thing to do."

In South Melbourne, they see it as part of Catholicism's culture wars, in which a threatened hierarchy is trying to enforce a rigid uniformity. Father Maguire quoted a speech by Cardinal Pell in Ireland last year, "where he said his life's aim is to end cafeteria Catholicism. He represents authentic Catholicism.

"Then the deal is done without a word to anyone. That's the Roman model."

He acknowledged that at 77 he was past retirement age, but said he was fit and well. "In 2009, they said 'he's too old and can't manage money'. Today we have $1.7 million in the bank."

Mr Long said "vacuuming Bob out" had the feel of sending people out of favour to the gulag.

"At one level it's about the man and respecting what he's offered the church at another, it's about the parishioners and giving them some say."

The Melbourne Archdiocese and Australian head of the Capuchin order, Father Gary Devery, declined to comment yesterday. The Capuchins are a branch of the Franciscan order, who broke off in 1528 to seek a simpler monastic style. In Australia, the order has 45 to 50 priests and brothers.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Father Bob Maguire and why are South Melbourne parishioners fighting to keep him?

Father Bob Maguire is a high‑profile South Melbourne priest, a media personality and the 2011 Victorian of the Year. Parishioners are fighting to keep him after the Melbourne Archdiocese privately arranged for the Capuchin order to run the parish from February. Locals say they value his leadership, have publicly objected to his removal, and wanted an extension so he could stay on.

What did the Melbourne Archdiocese do about the South Melbourne parish?

The article reports the archdiocese secretly signed a contract with the Capuchin religious order to take over running the South Melbourne parish from February. Parish councillors said they only discovered the arrangement by accident, and both the Melbourne Archdiocese and the Australian head of the Capuchins declined to comment.

Why are parishioners upset about the Capuchin order taking over the parish?

Parish leaders described the move as secretive and disrespectful. Tony Long, the parish council chairman, called the approach 'contemptible, tawdry and distressing' because parishioners say they were not consulted and had been working toward asking for an extension for Father Bob.

Did Father Bob Maguire link his removal to Cardinal George Pell?

Yes. Father Bob blamed Cardinal George Pell, saying his removal was part of a push to enforce a more conservative, uniform Catholicism. He quoted a speech by Cardinal Pell about ending 'cafeteria Catholicism.' The article records Father Bob's view; the archdiocese and Capuchin leadership declined to comment.

Was there a previous dispute over Father Bob's retirement and financial competence?

Two years earlier Father Bob fought with Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who wanted him to stand down at the optional retirement age of 75 and suggested he was not financially competent. A compromise at that time set his retirement for the following February. Father Bob, now 77, said he is fit and pointed out the parish has $1.7 million in the bank.

What is the Capuchin order and how many priests do they have in Australia?

The Capuchins are a branch of the Franciscan order that separated in 1528 to pursue a simpler monastic style. According to the article, the order has about 45 to 50 priests and brothers in Australia. The Australian head of the Capuchin order, Father Gary Devery, declined to comment.

Does the article say how the change will affect parish finances or assets?

The article does not detail any changes to how parish finances or assets will be managed after the handover. It does note Father Bob's rebuttal to earlier claims about financial incompetence by saying the parish currently has $1.7 million in the bank, but provides no further financial specifics.

How have local leaders described the wider impact on the parish community?

Local leaders expressed that the decision feels like sidelining someone out of favour. Tony Long said 'vacuuming Bob out' felt like sending people to the gulag and emphasised it's about respecting what Father Bob offers and giving parishioners some say. The article also notes a broader perception among locals that the move is part of internal culture wars within Catholicism.