"Get real, stop theologising: Bishop Manning"

"We're not interpreting [the Gospel] in the terms that Christ wanted us to and that is in our attitude of loving other people, and especially loving those who are below our status and people who are suffering," Bishop Manning said.

"Intimate contact between priest and people is lacking to some extent. We've become too professional; too administrative. And I include myself in that. The role of the bishop has become very much centred in his chancery office whereas, what was Christ's attitude to all this? He was out there with the people all the time. I think we've lost that very important contact between the shepherd and his people.

"We've become a middle class church we've lost the poor people out of our schools “ we've become too middle class; our schools have become too costly “ and, to me, that's telling a story right through the church. We are neglecting the poor and the needy."

"My conclusion is that as we climb up the social ladder and become nice and comfortable in our lives with money and affluence and everything else we don't need God. I think this is what has happened in many of our parishes," Bishop Manning said.