050 :
30 Oct 2007

Being a better person… Dr Kania takes a look at this drive within us to become better individuals. The trouble is we have to constantly counter the tendency to sloth and laziness that also seems an intrinsic part of our nature. [more]

048 :
25 Oct 2007

Zeigeist Parts III & IV… Dr Andrew Kania concludes his compelling four-part commentary on the challenge posed by relationship breakdown by arguing: "Global warming and climate change may be the geographic signs of the times, but far more pervasive and confronting is the way in which we live and act, individual-to-individual, family-to-family. If the Church does not act, and act swiftly, to bring back whole families within Her embrace, She will soon find Herself as a Church solely of the adult convert and the intellectual." [more]

046 :
23 Oct 2007

Zeigeist Parts I & II… In this deeply researched and thought about four-part commentary, Dr Andrew Kania takes you through the difficult territory involved in the increasingly common phenomenon of the breakdown in marital and family relationships. The research he uncovers poses difficult challenges for conservative and liberals alike — and for those charged with the responsibility for providing spiritual and moral guidance in contemporary society. Virtually all families are affected today by the pain unleashed by the breakdown in marriages and other relationships. If we do not experience it first hand we are often called to provide comfort to our children, other family members or friends who find themselves caught up when love goes awry. [more]

045 :
16 Oct 2007

Ecce Homo… Today Dr Andrew Kania explores the balance we need between body and soul for human wholeness and completeness. And viewing Jesus Christ as the model for that balance and completeness. [more]

044 :
09 Oct 2007

Wearied souls… This essay by Dr Kania will leave most readers of Catholica with much to think about. Appropriately, as we celebrate Mental Health Week this week, the writers who are quoted in this essay are examining the relationship between mental health and religious belief. The question many readers of Catholica might go on to ponder is what kind of religious belief goes on to encourage mental well-being? [more]

043 :
02 Oct 2007

Intellectual arrogance… Dr Kania today explores an ancient problem that was even addressed by Jesus — intellectual arrogance. Perhaps we might have a discussion of what poses the greatest threat to faith and belief today: intellectual arrogance or its counterside – pride in deliberately trying to put oneself across as ignorant, stupid and irrational as possible? The challenge, as in so many things in life, is to find the balance. [more]

042 :
25 Sep 2007

Getting the balance right… Dr Kania examines the challenge we face in the education of young people, not to mention our own selves, in getting "the balance right" between freedom and discipline, between optimism and pessimism, between being cautious and "going for it". There are no easy answers but finding "the right balance" is the critical ingredient to finding contentment. fulfilment and our ultimate purpose in life. [more]

041 :
18 Sep 2007

The scandal of the Latinization of the Universal Church In this lengthy and powerful commentary Dr Kania discusses the scandal of the manner in which the Eastern Churches have been treated by the Latin Church. The commentary will be of significant interest to a lot of readers from different points of view including the present discussion going on in Australia regarding the ordination of married men. It's wider message though concerns relations between the Eastern and Western Lungs of Catholicism. [more]

040 :
11 Sep 2007

What's at the core of our spiritual quest? In today's commentary Dr Kania is essentially asking the questions: what, at its core objective is the whole spiritual quest about? Are we trying to suck up to God demonstrating how pure and holy we are or are we prepared to get down into the dirt-under-the-fingernails territory that Jesus walked where we have to rub shoulders with the unclean, the sinners and possibly some quite detestable people? Or, to put it another way: are we trying to prove how holy we are OR are we trying to "become like God" — to think and act as God might act? [more]

039 :
04 Sep 2007

The two faces of Eve… In this provocative commentary written a few weeks ago in Oxford — which takes on new relevance in the wake of Bishop Geoffrey Robinson's book examining the recent problems of Power and Sex in the Catholic Church — Dr Andrew Thomas Kania, exposes the historical problem of corruption in the institutional Church; the constant problem of the authorities wanting to turn a blind eye to it; and the challenge all of us face in constant vigilance. Perhaps ironically he also quotes some ancient wisdom from St John Chrysostom about the qualities needed by those who are elected as leaders in the Church. The irony being that were the Church to have been more open and democratic perhaps the people might have had some say and that just may have provided some protection against the recent scandals as Professor Leonard Swidler argues with eloquence and at length in his recent book: "Making the Church our Own — How We Can Reform the Catholic Church from the Ground Up". [more]

