Archbishop attacks Catholic youth periodical - M. King

By Michael King

The Editor of a promising Catholic interpretive periodical resigned last month after his magazine was attacked by the Bishop of Auckland, Archbishop Liston.

The magazine is "Insight", published by the Auckland University Catholic Society, and it was formerly edited by Peter Gibbons.

Its circulation had risen to just under 400 copies after the fourth issue.

In a letter dated May 2 and circulated to persons connected with the production of "Insight," Archbishop Liston said: "I deprecate the publication of so much superficial and brash writing."

He went on to complain that "the giving as an address of Newman Hall, which as bishop I have provided for university students, and this use of its facilities is a sad infringement of hospitality."

One week after this was written Peter Gibbons submitted a verbal resignation to the President of the University Catholic Society.

He subsequently requested his letter of resignation be backdated to the day of this conversation, Tuesday, May 9.

This "official" letter mentioned a shortage of time and uncertain health as the main reasons for his resignation.

The first of these had never before troubled him to the point where he contemplated resignation, and it is known that at the time of writing his health was considerably better than it had been in the past.

"Insight" in its original form was the only Roman Catholic periodical of its type in New Zealand. It circulated among interested Catholics and Protest ants, and copies have been available in the Quiet Room of the Victoria Student Union Building.

Its aims were, in its own words, to make Christians "aware of and interested in the modern Church," and "to give information and promote intelligent discussion of the various aspects of the Church today."

In tone it tended to be abrasive, but it attempted to provide balanced analyses of such issues as pacifism, the value of the Catholic education system in New Zealand, local liturgical reform, and other religious and ethical problems.

When asked to specify which of these articles he regarded as "superficial and brash," Archbishop Liston did not reply.

Half of "Insight's" contributors were members of the clergy or religious orders, and many of them, clergy and laity, were university graduates.

They included recognised religious "progressives" such as James K. Baxter and Fr. Jim Kebbell, and "conservatives" such as Fr. G. H. Duggan and P. M. A. Hills. A contribution from Bishop Delargy, Archbishop Liston's assistant, was included in Issue 2.

The Auckland University Catholic Society, embarrassed by this instance of episcopal censure, says it will continue publication of "Insight" under new editorship.