Letter dated 18 June 1966
To Right Reverend Monsignor L.M. Clark, Vicar General, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
From Moira Dynon
Dear Monsignor Clarke,
John has passed on to me your letter of 17th June concerning an address delivered on the P.S.A. Programme at Wesley Church on Sunday, 12th June. As John has pointed out in his letter, it was I, in my capacity as Chairman of Food For India, who delivered the address. John has shown me his reply to you in which I concur.
Whilst working with people of goodwill of all denominations, I have seen the wonderful uniting force of love of our hungry neighbours actively promoting Christian unity and understanding.
It has come as a complete shock to me to learn from you that His Grace, The Archbishop, Himself, was other than happy with all that I have done to obtain help for the starving needy in India. As you are aware, Food For India is a widely based public campaign and we are deeply grateful to Church leaders of all denominations for their support of our efforts. As you are aware, it was His Holiness Pope Paul who called on mankind to send supplies of food for needy people in India.
At the time of my address at P.S.A., I had no idea that His Grace The Archbishop had specifically made any pronouncement such as is referred to in your letter. In fact, in view of the nature of the P.S.A. Programme, it did not occur to me that there could be any objection. When speaking to His Lordship Bishop Moran at a Reception at the home of the Italian Consul General on 2nd June, I told him that I was giving this talk and also mentioned that I had given the P.S.A talk in Adelaide on 17th April.
It seems to me that the ban, as is referred to in your letter, would frustrate the objectives envisioned by the Popes, particularly in view of the Papal exhortations to men and to women of the Church to go out and work with others, and in view of the basic Christian principle of helping the poor, the needy and the destitute. If such a ban is to prevail, it seems to me to be incompatible with any Catholic woman assuming a position of leadership in Public life and in public and mixed organisations.
In view of the implication of the proposed Statement to be inserted in ‘The Advocate’ and ‘The Tribune’, I can only take the view that this is a public rebuke to me and that I am to be publicly branded a sinner.
Before His Grace takes such irrevocable action, which I consider damaging to my good name and reputation, I hope that His Grace, Archbishop Simonds will grant John and me an interview.
Yours sincerely,
Moira Dynon