Sailing in stormy waters: Archbishop Matthew Beovich and the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide in the 1960s
Laffin, Josephine
Laffin, Josephine
Author
Abstract
In comparison with the modest religious revival of the 1950s, the 1960s was a time of change and turbulence. This article focuses on Archbishop Matthew Beovich (1896–1981) and the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Adelaide in South Australia. It briefly considers Beovich's involvement in the Second Vatican Council before turning to the implementation of conciliar reforms in his diocese. Other areas examined include the reaction in Adelaide to the papal encyclical on birth control, Humanae Vitae; discontent among some clergy in the late 1960s; and the controversial Vietnam War. The challenges of the decade brought out the best and worst of Beovich's leadership qualities: his wisdom and compassion were sometimes obscured by a brusque manner and an inability to cope effectively with dissent. As the problems that faced Beovich were not unique to the archdiocese of Adelaide, this article sheds lights on the strengths and weaknesses of institutional Catholicism in this period.
Keywords
Date
2010
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Religious History
Book
Volume
34
Issue
3
Page Range
289-311
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Theology
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy