Multiple petitions asking for one of Australia’s most senior Catholic bishops to “step aside” after losing the confidence of his followers have attracted hundreds of signatures.
Key points:
- Parishioners say internal conflict within the church has caused confusion and division
- Bishop Gerard Holohan has declined to comment on the petition
- The Pope’s representative in Australia said he would talk to Bishop Holohan
Various parishes in the West Australian dioceses of Bunbury and Perth created their own petitions, which differed in wording but primarily called for Bishop of Bunbury Gerard Holohan to step down from his role so the diocese could find a new leader.
It came after Bishop Holohan was criticised for his handling of a priest’s suicide attempt and his decision to remove roles from a separate priest.
The feud was made public when a priest within the diocese aired his concerns about the bishop’s decision on social media.
Bishop Holohan declined to comment about the petitions, which would be sent to the Archbishop of Perth and the Pope’s representative in Australia.
Parishioners unhappy
More than 100 people from St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Collie signed a petition addressed to Bishop Holohan.
It read, “After recent events we have lost confidence in you as our spiritual leader and we feel that we can no longer support you in your position as leader … we respectfully request that you step aside from your position”.
Collie’s Karena Rankin said she felt the church needed a new bishop in order to stop losing followers.
“Bishop perhaps it’s time for you to resign … someone should be listening to this,” she said.
“Take note of what people are saying, give people the opportunity to have an opinion and let you know what’s being said here.
“They [church hierarchies] need to do something, they need to listen.”
She said Father Gerald Tan and Father Tony Chiera, who were the priests involved in the controversies, had her support.
The Pope’s representative in Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, said he would be talking to Bishop Holohan about the “situation”.
Bishop Holohan has previously told the ABC his priority was seeking reconciliation with Father Tan, and had twice asked him for a meeting to find out “exactly what is his problem”.
“This has not happened,” he said in October.
‘Division and confusion’
Ester Italiano is another parishioner in WA’s south-west and said she signed the petition after recent decisions made by the bishop led to “division and confusion” within the community.
Ms Italiano, who is a relative of Father Chiera, said she did not feel that Father Tan or Father Chiera were shown Christian values by the bishop.
“This really shouldn’t happen … people lose faith,” Ms Italiano said.
“This [the petition] is not something we want to do, but when you see something wrong, I think sometime you have to stand up for what is right.”
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