Letter from Archbishop Roger Herft

This letter was presented at the 11th International Conference of Interchurch Families held in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 2005.

Letter from Archbishop Roger Herft

1 August, 2005 

I have mixed feelings as I send you greetings from the West – a part of it is because I would have dearly loved to be there in person to express my good wishes and prayers for your Conference. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber, in the song “Loves Changes Everything” from the musical “Aspects of Love”, reminds us of the transforming nature of love:

Love, love changes everything: hands and faces, earth and sky. 
Love, love changes everything: how you live and how you die. 
Love can make the summer fly, or a night seem like a lifetime.
Yes, love, love changes everything, now I tremble at your name.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.

Love, love changes everything: days are longer, words mean more.
Love, love changes everything: pain is deeper than before.
Love will turn your world around, and that world will last forever.
Yes, love, love changes everything, brings you glory, brings you shame.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.

Off into the world we go, planning futures, shaping years.
Love bursts in and suddenly all our wisdom disappears.
Love makes fools of everyone: all the rules we make are broken.
Yes, love, love changes everything: live or perish, in its flame.
Love will never ever let you be the same.
Love will never ever let you be the same.’

A marriage between persons of different religious confessions creates an irksome paradigm for the faith institutions. We are challenged to examine our exclusive claims and the ways in which our faith confessions create painful barriers to hospitality. The Sacrament of marriage is the most intimate relationship shared in human communion. It is a pointer to the profound life we are called to with God in Christ.

May the Conference continue to provide the “shock treatment” required for the Church to heed Christ’s command “to be one”.

+Roger

The Most Reverend Roger Herft
Archbishop of Perth WA Australia

This letter was presented at the 11th International Conference of Interchurch Families held in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 2005.