069 :
31 Aug 2009

21.2: St Basil the Great A fascinating excerpt today from Tom Lee's study of the Origins of Christianity. The personalities he introduces are all substantial figures in the Christian landscape, beginning with St Basil the Great. Intriguing though is the story of how old seems to be the obsession with things sexual in episcopal thought. Sex is without doubt one of the primal drives in human behaviour — and one that leads many into tangled paths, including some of our priests as the court records today so regularly illustrate. When is the Church — when is society at large — going to finally get the sexual dimension into proper balance with all the other dimensions of being human? [more]

012 :
30 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #10… A change of pace from Francis today. He shares with us just four poems written between 1997 and 2002 which he sees as expressing a contrast between his experience of hell and resurrection. [more]

001 :
29 Aug 2009

Cardinal Mahony — Preface & Chapter 1 It is with great pleasure that we are able to bring you today the Preface and Chapter One of Robert Blair Kaiser's novel "Cardinal Mahony". In my own review of the book in 2007 I wrote: "Robert Blair Kaiser has turned to the novel form to advance his prosecution of the case that the Catholic Church is in serious difficulties — and the responsibility for the crisis largely rests with the men at the top who have had responsibility for leading the institution. ... It's a sort of cross between a Morris West novel — with its superb understanding of Catholic Church culture and politics — and a Tom Clancy action thriller." [more]

028 :
28 Aug 2009

The Duty of Care of the Institution to its Employees... Today's editorial comment has been drafted by a group of priests in the Sydney area who have been dismayed at the response of the Archdiocese of Sydney to the situation that developed recently when the Parish Priest of Liverpool, Fr Robert Fuller, was arrested and charged. This editorial is not concerned with the serious allegations which have been made concerning Fr Fuller. Under our system of law he is innocent until he is proven guilty by a properly constituted Court of Law. The issue that is of concern to the priests is the manner in which the employer of priests seems, through the issuance of a media release, to have wiped its hands of a duty of care to priests who, for whatever reason, find themselves in difficulties, legal or otherwise. ...Brian Coyne (Editor) [more]

118 :
27 Aug 2009

Why does God always appear on Mountains? Look up the phrase "God on the Mountain" in Google images and you get around 12.5 million results. There is a BIG association between God and mountains in the eyes of many. Dr Ian Elmer in his "Puzzling Passages" commentary today explores the Scriptural connection between God and high places. What's the mythological and theological meaning in this sign? [more]

091 :
26 Aug 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #8 At the end of today's reflection Tom McMahon apologises for venting. It's a nostalgic form of venting though brought on by the death of another friend from seminary days. So many of the faithful seem to just roll their eyes into the backs of their heads and forget to turn up next Sunday. Catholica seeks to reach out to those who pause awhile and ask "why has it all become so irrelevant in the lives of so many (or me)?" Essentially that's the question Tom McMahon is also trying to address... [more]

067 :
25 Aug 2009

20.1: The Barbarian Invasions A fresh chapter from Tom Lee's study of the Origins of Christianity begins today. And it promises to be a bit of fun. He entitled the Chapter: "Two Emperors, Two Creeds — the Comedy Continues". The opening today isn't much fun though — the bishops began to play politics with one another and the Huns and Visigoths started invading from the North. [more]

134 :
24 Aug 2009

Moral Hemophilia: Concept and Reality (cf. Luke 10: 29-37) It seems a common human trait that as time unwinds in our lives most people find a desire to travel back and understand their origins as a way to understanding their present and forging a new future. Today's commentary from Dr Andrew Kania could be described as being written out of that genre. Andrew claims a joint Ukrainian and Polish heritage. His faith and spiritual outlook was significantly forged by the momentous conflicts that went on, often between co-religionists, in the furnaces of ideology, politics and religion in Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century. Today's commentary is part personal journey looking back at the tensions between two profoundly Catholic nationalities, the Poles and the Ukrainians in the immediate aftermath of World War II. It is a commentary that many on Catholica will appreciate given the video on YouTube which we have been featuring on the Catholica Video Channel [LINK] for the past week — which, entirely by conincidence surfaced on Crikey and was brought to our attention on Catholica by TonySee — which graphically illustrated the emotional pain suffered by the Ukrainian people in 1945 shortly before the historical events explored by Dr Kania today. [more]

