William Martin Morris
Encyclopedia
William Martin Morris, DD
(born 8 October 1943 in Brisbane
) served as the bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
in Australia between 1992 and 2011. In May 2011, the Holy See
removed Bishop Morris from pastoral care of the Diocese, attracting international press coverage.
in 1969. His parish appointments included Sunnybank, Nambour, Mt Gravatt, Goodna and Surfers Paradise. During the years 1979 to 1984 he served as Secretary to Archbishop Francis Rush, in Brisbane, and also as Diocesan Director of Vocations.
In 1992, Morris was appointed by Pope John Paul II
to head the Toowoomba diocese, his ordination took place in St Patrick's Cathedral on 10 February 1993. He became known for his pastoral leadership and his work with diocesan cases of sexual abuse. There were reports of liturgical unorthodoxy and controversy about his support of the Third Rite of Confession
.
In 2006 Morris released a Pastoral Letter calling for discussion of the ordination of married men, and the ordination of women
, to compensate for the lack of priests in his large diocese. To call for such a discussion could be interpreted as a challenge to the teaching of John Paul II's apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, which said that "the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women." The letter also suggested that the Catholic Church should recognise "Anglican, Lutheran, and Uniting Church
orders".
During December 2006, Bishop Morris received a fax requesting that he come to Rome by February for meetings with Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, then head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops
, William Levada
, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
, and Francis Arinze. Bishop Morris did not attend, citing “pastoral reasons”.
An apostolic visitation of the diocese was conducted by Charles J. Chaput
OFM Cap., former Archbishop of Denver
during April 2007. Chaput reported to the Congregation for Bishops in May 2007. Morris claims that he has never seen this report. Morris then negotiated with several Vatican Congregations for several years. Attempts by Vatican administrators to reconcile Morris with the church's position included several meetings in Rome, where it was reported that he was asked to resign several times.
In December 2008 he wrote to Pope Benedict XVI requesting an audience. Morris was received by the Pope on 4 June 2009. In February 2011 the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia
, Giuseppe Lazzarotto
, wrote to Morris requesting his resignation.
Several hundred people attended two separate vigils on 3 May for Morris in Toowoomba.
On 13 May, the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference
(ACBC) issued a statement, stating that they supported Pope Benedict’s decision to remove Bishop Morris. In a statement they noted
At a meeting of the Permanent Committee of the ACBC on 2 August 2011, a petition was presented from many Catholics of the Diocese of Toowoomba in support of Morris. In a statement on 11 August the Permanent Committee said that
In October 2011, Bishop Morris was criticised by some Catholics for recent activities including giving a public lecture, in-service talks to teachers and officiating at parish anniversaries.
During an Ad Limina visit in Rome that month, ACBC bishops held discussions regarding the situation in Toowoomba with both Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Cardinal William Levada. They also held discussions among themselves. Archbishop Mark Coleridge said the talks “went very positively” and “surpassed” their expectations. In a letter from the ACBC, released 21 October:
Bishop Morris responded to the letter on 24 October 2011, writing:
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(born 8 October 1943 in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
) served as the bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba is a Latin rite suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, established in 1929, covering the Darling Downs and south west regions of Queensland, Australia.St...
in Australia between 1992 and 2011. In May 2011, the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
removed Bishop Morris from pastoral care of the Diocese, attracting international press coverage.
Pastoral career
Bill Morris was educated at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in Brisbane before studying for the priesthood at Pius XII Provincial Seminary, Banyo. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of BrisbaneRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Brisbane and covering the South East region of Queensland, Australia....
in 1969. His parish appointments included Sunnybank, Nambour, Mt Gravatt, Goodna and Surfers Paradise. During the years 1979 to 1984 he served as Secretary to Archbishop Francis Rush, in Brisbane, and also as Diocesan Director of Vocations.
In 1992, Morris was appointed by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
to head the Toowoomba diocese, his ordination took place in St Patrick's Cathedral on 10 February 1993. He became known for his pastoral leadership and his work with diocesan cases of sexual abuse. There were reports of liturgical unorthodoxy and controversy about his support of the Third Rite of Confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
.
In 2006 Morris released a Pastoral Letter calling for discussion of the ordination of married men, and the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, to compensate for the lack of priests in his large diocese. To call for such a discussion could be interpreted as a challenge to the teaching of John Paul II's apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, which said that "the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women." The letter also suggested that the Catholic Church should recognise "Anglican, Lutheran, and Uniting Church
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
orders".
