Denzil Meuli: Difference between revisions

Denzil Meuli (Pierre Denzil) (born 1926) is a writer, former newspaper editor, Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland and a leading traditionalist Catholic in New Zealand. In 1969 Meuli was appointed editor of the newspaper, Zealandia, by Archbishop Liston of Auckland in a controversial episode accompanying the profound changes to the Catholic Church in New Zealand engendered by the second Vatican Council.

Early life

Meuli was born in New Plymouth. He was the son of Perry and Patricia Meuli (nee O'Leary) and has one sister, Deirdre. He educated in several parish schools of the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth. He received his secondary education at Sacred Heart College, Auckland, St Peter's College, Auckland and St Kevin's College, Oamaru. From 1943-195 he served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in New Zealand. He studied for the Catholic priesthood at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel and later went to Rome to complete his studies at the International College for the Propogation of the Faith and where he was awarded a S.T.D., U.J.D., and Ph.L.. He was ordained as a Priest of the Diocese of Auckland in Rome in December 1956. After ordination, Meuli spent 18 months in Germany preparing for his doctorate and was a chaplain in the Occupation Army of the Rhine. He also held chaplaincies in several parishes in France (including Neuilly-sur-Seine, Charleville-Mezieres, Armentieres and at the Walburgeschule in Menden, Germany). while collecting material for his doctorate. On his return to New Zealand, he served in the parishes of Three Kings, Avondale, and Glen Eden.

Editor of Zealandia

Dismissals of editors

Zealandia was closely controlled by its founder and owner, Archbishop Liston a, who did not attend the Vatican Council and expected his authoritarian management style to continue into the late 1960s. In 1962 he appointed Father Ernest Simmons as the editor. Simmon's main preoccupation was the implementation of the Vatican Council to which he was very favourable. He criticised the Cuba blockade and the war in Vietnam. He also published a range of opinion (including dissenting material) on the Papal encyclical on contraception, Humanae Vitae This all (but especially the latter matter) displeased the Archbishop who dismissed Simmons as editor and transferred him to parish duties in January 1969. Father Patrick Murray who was already involved with the paper and who continue Simmon's approach, was appinted as editor . At the end of July 1969 he too was dismissed.

Meuli appointed editor

Meuli was then appointed editor. Meuli's editorship marked a sharp return to a conservative, pre-Vatican II, editorial outlook. Meuli said that he "not interested" in dissenting views, and that, in attemting to "render more profound Catholic knowledge of the faith", editing a Catholic newspaper could be likened to preaching or administering the sacraments". These views were reflected in his first editorial page where he dismissed talk of the Rights of the Press as "so much cant and claptrap", and urged readers to "think of Zealandia as simply an unusual kind of parish and yourself as its parishioners". Meuli's editorials were more traditionally apologetic and less concerned with social issues. He took more combative positions on issues like abortion. At the same time he reactivated the anti-Communist crusade and used publications including those of B. A. Santamaria given to him by Liston.

Laity's reaction

Reports in Zealandia, under Meuli, attempted to described Murray's assignment to parish duties as "ordinary clerical change". But this was not the way that the Catholic community viewd the situation, especially following so closely the dismissal of Simmons. Murray publicly denied that his resignation was voluntary. "There were unprecedented, and widely reported, scenes of protest. Catholic university students, led by Brian Lythe, organised a "Pray-in" at St Patrick's Cathedral to protest at Murray's dismissal. 120 people, let by the lawyer M E (Maurice) Casey, demonstrated outside the archbishop's residence in New Street, Ponsonby. (One of the placards read 'Simmons. Murray, Meuli?'). Across the street from them a counter-demonstration of about 80 people, led by Dr. H. P. Dunn, supported the archbishop's action".

Meuli's problems

Most of the editorial staff of Zealandia and most regular contributors resigned. One of the departing staff (Pat McCarthy) spent his two weeks notice instructing Meuli (who had no experience in journalism) in the mechanics of production. Without the regular sources copy, at first Meuli had to used "padding" such as commercial "advertorial" material. Clerical speeches were printed in full as were ecclesiatical documents. Slowly Meuli rebuilt the staff. Paradoxically, because of the absence of informed catholic staff, the newspaper began, amidst the prevailing conservative editorial outlook, to address Lively social issues outside the church". Mueli also instituted a corrspondence column from 28 August 1969. The newspaper suffered a major drop in circulation in late 1969. But by mid 1971 the situation had improved and Zealandia had regained much of its old readership.

Meuli replaced

Archbishop Liston resigned at the age of 88 in December 1969, on the 40th anniversary of his appintment as Bishop of Auckland. He stepped down in early 1970 and was replaced by his auxiliary bishop, Reginald John Delargey who on 27 May announced the appointment of a new editor for the newspaper, Patrick John (Pat) Booth.

Rota advocate

In 1977, Meuli obtained an LL.B. from the University of Auckland and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He is also qualified as a Rotal Advocate For his doctorate which he studied for in Rome he wrote a thesis on the status and defences of the unborn child in common law. Since the 1980s Meuli has had the care of the Mount St. Mary "non-geographic" parish in Titirangi where the "traditional Latin liturgy" is followed.

Morals campaigner

Meuli has taken a public lead on some moral issues. Although outside the Auckland Catholic mainstream, Meuli and his ministry are in good standing within the Catholic Diocese of Auckland.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in New Zealand

External links

• Father Meuli's website (accessed 25 June 2010)