011 :
23 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #9… Where Francis leads us today in his reflection is in many ways a lesson in not being too hard on ourselves. Judging other is a problem but we can also be too judgmental toward our own selves. Jesus offers a compassionate, non-punitive, win-win type of justice! [more]

038 :
22 Aug 2009

Lessons from Deuteronomy... Today's lead commentary is another of Daniel Gullotta's essays for his theology studies. Under that guise it had the rather uninspiring title of "Beyond the Waters of Babylon — Examining the Deuteronomic History and it's understanding of the Exile and Return of Israel". It raises more contemporary questions though: what, precisely, is the sort of relationship God is calling each of us into? Did, or do, the Jewish people have the same kind of understanding that Christians have of the relationship? How much have our theologies (understanding of God and the Divine) been formed by our Jewish cultural and religious/theological heritage? Much material here for sustained reflection and meditation. [more]

057 :
21 Aug 2009

Understanding Fundamentalism... In some senses the very existence of Catholica could be considered to be a response to fundamentalist thinking. Catholica itself might be characterised as a search for an alternative way of looking at religion, spirituality, theology and God to fundamentalist perspectives. Perhaps it is no surprise then that the editor, Brian Coyne has been deeply impressed by a study he recently came across by Karen Armstrong which explores Fundamentalism in the three great monotheist faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Today's lead commentary is a review of Karen Armstrong's book, The Battle for God. [more]

117 :
20 Aug 2009

Does Forty mean 40? A new contributor to our forum today, Raymond, has sparked an interesting discussion that intersects well with what Dr Elmer is exploring today — applying critical reason to the reading of Scripture. The ancient scribes who laid out the inspired word of God didn't necessarily work in the same thought paradigms we work in today. When does seven not mean 7, or forty not mean 40? Welcome to the wonderful world of Biblical numerology! [more]

090 :
19 Aug 2009

A tribute to two priests! As telegraphed last week, Tom McMahon provides us with an interlude to his exploration of the psychology of priesthood by today bringing us an essay he wrote ten years ago paying tribute to a man and woman, Msgr James Wade, and Margo Schorno, whom Tom considers exhibited the very best qualities of what any priest — and person — ought witness through their lives. [more]

067 :
17 Aug 2009

20.4: The Triumph of Christianity! This final section from Chapter 20 of Tom Lee's manuscript is an interesting read that will likely take many readers off into deeper explorations. (We've included a couple of Wikipedia links to assist.) It recounts how, after the setback of Emperor Julian re-instating Pagansim as the official State religion of the Empire, Christianity was re-instated under his successor, Jovian. Towards the end of this essay Tom offers an opinion why Christianity triumphed over its rivals. [more]

010 :
16 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #8… Do you have memories of your childhood as distinct as these ones Francis Brown is sharing with us? In Chapter 6, which we are splitting into two parts, he reflects on the sense of separation that he felt the formal education process gave him from the pre-school sense of wholeness and oneness he experienced. [more]

116 :
13 Aug 2009

Faith and Miracles (Mark 6:5-6) As Dr Elmer explains in his opening paragraph today, this commentary follows on logically from last week's. Today though he takes a look at the more general context of the miracle stories told in the Gospels. What are these events seeking to tell us? How do they fit into the overall context of what the Jesus' message is about? [more]

089 :
12 Aug 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #7 Priesthood, like many aspects of Catholicism, had a long evolution. It did not 'come into being fully formed' by some edict of Jesus. It evolved over two millenia. Tom McMahon suggests that the form of priesthood we have known in recent history basically came into being with the Council of Trent in 1542 and the seminary system in the 17th Century. What were the forces that formed this particular model? Was it something inspired by the Holy Spirit or something driven more by human forces? Where do the needs of the female half of the population fit in? Tom continues his search for answers... [more]

