042 :
30 Nov 2007

The Religion and Politics of Tony Abbott… Cliff Baxter takes his pen up in critical analysis of the political and religious world view of prominent Catholic politician, Tony Abbott… [more]

041 :
06 Aug 2007

A Browse through the Irish Echo… Each second Wednesday evening Cliff Baxter says he has an excuse to sneak down to his local Irish pub to have a Guinness. The excuse he gives his wife is that he's going down to pick up a copy of the Irish Echo. Bronwyn's seen through the ruse for years as she actually works at the newspaper as a proofreader and could bring a copy of the paper home for him. She winks at him each time he comes out with the excuse knowing full well what his real reason for nicking down the pub is. Here's what he found in the paper this week… [more]

040 :
06 Jul 2007

Fr Shay Cullen… Cliff Baxter shares some personal knowledge of his involvement in the exposing the activities of sexual predators in the Philippines. His commentary links to a recent documentary on ABC television concerning Fr Shay Cullen and an article in this week's Irish Echo in which Fr Cullen criticises the way the ABC covered the story about pedophiles and sex predators in the Philippines. [more]

039 :
27 June 2007

Testing the pollies? Cliff Baxter takes up Senator Bill Heffernan's suggestion (now there's an unlikely duo for you – LOL) and asks if our politicians ought be subject to random drug testing as well? [more]

038 :
24 June 2007

Analysing the National Emergency? Cliff Baxter questions the reasoning behind the Australian Federal Government's declaration of a national emergency in the matter of child abuse. [more]

037 :
17 June 2007

This is OUTRAGEOUS! Cliff Baxter provides the facts on this disturbing case in Ireland that has been reported in The Irish Echo in Australia. It's about a gay priest who has been "outed" by one of Rupert Murdoch's sensationalist tabloids. In a separate editorial, Brian Coyne, puts the case for the real moral issues that this case brings to the surface for investigation. [more]

036 :
31 May 2007

A Rev Hannibal Lecter in a Cheap Cardigan! Cliff Baxter returns with a powerful commentary to draw attention to Markham Nolan's review of a powerful new documentary about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Mr Nolan's review is reproduced courtesy of The Irish Echo newspaper. [more]

035 :
13 Nov 2006

What a treasure Michael Leunig is! Michael Leunig has put away his brush and taken up the pen in a column in The Age. Cliff suggests we take seriously what he's suggesting. He nominates Leunig as a new prophet for our time. [more]

034 :
10 Nov 2006

Forget the Pope - Saddam must 'swing before he sings'! Cliff casts a very cynical eye on the behaviours of a number of the key groups who've had a lot to say about prosecuting the War on Terror. He asks if they have a motive for wanting Saddam to "swing before he sings"? [more]

033 :
06 Nov 2006

Let's provide a bit of feedback! We might not have the resources to do an audit of Catholic communications around the world but Cliff suggests we ought to have a go. Today he provides a start and invites you to provide more. [more]

032 :
30 Oct 2006

In the wake of the Sheikh's gaffe should we discuss modesty? Cliff wonders if there is a different way of looking at Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly's gaffe on female dress standards. Is there a legitimate issue here that our community needs to be looking at? Cliff went off on a Google search to find out what had been written on the subject. You might like to check out what he's found and contribute to a discussion in our forum about dress standards. [more]

031 :
27 Oct 2006

Two contrasting approaches on the Limbo controversy... Cliff Baxter expresses his horror at the way some people so filled with religious fervour not only show little compassion for those who have lost unbaptized children, but portray a merciless, legislative God still brooding over our original sin. [more]

030 :
23 Oct 2006

Internet Discussion For ten years Cliff Baxter was an ethical 'sheriff' of journalism as President of the Australian Journalists Association Judiciary Committee in New South Wales. Not one person appealed against his decisions. For Catholica he makes some observations on the directions Catholic discussions are heading. [more]

029 :
16 Oct 2006

The outlook of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor Cliff Baxter provides an overview, gleaned from viewing the ABC Compass television program last night, on the faith outlook offered by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. [more]

028 :
13 Oct 2006

We are no longer hunting the Sabre-tooth Tiger – or Dancing with Jurassic Males! Cliff Baxter responds to Tuesday's editorial on the challenges we face as lay Catholics. What is the role of the lay apostolates today? What should we be doing? [more]

027 :
09 Oct 2006

World Youth Day 2008 — an opportunity for renewal... Cliff Baxter sees World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008 as an opportunity for renewal in the Church. He says "we are desperately in need of new, green shoots in the Church". So come on everybody, Get with the Spirit! [more]