038 :
02 Sep 2007

A Father's Day Reflection… A new-ish father, Dr Andrew Thomas Kania, reflects on Fatherhood for Father's Day. [more]

037 :
28 Aug 2007

Profiles of Courage… Dr Kania enters this essay by relating his experience walking into an RE class on the morning after 911 in Perth, Western Australia, about as far around the other side of the world from the bombing of the World Trade Centre as you can possibly get while remaining on dry ground. He uses the scene as the setting for a reflection on the Christian virtue of courage. [more]

036 :
21 Aug 2007

The Getting of Wisdom… Here's a really thoughtful reflection from Dr Andrew Thomas Kania poignantly looking at many of the dimensions to the acquiring of wisdom in our lives. [more]

035 :
13 Aug 2007

The image of God… What does it really mean when we say we are made "in the image and likeness of God"? Dr Andrew Thomas Kania offers a few reflections. [more]

034 :
07 Aug 2007

Saints ans Spiritual Companions… In this commentary Andrew explores the value of Saints and Spiritual Companions in our lives. [more]

033 :
31 Jul 2007

“More than a Game” The ability to make correct moral choice is more than a game. In this commentary Dr Kania examines virtue — the ability to discern moral correctness from expediency: "nothing the world can offer is ever worth bartering personal virtue in order to obtain". [more]

032 :
24 Jul 2007

“All in the Family” This commentary by Dr Kania opens up a myriad of possibilities for discussion. Here's just a couple: is this a boy's own tale — how is this stuff viewed from the female perspective? How do communities protect themselves against nepotism and corruption? [more]

031 :
17 Jul 2007

The meaning of the word ‘catholic’… In this provocative commentary Dr Kania explodes a few myths about the meaning in the word ‘catholic’. He mounts a passionate case for members of the Latin Church or Roman Rite to embrace the true meaning in this word which we recite each time we say the Creed. He argues that for anyone to continue to call themselves "Roman Catholics" is to use a derogatory term that was imposed on them by Protestants in the age of sectarianism. It is a term that has helped obscure the true meaning of the word ‘catholic’. [more]

030 :
10 Jul 2007

A fable and commentary on moral consequence… In this essay, which he entitles "The End Game", Andrew is exploring both the issue of consequence that flows from each action in our lives, and also the wider and more contentious issue that has caused plenty of invigorating discussion in our forum in the past – the final accountability of our actions, and life. [more]

029 :
03 Jul 2007

A Christian moral perspective on the nature of friendship… In this essay, which he originally entitled "The Conspiracy of Blindness", Andrew is exploring the nature of "true friendship" from a moral and Christian perspective. [more]

028 :
26 Jun 2007

The positives and negatives of anger… Most of us are challenged by anger at some point or other in our lives. Dr Kania explores the subject through the lens of a contemporary movie and through a homily penned by St Basil the Great. Like everything else in life anger has both negative and positive aspects. [more]

027 :
19 Jun 2007

A challenging commentary on hypocrisy Whatever your political persuasion I think you will find this commentary by Dr Kania most provocative and challenging. He's looking at the difficult issue of hypocrisy. At times we have to speak up about injustices in society but it is not always easy to do so without being hypocritical ourselves. There is fuel for a rich discussion flowing out of this commentary. …Ed [more]

026 :
12 Jun 2007

Why do people lose the will to live? Andrew's commentary today examines the challenging problem of rising suicide rates in affluent societies and how it might be countered. [more]

025 :
05 Jun 2007

What lessons from Thomas Becket today? Andrew today re-visits the story of 12th Century English Saint and Martyr, St Thomas Becket. Even today the site of his murder in Canterbury Cathedral is a much venerated spot. Why does this meddlesome priest continue to inspire? [more]

024 :
29 May 2007

Would Jesus get a better deal from us? Andrew takes a look at mob behaviour and bullying. Why do people engage in the behaviour? Have we learned nothing since the time of Jesus? [more]