During December 2006, Bishop Morris received a fax requesting that he come to Rome by February for meetings with Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, then head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
, William Levada
William Levada
William Joseph Levada is an American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 2005, he has served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, making him the highest ranking American in the Roman Curia. He was previously the Archbishop of Portland from 1986 to 1995 and...
, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
, and Francis Arinze. Bishop Morris did not attend, citing “pastoral reasons”.
An apostolic visitation of the diocese was conducted by Charles J. Chaput
Charles J. Chaput
Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of Philadelphia, serving since his installation on September 8, 2011. He previously served as Archbishop of Denver and Bishop of Rapid City .Chaput is a professed Capuchin and...
OFM Cap., former Archbishop of Denver
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
The Archdiocese of Denver is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for Denver, Colorado and the Colorado counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan and Weld in the northern part of the state. The Archdiocese's home is at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate...
during April 2007. Chaput reported to the Congregation for Bishops in May 2007. Morris claims that he has never seen this report. Morris then negotiated with several Vatican Congregations for several years. Attempts by Vatican administrators to reconcile Morris with the church's position included several meetings in Rome, where it was reported that he was asked to resign several times.
In December 2008 he wrote to Pope Benedict XVI requesting an audience. Morris was received by the Pope on 4 June 2009. In February 2011 the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia
Apostolic Nunciature to Australia
The Nunciature to Australia is an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia with the rank of an ambassador...
, Giuseppe Lazzarotto
Giuseppe Lazzarotto
Giuseppe Lazzarotto JCD was born in Carpanè, Italy on 24 May 1942. He studied for the priesthood in the Diocese of Padua, being ordained a priest on 1 April 1967. He undertook post-graduate studies in diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, while at the same time completing his...
, wrote to Morris requesting his resignation.
Removal as Bishop
On 1 May 2011, Bishop Morris stated in a letter to parishioners of his Diocese that "it has been determined by Pope Benedict XVI that the diocese would be better served by the leadership of a new bishop," but that he felt that he was being denied "natural justice.". Morris announced his early retirement at age 67, stressing the fact that he had not resigned. On 2 May, the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia announced that the Pope had "removed [Bishop Morris] from pastoral care" of his diocese." At this time, Bishop Morris was appointed Bishop Emeritus of Toowoomba.Several hundred people attended two separate vigils on 3 May for Morris in Toowoomba.
On 13 May, the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is the national body of the Bishops of Australia. The President of the Conference is the Most Reverend Archbishop Philip Wilson, DD, D.Litt who was elected to a two-year term in 2006 and re-elected to subsequent two-year terms in 2008 and 2010...
(ACBC) issued a statement, stating that they supported Pope Benedict’s decision to remove Bishop Morris. In a statement they noted
“it was judged that there were problems of doctrine and discipline, and we regret that these could not be resolved. We are hopeful that Bishop Morris will continue to serve the Church in other ways in the years ahead,”.
At a meeting of the Permanent Committee of the ACBC on 2 August 2011, a petition was presented from many Catholics of the Diocese of Toowoomba in support of Morris. In a statement on 11 August the Permanent Committee said that
"the reality of our ecclesial structure is that the Conference is not able to resolve the issues that have arisen. Not only do the local Bishops not have access to all the information on which Pope Benedict came to his decision, but what has happened in Toowoomba is a matter between the Holy Father and Bishop Morris."
In October 2011, Bishop Morris was criticised by some Catholics for recent activities including giving a public lecture, in-service talks to teachers and officiating at parish anniversaries.
During an Ad Limina visit in Rome that month, ACBC bishops held discussions regarding the situation in Toowoomba with both Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Cardinal William Levada. They also held discussions among themselves. Archbishop Mark Coleridge said the talks “went very positively” and “surpassed” their expectations. In a letter from the ACBC, released 21 October:
"What was at stake was the Church’s unity in faith and the ecclesial communion between the Pope and the other Bishops in the College of Bishops ... we express our acceptance of the Holy Father’s exercise of his Petrine ministry ... (and) we return to Australia determined to do whatever we can to heal any wounds of division."
Bishop Morris responded to the letter on 24 October 2011, writing:
"The statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops contains inaccuracies and errors of fact evidenced by the documentation relating to the issues concerning myself and a number of Vatican Dicasteries. The Statement made by the Australian Bishops invites me to tell my story which I will publish in the foreseeable future."