066 :
10 Aug 2009

20.3: A Succession of Forgotten Councils… This period around 350CE that Tom Lee is covering in Chapter 20 of his manuscript was not a good time for the Church as today's excerpt demonstrates. There were lots of Councils, many no longer part of the official record, and extraordinary disagreement amongst the leadership factions centred on the Arian controversy. [more]

009 :
09 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #7… It's a short reflection from Francis today ... and in verse. As children do we appreciate enough the love our parents have for us? Or how much time our parents spend thinking about us wherever we are in the world, or on our journeys? [more]

037 :
07 Aug 2009

A look at the Qur'an A perhaps surprising little excursion by Daniel Gullotta today but, as always, fascinating both from the point of view of the content and also being able to read these ideas through the eyes of a young theology student who is self-evidently enthusiastic about things religious and spiritual. Enjoy this excursion having a look at the Islamic perspective on God. [more]

115 :
06 Aug 2009

The Calming of the Sea... When we first learn of the great Biblical stories as children we tend to understand them as literal and historical events — something that really and truly did happen. As adults we begin to appreciate that the original intention of the authors was not, as with some modern journalist or historian, an endeavour to give "an eyewitness account of some event". Very often the chief objective was to convey some theological insight. As today's commentator, Dr Ian Elmer, has pointed out in the past, writers like St Paul were often economical with the historical truth in their enthusiasm to take their readers to some theological truth or spiritual insight. Often in Jesus' case the linkage was not necessarily to an historical event but back to some liturgical insight in the Jewish scriptures — which was the frame of reference most people operated in at the time religiously. Today's commentary by Dr Elmer is an excellent illustration of these things. Ian today seeks to give us insight into the liturgical and theological meaning in the Gospel story of Jesus Calming the Sea. [more]

088 :
05 Aug 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #6 Tom McMahon today argues that we still understand little of the psychology of priesthood — those deep imperatives that 'drive the system' relentlessly on — even though the system is nearly 1800 years old. What drives the minds of bishops and priests? What do they believe they are trying to achieve? What do they think the religio-spiritual objective is? Have some of them ever stopped to ask questions like this or are they just 'driven' by this ancient feudal system that has evolved? [more]

133 :
04 Aug 2009

The real story behind Morris West's prophecy... Morris West is often lauded as some kind of prophet for his seeming prediction of the election of Karol Wojtyla as Pope. In fact Morris West's story was based on some individuals from another part of Eastern Europe. Dr Andrew Kania's commentary today gives some of the background and also further highlights the suppression placed on the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe, and particularly the Ukraine, under Stalinism. Andrew entitled this fascinating essay: Prisoner and Exile (cf. Isaiah 53: 3-4, LXX) [more]

065 :
03 Aug 2009

20.2: The origins of Mariology… Today's excerpt from Tom Lee's exploration of the origins of Christianity brings us to the emergence of Mary in the worship of the Church. He tells of the discovery of the first hymn to Mary and the role Arianism played in setting the intellectual structure for the growth of Mariology. [more]

008 :
02 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #6… Chapter 4 from Francis Brown's book takes the form of a dialogue with a visitor in which Francis explores the question of the relative value of the knowledge that is inherent to creation and the learned knowledge we acquire at school and in other places in life. Learned knowledge has a value but we need to be careful not to squeeze out an openess to the Holy Spirit to lead us to new perceptions. Francis concludes: "Be open, with the Holy Spirit, to new perception. Be free to learn anew of those you have met or will meet. Allow rebirth to occur for each part of creation so that you see it simply as God created." [more]

007 :
02 Aug 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #5… We have published Chapter 3 of Francis Brown's book before on Catholica as a stand-alone parable [See www.catholica.com.au/gc2/occ/024_occ_151008.php]. We present it again here, this time within the context of where it sits in his entire book, My Love is Here — an evolution in spirituality. [more]

