Fairfield locals accuse Kristina Keneally of using the Catholic Church for votes

The Labor candidate for Fowler has been slammed for turning up to communion after describing the Catholic Church as a “failing and decaying institution”.

Southwest Sydney locals have branded Kristina Keneally “hypocritical” after she turned up to receive communion at a Palm Sunday mass in the heart of Cabramatta, three years after she called the Catholic Church a “failing and decaying institution”.

Photos have emerged of Ms Keneally praying and receiving communion at Sacred Heart Church, Cabramatta, last Sunday at the start of Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian calendar.

While Ms Keneally has always publicly identified as a Catholic and regularly tells the story of meeting her husband at World Youth Day, she has also been a fierce critic of the Vatican.

“After saying that the Catholic Church was ‘a failing and decaying institution’, it seems hypocritical of her to take communion in Cabramatta,” said former Fairfield councillor Zaya Toma.

“It feels like she is just using the Church for votes and underestimating locals.”

Senator Kristina Keneally’s Palm Sunday appearance at Sacred Heart Church in Cabramatta, 10 April 2022.

Sacred Heart parishioner Tuan Ngoc Trinh said given that Ms Keneally had previously been “consistently against Catholic teachings” her presence raised eyebrows.

“I am not anti-Labor nor am I judging Kristina’s values,” said Mr Tuan.

“However, if she is there for the votes of Fowler with the largest population of Catholics in Sydney’s South-West, then politically, it does not show her firm stance on anything.

“If she cannot be loyal to her Church and its teachings, one would question her policies and loyalty to Anthony Albanese,” he said.

Ms Keneally moved to Liverpool from her Scotland Island home last year to contest the heavily Catholic seat of Fowler for Labor.

Ms Keneally identifies as Catholic, but has criticised the institution of the Church.

In 2019, she appeared on ABC’s Q&A and told the audience, “I have long lost faith in the institution of the Catholic Church and I mourn the loss of my faith community”.

“But I made a decision a few years ago that I could not, as a lay person, continue to prop up a failing and decaying institution with my voluntary labour and my money,” she said.

She has also been a fierce critic of the Church and Church doctrine, having publicly stated her disagreements with Vatican rules on everything from women priests to abortion.

A spokesperson for Ms Keneally said that she could still practice her faith and be a critic of the Church, adding that she had met several Catholic priests since moving to Liverpool last year and attended Mass at Fairfield and Cabramatta.

“Being a Catholic does not preclude Senator Keneally from expressing criticism of and disappointment in the institution of the Church, especially when it comes to the shocking revelations of child sexual abuse and the failure of the institution of the church to respond appropriately to protect children from paedophiles and abusers,” the spokesperson said.

Originally published as Fairfield locals accuse Kristina Keneally of using the Catholic Church for votes