Catholics around Australia are preparing to celebrate the recognition of Australia's first "saint'. Mary MacKillop will be canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17 in Rome.
In response to MacKillop's canonisation, the City Bible Forum is presenting a series of four talks on the topic, "Laugh with the sinners'.
The Rev Mark Gilbert - who converted from Catholicism as an adult and is now an Anglican minister - will be giving each talk.
"The Catholic church, by putting Mary MacKillop forward as a saint, adds to the guilt felt by many of the 1.2 million Roman Catholics in Sydney," Mr Gilbert said. "It also obscures the clarity of the Gospel that Jesus is our only mediator. They also obscure peoples understanding of the biblical concept of sainthood by using this biblical word to mean something entirely different."
The first two talks have already been held, with approximately 40 people attending each event. There have also been a number of visitors who have been encouraged by the talks.
“People have been sticking around for up to an hour after the talks to discuss them and ask questions,” Gilbert said. “There was a Catholic guy that came along and he had a lot of questions.”
The Catholic Church is canonising MacKillop because it believes she lived an exemplary life and is therefore is in the presence of God in heaven.
According to marymackillop.org.au, "The Church does not make a saint - it recognises a saint. Canonisation is the act by which the Holy Father declares in a definitive and solemn way that a Catholic Christian is actually in the glory of heaven, intercedes for us before the Lord and is to be publicly venerated by the whole Church."
Mr Gilbert acknowledges that MacKillop's life was remarkable.
"Mary's life is remarkable, however when I compare her life to mine, it leaves me feeling a bit guilty and depressed if this is what is required to be approved by God," he said.
The talks, which will be held at the Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney are designed to "highlight the fact that Jesus came to save sinners' not just saints.
Gilbert believes that Sydney evangelicals should be curious about the canonization and discuss it and pray with Catholic people.
"[Sydney evangelicals] should react with grace and compassion towards the many guilty, frustrated and confused Catholics in our city," he said. "We can use this opportunity to share our experience of assurance and the direct access we have to God through Jesus."
One free beer will be offered to visitors to "add to the theme of the talks, contrasting the perceived austerity of “Sainthood” with the way that Jesus met people in their natural environment.'
For more information visit [url=http://www.citybibleforum.org/north-sydney/laugh-with-the-sinners]http://www.citybibleforum.org/north-sydney/laugh-with-the-sinners[/url]
