Betrayal From Within

Betrayal from within is a central and key message of Ms Foley’s shrine, and well understood by those ‘in the know’ about Ms Foley’s art.  In fact, the shrine is itself a celebration of the betrayal of St Stephen’s from within.  The fact that St Stephen’s is the head church of the archdiocese only serves to heighten the dramatic impact of this betrayal.

The clue to understanding how the betrayal reading is represented lies in the number, structure, and placement of the shrine’s four square panels.  To those versed in occult lore, the configuration of the panels is instantly recognizable as that of the occult ‘Great Table of the Watchtowers’.  In occult lore, the ‘Great Table’, in four parts, is a symbolic representation of the earth, said to have been channeled from occult spirits.

Each of the four tables corresponds to one of the four elements of alchemy - earth, air, fire and water.  In occult lore, each table contains within it a ‘watchtower’.  It is said that each watchtower has a gate which, if opened, will allow in evil spirits.  The occult significance of this is that the gates can be opened only from inside the watchtowers - by an act of betrayal from within.

'My Victory', 'My Power'

As noted previously, there are many layers of hidden meaning in the shrine.  Ms Foley has embedded parallel messages in the shrine in another way, this time using Crowley’s superstitious number system from his occult code book, Gematria.

A person versed in Crowley’s codes would notice that there are four square panels and that there are seven panels in total.  The person would add the numbers together, that is 4 and 7, to equal 11.  To Crowley and his followers, the number 11 is the great magical number, the number of the black art of alchemy, of the selling of one’s soul and of spiritual union with Lucifer, whose name as we have seen in earlier issues is coded into the shrine.

In addition, the person versed in Crowley’s codes would multiply the numbers 4 and 7, to equal 28.  Similarly, in Crowley’s superstitious system, the number 28 represents “my victory” or “my power”.

The “my” being referred to here is both a reference to the artist and to the devil.  It works both ways and serves as a reference to, and celebration of, victory and power over the church and specifically over St Stephen’s Cathedral.  The victory referred to is that symbolized by the presence of the shrine in St Stephen’s - a presence which, as Ms Foley tells us, was possible only as a result of betrayal from within.

Spirituality Agenda Laid Bare

From the foregoing, we can see that the shrine sets forth mutually reinforcing references.  These references are to spiritual alchemy, union with the demonic, victory over the church and St Stephen’s and, above all, betrayal from within.

In packaging these messages together with her theme of betrayal from within, the artist is also making reference to the local archdiocesan spirituality agenda which allows for all sorts of occult practices.  Under this ‘anything goes’ spirituality agenda, even practices known to entail psychological risks are openly promoted and tolerated.  The relevant Vatican warnings are ignored.

In her Human Search For God shrine, Ms Foley has laid bare this agenda for all to see on the walls of St Stephen’s Cathedral.

What A Joke It Must Have Been

Knowing as we do how Ms Foley’s art is to be interpreted and its significance, we now know that there must have been people who have immensely enjoyed the irony of having this shrine in St Stephen’s Cathedral.  Even when the shrine was first publicly challenged in 1998, such was the confidence of the shrine’s backers that it was defended as a tribute to the Aborigines who originally owned the land on which the Cathedral is built.

It is no secret that the paedophiles within the local church had reason for great confidence that they would not be brought to account by the leadership of the archdiocese.  Similarly, the creators and installers of this shrine have always had reason to be confident that they and their shrine would be protected - by silence and inaction if necessary - from any challenge.

Crisis of Faith

The Australian bishops’ talk of a “crisis of faith” in the church has not been for nothing. This shrine and Archbishop Bathersby’s ‘anything goes’ spirituality agenda are but two of the many dimensions of the “crisis of faith” in this archdiocese.  Archbishop Bathersby has been largely silent and uncommunicative in the face of numerous damaging revelations about the shrine, refusing to have an independent enquiry or to have it removed.

After ten years of secrecy, it is now clear that the shrine is an expression of contempt for Christ and the Catholic faith.  This shrine represents the thinking of people who do not share our faith and who seek to subvert it.  As long as their shrine remains in St Stephen’s, Archbishop John Bathersby is failing to do his job of protecting and promoting the Catholic faith.

Why the continuing silence and inaction, Your Grace?  This issue cannot be ignored.  Do your job or stand aside.

Christmas Greetings

News From The Pews would like to thank its supporters and helpers for their many and various contributions over 1999 and to wish all readers a happy and a holy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  As do many Cathedral goers, News From The Pews looks forward to the day when the birth of Christ can be celebrated in a St Stephen’s Cathedral restored to full Catholic status.

Tim Pemble-Smith

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