023 :
22 May 2007

Living the spiritual life in a secular setting... Last week Andrew ended his commentary with a brief reference to the former secretary to the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld. What Andrew didn't tell you is that he has a particular affinity with Mr Hammarskjöld. At present, Andrew is packing up all his possessions in Perth and moving with his wife and young son to live in Oxford for a year where he has been invited as a visiting academic at Oxford University to write a book on Dag Hammarskjöld.* Today he shares a little of what brought fame to this famous Secretary-General of the United Nations following his death in a plane crash in 1961. I am pleased to report to you that Andrew hopes to continue filing articles for Catholica when he has settled in in Oxford and, in the meantime, he has given us a series of wonderful reflections which will run over the next four Tuesdays while he makes the transition to the UK. This series is a mixed collection of reflections on different aspects of life looked at from a spiritual perspective. Today's commentary sits very comfortably with the observations I was writing about yesterday concerning the spirituality of Opus Dei which endeavours to view spirituality as part and parcel of our secular lives. _Editor. *See further information in the introduction to Andrew's commentary. [more]

022 :
15 May 2007

A reflection on the price we are asked to pay... The price we are asked to pay in the pursuit of truth, and of God, can be high. Andrew, with the help of a few other famous commentators on the human condition, examines this vexed question about the price of discipleship. [more]

021 :
08 May 2007

The nature of our religious quest... This is a particularly thought-provoking reflection by Dr Kania on the nature of our spiritual quest. It is a plea for a more mature form of faith expression than the often parodied picture of religiosity that is presented in the media — and which some religious people give cause to the media to parody. He argues: "God calls for an awareness of self, an awareness of neighbour, an awareness of Him, rather than flagellation, which can become a source of morbid enjoyment and pride." [more]

020 :
01 May 2007

The sublime in simplicity... This week Dr Kania embarks on a delightful suite of reflections that provide practical insights into applied spirituality. In large measure spirituality, and general good health, is linked to the frame of mind through which we view life. Andrew's reflections are broadly looking at those things which help form our mindset or "frame of mind". As always, along the way, his essays also provide interesting historical observations. [more]

019 :
24 Apr 2007

Marriage III: The Sexual Devolution... Andrew centres this final commentary on Christian marriage around the plot of Anatole France's 1912 classic, "The God's will have Blood". Dr Kania concludes by wondering: "perhaps society as a whole has taken the form of Elodie Blaise, knowing that she is spiralling downward, but unwilling to grasp that one reality for the sake of having to admit to themselves or others that a gross error of judgement has been made; or perhaps for fear of having to forgo that sweet forbidden fruit, which she knows is poisoning her, but to which she has now become so accustomed." [more]

018 :
17 Apr 2007

Marriage II: As Christ loved his Church... In what one suspects many may view as an excessively masculine side analysis of marriage, Dr Kania continues his exploration of the meaning in this Christian Sacrament. [more]

017 :
10 Apr 2007

Marriage I: Aspects of Love... This week, Dr Kania begins a new three-part series exploring different aspects in the Christian understanding of marriage. [more]

016 :
03 Apr 2007

Applying conscience to moral dilemmas... In this concluding commentary to his series looking at applied conscience, Dr Kania, returns to the example of Metropolitan Andrii Sheptyts'kyi, the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church from 1900 to 1944. Sheptyts'kyi's story has been little known in the Western world until the last twenty years following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Dr Kania suggests he stands as a tall leader following the dictates of conscience to be "his brothers' keeper" in the protection of Jewish people from State persecution. [more]

015 :
27 Mar 2007

Applying conscience to moral leadership... In this powerful piece of writing that crosses a number of political boundaries, Dr Kania, looks at moral leadership and how all leaders need to think from a perspective outside their own limited experience. History is littered with great human tragedies caused by little men who believed themselves to have the wisdom and overview of God. All of us are leaders in some shape or form, even within our own homes with our own children. This commentary ought speak powerfully to all of us. [more]

014 :
20 Mar 2007

Applying conscience to social service... This week Dr Kania begins a new series of three commentaries that he suggests take conscience into the field of practical application. This first commentary looks at the attitude our faith invites us to bring to social service. In his commentaries over the next two weeks he will provide perspectives on leadership and moral dilemmas as they relate to conscience. [more]

013 :
13 Mar 2007

Finding the balance between the letter and spirit of the law... In a wonderfully balanced commentary, Dr Andrew Thomas Kania today explores the tension involved in discerning between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. It is a timely commentary given the division evident so often today between those, often drawn from conservative religious sectors, with an overbearing emphasis on literalism and the letter of the law and the libertarian tendencies in some sectors of society which seem to imply that "the spirit of the law" is somehow synonimous with following whatever feeling comes into one's head at a particular time. Dr Kania argues that Jesus Christ puts forward a middle and balanced way between these two extremes where the spirit is dependent on the letter, and vice verse. His commentary is not to be missed. [more]