026 :
04 Oct 2006

What about the Virtues? Cliff Baxter argues we need a counterpoint to the Seven Deadlies – through a concentration on Virtues. He says, for example, we need to 'get deadly' on human rights, and the activist Ciaron O'Reilly is a good role model. [more]

025 :
25 Sep 2006

The cost of the "War on Terror" In his offering today Cliff points out that a terrible landmark has been passed in the so-called 'war on terror'. He finds it terrifying. How long, he asks, before we listen to the Pope of Peace? [more]

024 :
22 Sep 2006

"Neither Oppressor Nor Oppressed Be" Cliff takes a candid look at the holy book, the Qu'ran, and urges that we strive for peace for all people. If we do not, he says, we are like the Gadarene Swine, heading to perdition. Moderate Islam must be encouraged at all costs and at the same time militant Christianity's merchants of death resisted. We need, he says, to look at the sort of religious texts that fuel religious fanaticism. [more]

023 :
18 Sep 2006



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022 :
04 Sep 2006

The love that dares not speak its shame The American Right claims to 'love' Israel. In this take Cliff Baxter asks if it is a love that dares not speak its shame: lust for money, power, oil, and armament sales? Cliff applauds the statement by the Jerusalem bishops criticising the increasing power of Christian Zionism as a barrier to peace in the Middle East. [more]

021 :
28 Aug 2006

Would you like to be able to write more effectively? The Old Curmudgeon would like to see a revival of the great Catholic tradition in writing. Older readers might remember the Fr Brown Stories of that famous English Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton but here in Australia we had the Around the Boree Log tradition of Fr Hartigan ('John O'Brien'). Catholica Australia and Cliff Baxter are offering all those who want to become more effective writers professional tuition and a place to get themselves published. [more]

020 :
22 Aug 2006

A tribute to a journalist colleague... In this piece Cliff doffs his Panama in honour of a long time comrade in journalism, Alan Gill, author of many books, who has written a typically professional piece for Online Catholics, of which I have the honour to be discussion board moderator. [more]

019 :
21 Aug 2006

Climate Change: Why we should be concerned! Cliff Baxter, self-styled Curmudgeon, has been reflecting on an Earth that appears to be dying, a conference on Climate change to be held in Melbourne on October 13, and the Boiling Frog Principle. [more]

018 :
17 Aug 2006

The dissonance of war. The harmony of peace. The Curmudgeon looks at the way music can reply to the dissonance of the single, pathological and repetitive note of war. NOTE: multi-media content – Cliff's reflection today is accompanied by a sound track. [more]

017 :
14 Aug 2006

How secondary gain wrecks our lives, and our communities... Is it possible to understand what goes on in the minds of people who convince themselves that committing acts of terrorism is God's work? Or is it possible to understand what goes on in the minds of people who convince themselves that committing acts of verbal terrorism in the Catholic Church is God's work? What drives fundamentalism? They are all convinced they are the defenders of "Truth"? But are they? Do we do ourselves, or the world, a favour, by appeasing hypochondriacs ... or terrorists? Cliff Baxter has some background reading that readers of Catholica might be interested in. [more]

016 :
11 Aug 2006

Could you spare a small donation for this family in Armenia? Cliff Baxter has received a heartfelt appeal for assistance for a family in Armenia. He visited the country in 2001 to write a book on the country and its history and developed a great love for this most ancient of Christian nations. Read the full story and if you can add to our appeal total it would be deeply appreciated. [more]

015 :
07 Aug 2006

A Passionate Plea for Peace... Cliff Baxter has won many awards during the course of his long career in journalism – possibly more than any other Catholic journalist in Australia. The column he has written for us today might give you an insight why. It is an extraordinarily powerful and passionate plea for peace yet, despite it's passion, it carries a sense of objectivity and fairness to the peoples caught up on both sides of the conflict in the Middle East. I have attached multi-media content in the form of another "Prayer for Our Time" to Cliff's Take. If that distracts from the reading of his column I suggest you scroll down and put it on pause until you reach the end of his column. Let us not just "pray for peace" but "work for peace" amongst all the peoples of our world. [more]

014 :
01 Aug 2006

The tragedy of St Vincent's Redfern... There were further major developments at the Catholic parish of Redfern on the weekend. This received significant media coverage on Monday and led to much comment on the CathNews discussion forum which reflects the deep divisions in the institutional Church at the moment on much wider issues as to how the Church is to be re-evangelised. Cliff Baxter lives close to Redfern and has been watching the developments in that parish with growing alarm... [more]

