CHURCH SELL-OFF
Why should community suffer?
OUR church in Koonya is on the list of churches to be sold. This beautiful little church is on donated land, is made of donated timber and was built by and for the community. The community has worked hard to paint the church and maintain the grounds, not the Anglican Church. Why should our community suffer because of the appalling behaviour of some priests? The priests themselves should be held accountable. The Anglican Church is a very wealthy organisation and has assets and funds that should not require the selling of parish churches which are still in regular use. This church was built in 1902 and has been a vital part of the community ever since. Regular services and weddings, funerals and christenings are conducted here. My father is buried in the churchyard, my husband’s father, sister and many other relatives are laid to rest here, and my husband and I were married here.
The community in our parish has suffered so much loss in the past. The loss of history and sense of community will be devastating if our little church is sold simply to pay off the dreadful debt to society caused by the despicable actions of a few. graves and their history? How to trust maintenance will be done and especially access in future? Are cemeteries not sacred places? Why was there no consultation with communities before the list was presented? Compassion for survivors of sexual abuse is important, but so is compassion to people in the community who are losing and now have to pay again.
Diminishing faith
THE decline of the Anglican Church in Tasmania, resulting in the sell-off of redundant church properties, is more to do with the diminishing influence of the Christian faith than with the criminal behaviour of a minority of its clergy. The shift from religious faith reflects the confidence of people relying on advancements in medical science. Generally speaking, we live healthier and longer lives and rely more upon the physician’s skill than the redemptive grace of the risen Christ. abuse, a plague affecting many institutions sacred and secular. As only a quarter of funds raised is to go to compensation, surely sale of rectories might help cover costs? Clergy could move to cheaper accommodation or rent for a while. Pews may be emptying fast, but why inflict such destruction when in future a formula may be found to fill them once more? Aside from religion these churches are monuments to our ancestors, their hopes for the future, the suffering so often in their lives.
Last tangible link
OBVIOUSLY rural churches built by small communities over 100 years ago and maintained by them ever since are not trendy (“Trendy churches safe”, Mercury, May 7). The Anglican hierarchy chose a cunning criterion. Only churches with at least 30 families attending will make the cut. Take Osterley. Goodness knows how they managed to support St James the Lesser for all those years. There are two reasons the population can’t meet the criterion. One, they died. In the churchyard our family has great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and generations of neighbours. There are many more than 30 families furious about the planned disrespect of those graves. Or they had to move because of loss of facilities. There used to be a school, shop, garage, post office and hall. Closure of a nearby hospital/nursing home was a bitter blow. The church is the last tangible link we have with generations of Osterley’s past. Families still meet for special occasions and to ensure the building and cemetery are looked after.
Walk or bus and avoid the snarls
WHILE the Government rediscovers metropolitan planning, many with the gift of physical mobility can act now to avoid some traffic snarls. We can walk to a bus and get the exercise we need to help maintain our health and wellbeing.
Hungry salmon
ATLANTIC salmon escape will be a total disaster for recreational fishers. They are voracious feeders taking everything that moves!
Do away with Upper House
IF the Greens want the Lower House increased then we should, as Queensland did, do away with the Upper House. Tasmania has only a small population and can’t afford to pay for more politicians who employ extra people on top of the public service.
Bring different footy teams
IF you want people to attend AFL games in Hobart start bringing different teams down, not the same ones. It gets a bit boring seeing the same teams.
Losing what confidence?
THE Prime Minister has been proven to be right when he told us a banking royal commission would undermine confidence in the banks to the detriment of the market and the economy. But he was wrong that the general public had confidence and trust in the system in the first place.