012 :
06 Mar 2007

The Way (cf Psalm 40:6-8)... Last week Dr Kania focused on conscience. His commentary today is related to all of that in that he endeavours to focus on the positive and affirming ways in which we ought be witnesses to Jesus Christ and the Gospel values the Church upholds and is supposed to witness to.. [more]

011 :
27 Feb 2007

The Twlight Zone of Conscience... Following the provocative suggestion by Sydney's Cardinal Pell in the media at various times in the last decade or so that the Catholic teaching on Primacy of Conscience ought be either dropped or revised (see links at conclusion of commentary), the subject of conscience has been an agenda item. Today and next Tuesday we have pleasure in presenting two related and thought-provoking articles by Dr Andrew Thomas Kania which seek to explore some aspects of this complex subject. In his first article today he uses the example of Albert Speer to explore some of the negative aspects of the subject and how a person can be led into behaviours that would be classified as the products of a faulty conscience. Next Tuesday his article looks at the contrasting "Way of Christ" that endeavours to focus on the more positive aspects of conscience and how it can lead us in the right direction. Dr Kania's articles barely scrape the surface of this vast and complex subject. We hope his articles might serve to generate vigorous discussion in our forums exploring this subject in further depth. [more]

010 :
20 Feb 2007

Putting any suffering we might endure into a different context... Given our recent discussions on Catholica on the question of suffering, this essay by Dr Kania on the suffering endured by Ukrainian Catholics under Soviet occupation might shift our perspectives and open up new directions in our conversation. The essay is accompanied by links to further interesting web pages, books and audio-visual resources which readers might value for further general knowledge and faith education. [more]

009 :
18 Feb 2007

How do we “love one anohter as I have loved you”? Fitting so well with today's gospel reading were Jesus introduceds the Great Commandment, Andrew's reflection today explores the meaning of love with the assistance of a number of the great writers, mystics and artists. [more]

008 :
13 Feb 2007

The eternal questions of love, suffering and life... Andrew today analyses what we might learn of the eternal questions of love, suffering life from the movie and story based on the life of CS Lewis, Shadowlands. [more]

007 :
11 Feb 2007

A matter of Judgement! In this powerful rejoinder to Peregrinus' opening commentary on the morality surrounding capital punishment, Dr Andrew Thomas Kania provides passionate argument as to why the Catholic Church has been modifying it's attitude to State-sanctioned execution. [more]

006 :
04 Feb 2007

Finding the meaning in the story of Ben-Hur... Andrew has gone delving into the literary and movie classic, Ben-Hur: A tale of the Christ to extract the timeless essence of the story — finding Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters. [more]

005 :
31 Dec 2006

A challenging reflection to end the year... Andrew Kania presents a challenging reflection for us to see out the year. Partly inspired by the commentaries during the week from two of his former students, Ben and Phoebe Coyne, as well as other contemporary events, Andrew argues we need to guard against moral relativism. [more]

004 :
24 Dec 2006

A spiritual reflection for Christmas Eve... Today and tomorrow we have two gentle spiritual reflections. Today's comes from Andrew Kania wherein he argues "The message of Christmas is in itself a call to humility … [it] can be seen as the message of Divine love carried to us by the voice of the child." His reflection is accompanied by a gentle Christmas lullaby performed by Amanda McKenna. [more]

003 :
22 Dec 2006

Evaluating beauty... In today's commentary Andrew Kania was partly stimulated by the recent discussion here on self-esteem and self-respect. His commentary is exploring the ways in which we value the beauty to be found in others. He explores a number of places where writers such as Balzac, St John Chrysostom, Naomi Wolf and others have written on the matter. [more]

002 :
15 Dec 2006

We are all called to leadership... In this wonderful commentary, Andrew Kania, explores the meaning of Christian leadership. He explains how a woman, St Margaret of Scotland, serves as one of the great models of Christian leadership. [more]

001 :
12 Dec 2006

A tougher seasonal reflection... Christmas in many ways today is the season in which we celebrate our affluence and success. Andrew Kania takes us on a more sobering reflection of The Plague of Affluenza. [more]