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In January 2006, I interviewed Father Bob Maguire. Father Bob was gracious enough to give me an hour of his time one afternoon in a conversation that was memorable, enlightening and entertaining at the same time. Here, published for the first time, is that interview in full.
Some people live large. Their presence fills a room and stays with you for a long time afterwards. Father Bob Maguire, who died last week, was one of those people. Fr Bob’s voice, his presence, left a mark on the lives of so many people, from so many walks of life.
For Father Bob, being a priest entails getting his hands dirty, giving everything of himself, and doing what he thinks is right, even if doing so upsets power structures; especially if it upsets power structures, if they have contributed to the plight of the downtrodden. (From 2013)
Father Bob is cast in a similar mould to Peter Kennedy and Bill Morris, those other earthy Australian clerics who according to the popular narrative were suppressed by the hierarchy for flouting outdated practices. This is an appealing narrative for a secular public that has become disillusioned with institutional religion, especially due to the sexual abuse crisis and inequitable practices regarding marriage and the role of women within the hierarchy.
It's doubtful that any Australian priest communicates more intuitively with young Australians than Bob Maguire. Fr Maguire's 'forced' retirement has universal relevance as the story of the predicament of ageing community workers.