013 :
31 Jul 2006

Should the Aboriginal people embrace capitalism? A week or so ago the head of the Federal Government's Indigenous business advisory group, Joseph Elu, blamed a failure to embrace capitalism for Aboriginal social problems. Cliff Baxter argues that capitalism is not a response. On the contrary, he argues, we can learn from their culture of the common good. In a separate essay, Tom Scott, challenges the arguments advanced by Cliff. [more]

012 :
29 Jul 2006

It's enough to send you bananas! With the news this week that Australia's worrying inflation rate has been caused by the surging price of bananas since the crop was wiped out by Cyclone Larry last January, The Curmudgeon asks if we ought take this country off the gold standard onto a banana standard. [more]

011 :
25 Jul 2006

People are not commodities! The Curmudgeon today argues that people are not commodities. Neither are health care and education "commodities" that a civilised society ought exploit for profit. He calls on Catholic social teaching to support his arguments and draws attention to a recent article by Dr Alf Liebhold who points to dangerous trends in health care by Corporate America. Do you think the profit motive enhances or degrades Healthcare and Education? [more]

010 :
20 Jul 2006

Sorry, Mr Howard, the Curmudgeon Disagrees! John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister is always smiling. The economy has never looked better, he says. Cliff Baxter, the self-styled Curmudgeon, does not share his optimism. He writes that today’s urban people may find themselves more vulnerable than the common people when Henry VIII closed the monasteries, debased the silver currency, then almost sent England bankrupt through war, because then many 16th century people at least lived close to the soil and could grow food. 21st century urban people, queued up with their credit cards in the supermarket, may not be able to cushion tomorrow’s economic blows. [more]

009 :
19 Jul 2006

It is time for a new beginning in male-female relationships! In this poignant commentary – which was largely sparked by his anguish listening to the news reports of the Coroner's Inquest into the death of Dianne Brimble – Cliff asks some searing questions about the relations between men and women. Whether you're a man or a woman don't miss it. [more]

008 :
17 Jul 2006

The tragedy in Lebanon... The unfolding tragedy in the Lebanon is impacting on the whole world. Cliff has penned this sensitive and loving story seeking to remind us of the ordinary people like you and I, struggling to make sense of life, who end up being caught up as the real victims in these great powerplays between religious ideologies and geo-politics. Our Lady of Lebanon, pray for all of us. [more]

007 :
11 Jul 2006

Refugees – the tragic plight of Ljuben Nedelkoski... Cliff Baxter has been learning something of the tragic treatment of some Macedonian immigrants to Australia. He argues the case of Ljuben Nedelkoski deserves our support. [more]

006 :
04 Jul 2006

Give us this day, our daily bread! Here is commentary at its very best. Veteran journalist, Cliff Baxter uses his pen like a sabre cutting through the tragedy and hypocrisy of the War in Iraq. Amanda McKenna on reading the piece was inspired to take up her guitar and sing the words of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards that Cliff used to introduce his column. You have the benefit of hearing Amanda's rendition recorded early this morning while you read one of the most cutting commentaries you're likely to find in any media. Happy 4th July everybody! [more]

005 :
02 Jul 2006

Wake UP, Soccer Fans, and let us start barracking for the Habeas Corpus Cup! Continuing his commentary from yesterday, Cliff asks if David Hicks has become Australia's Alfred Dreyfus? If you have never understood the finer details of what all the fuss is about over the detention of the alleged terrorists by the Amercian administration at Guantanamo Bay, do yourself a favour. Just quietly sit down and read this veteran journalist's careful analysis of what is at stake here. [more]

004 :
01 Jul 2006

Have we lost the "Habeas Corpus Cup"? Here's some weekend reflection. In this take, Cliff wonders if sport has replaced religion as the alleged opiate of the people. Why, asks Cliff, aren’t people getting worked up as much over human rights contests, bigotry and prejudice as they are over competition over a ball on a green field in front of baying thousands and watched by millions on TV? [more]

003 :
26 Jun 2006

A winning strategy: Cut and Run! Cliff's message for the American Democrats: Cut the crap. Run like you want to win. Cut the military. Run a real government — Cut and Run! It's a winning slogan. [more]

002 :
10 Jun 2006

An old curmudgeon's view on conscience Cliff examines the controversy surrounding Cardinal George Pell, the ACBC, the CDF, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the issue of Primacy of Conscience. [more]

001 :
8 Jun 2006

The truth is not always comfortable Let's have a vigorous discussion on the morality and merits of John Howard's proposal to examine the nuclear option. Cliff is opposed to the idea and outlines his arguments. Is anyone prepared to challenge Howard ... or Baxter? [more]