Ten months on, people are left confused as to whether Morris was sacked chiefly for what he wrote in his 2006 Advent letter about women's ordination, for what was reported by the Apostolic Visitor, Archbishop Charles Chaput, or for what was reported to Rome by those sometimes described as 'the temple police'. Now more details have come to light showing how threadbare and confused the processes were.

In his 'Statement of Position' to the three Cardinals gathered in Rome in January 2008, Morris said, 'At the end of the Apostolic Visitation, when Archbishop Chaput was being driven back to Brisbane, he remarked to Fr Brian Sparksman, our diocesan Chancellor, that he would be astounded if our diocese were to lose its bishop.

'He also asked John Bathersby (Archbishop of Brisbane) why he thought he was asked to investigate me because as far as he could see from the material provided to him things that I had reportedly said and done were happening in other places as well.'

Continue reading: Revelations shed new light on Bill Morris dismissal

Image: ABC

Ten months on, people are left confused as to whether Morris was sacked chiefly for what he wrote in his 2006 Advent letter about women's ordination, for what was reported by the Apostolic Visitor, Archbishop Charles Chaput, or for what was reported to Rome by those sometimes described as 'the temple police'. Now more details have come to light showing how threadbare and confused the processes were.

Retired Judge Bill Carter QC was invited to conduct an investigation into the controversial sacking.

Angered by the sacking, Morris' supporters, more than 1,000 people signed a petition over his 'forced retirement'.

Many of these people were behind the move to hire the services of Judge Carter.

Judge Carter found

• the church committed a number of legal errors
• the decision to remove Bishop Morris had been made before he was notified of an investigation, and that
• Morris was advised of his sacking through an unsigned letter.

Morris was targeted over deliberated misrepresented comments he made in 2006, comments that were deliberately misrepresented.

Following up the complaint, the Vatican began an investigation which included an apostolic visitation and ongoing discussions with the Vatican-based congregations for Bishops, Divine Worship and Doctrine of the Faith and even the Pope.

Sources

• Warwick Daily News
• CathNews
• Image: Courier Mail