The replacement for +Bill Morris... The big news from downunder today has been the long-awaited announcement of a replacement for Bishop Bill Morris in the Queensland Diocese of Toowoomba. The appointee is a Vicar General in the New South Wales diocese of Parramatta, Monsignor Robert McGuckin (where Catholica is located). It is a surprising announcement in some ways but the general assessment we've received in feedback is that it is a "safe" appointment, and does nothing to send any signals that the institutional leadership has either the resources, or maybe the will or skills, to address the fundamental challenges facing the institution Church in this nation. The really interesting appointment coming up in Australia is the one of a replacement for Mark Coleridge in Canberra-Goulburn. More than any of the other recent appointments across this nation this will indicate if the institution has any prospects for being given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in this great land downunder. [Join the conversation] | [Tuesday's Email]

What if Jesus paid a visit to your suburb? It's a familiar question these days: What would Jesus do? Or what if we came across Jesus living in our suburb or community today, how would we react? Emmy Silvius came across a book recently that's been around for a while and has become an unexpected best-seller around the world for its priest-author, Fr Joseph Girzone. Readers who are not familiar with Fr Girzone's books will enjoy this introduction and how this book in particular relates to the questions we started this introduction with. [more]

Why is this meal different? A break today from the normal style of reflection layout from John Chuchman. Instead a joint reflection, perhaps appropriate for Mothers' Day, pointedly asking when the women were excluded from the Last Supper. No, it's actually a deeper question than that asking why the Catholic Eucharist is becoming so divorced from its roots in the Jewish Passover? The commentary is a joint effort from Sr M. Charlene Ozanick CSSF and John Chuchman. [more]

What is a spiritual director meant to be for? Week by week the conversation on Catholica just gets better and better. Thanks to the many who are helping make this happen. Today is no exception. Tony Lawless in his reflection on the Sunday readings on Catholica explores the notion of "Spiritual Direction" today and that is already generating quite a conversation. Tony writes: What is a spiritual director meant to be for? I hope others will enlarge on this more than I can. Sue has indicated that she has looked into the practice in Buddhism and other religious traditions. My own experience tells me that spiritual direction is a tradition held in great honour in the church, but not practised much. To seek regular guidance is not common among catholics, and there is no strong tradition of holding up certain persons as wise, experienced and practical guides for the individual who comes seeking god. Just in this morning is an article by John L Allen in NCR asking "Who will be the next Pope?" and an equally interesting one by Tom Reese SJ in America magazine on the implications of the continuing fall-out from the clerical abuse scandal. These also are generating plenty of discussion on our forum. On the forum you'll find that conversations are still taking place on threads that are now buried down on about page 4 of the front index page. ...Brian Coyne, Editor [The Reflections of Y-not and others in our forum] | [The thread discussing the John L Allen and Tom Reese articles...]

What is the place of the laity in Catholicism? Can lay people rescue this Church in crisis? In preparation for a forthcoming Conference on Vatican II to be held in Sydney next month, Dr Andrew Kania has been studying the insights of Dr Yves Congar – one of the theologians who had great influence at the Council. Dr Kania will be one of the keynote speakers at the Conference. In this commentary today the focus is on not just Yves Congar's appreciation of the importance and role of the laity in the Church but it draws on insights of Cardinal Newman and some of the history of Andrew's own heritage in the Ruthenian/Ukrainian Church on the critical role the laity have played in saving the Church at various points in history. This essay as well as being educative for us Latins of some of the history of our Eastern cousins in Catholicism provides commentary on the present challenge facing the institution. Might history repeat itself and again it might be lay people who end up pulling the institution out of the present bog it seems to be immersed in? [more]

A radically different interpretation of Jesus... Instead of a lead commentary today we direct your attention a stimulating conversation in the Catholica forum that began with the question: What role does the Church, or God, play in guiding human behaviour? To stir the conversation along the editor has responded with a post entitled: A radically different interpretation of Jesus.... What are your views on these things? [Join the conversation] | [Thursday's Email]