036 :
01 Aug 2009

Lights! Camera! Pray! Yesterday we had a theatrical theme for our lead commentary. Today, and entirely by serendipity, Daniel Gullotta gives us a cinematic theme. It's his choices of the best, the bad and really bad movies made on Jesus, the Church or Christianity. What are your favorite movies on a spiritual theme? Which ones do you think do religion or spirituality a disservice? [more]

001 :
31 Jul 2009

Love thy Neighbours… Today's commentary perhaps doesn't fit any easy categorisation on Catholica. We're doing a favour for a friend, Tom Lee, who in turn is endeavouring to do a favour for a couple of friends and fellow artists, Barbara Angell and Pat Shaw, who have hit a rough patch with Pat presently facing some serious surgery. They are two people who, as this commentary relates, have brought a heck of a lot of joy to many people over decades. [more]

114 :
30 Jul 2009

The Parting of the Sea... It is an interesting question as to how much our theology and understanding of scripture has been formed by visual artists and film-makers and how much is grounded in either historical reality or the mythological or liturgical understandings that the original authors were seeking to convey. How much has our theology of heaven and hell been formed by the visual images embedded by the likes of Milton and Dante? Or how much has our understanding of bible history been coloured by Cecile B. DeMille? Today, Dr Elmer gives us insight into some of the more recent scholarship into that iconic story seared in the Christian and Jewish imagination — The Parting of the Sea told in Exodus. [more]

087 :
29 Jul 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #5 In the past week and on different sides of the Pacific Tom McMahon and the editor have attended funerals. Tom left the funeral he attended with feelings of anger which triggered the thoughts he shares in today's commentary. Why does the institution foist on the people priests who are little more than magicians who confect the Eucharist and not spiritual pastors and guides for their people? The editor shared his thoughts on the funeral he attended in the forum. [more]

132 :
28 Jul 2009

Bonhoeffer's New Theology: a new way of understanding our relationship with God Christianity is neither a game of trying to suck up to God, or Jesus Christ, in the hope of some eternal reward, nor is it some game of abundance theology pretending that if we are 'good' and follow all the rules God will make our lives happy and materially plentiful. It is a serious pursuit of endeavouring to think and act like God through the example of Jesus Christ. In this poignant concluding essay to his series on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr Andrew Kania seeks to provide insight into the new theology Dietrich Bonhoeffer was brought to think through in the moral dilemmas posed by the rise of Adolf Hitler and his own incarceration and execution. This theology does lead to a sense of personal abundance and freedom that surpasses any kindergarten-level or materialist theologies. Bonhoeffer forged this theological understanding in a crucible at the extreme of human endurance but it is a theology for all of us in the hum-drum of life in peaceful times as well. [more]

064 :
27 Jul 2009

20.1: Arian Resurgence as the Sons Inherit… As we move further forward in time in Tom Lee's exploration of the origins of Christianity it should not be surprising that the detail increases. In Chapter 20, which we begin today Tom is looking at the period immediately following the death of Constantine. Despite the decrees issued earlier at Nicaea, Arianism experienced a resurgence. [more]

006 :
26 Jul 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #4… In this second part of Chapter 2 of his book, My Love is Here — an evolution in spirituality, Francis goes almost mystical. The thrust of his argument though seems similar to the thoughts of Ekhart Tolle — we find the Divine presence not in the past or the future but in the Now. We need to resist those forces that separate us from the timeless, the infinite and the Divine presence. Can we experience this 'presence' amidst the ordinariness of life? How much are we constrained, or restrained, by the expectations of what society calls 'normal' or 'reality'? Francis describes his experiences. [more]

1084 :
25 Jul 2009

Searching for hope... The lead discussion today is found in our forum. There is a lot of it but the particular string we'd draw your attention to is one originally started via a letter to the editor from the cousin of one of our bishops. He was talking about anguish but somehow that as evolved into a discussion on hope, the intrinsic nature of Catholicism and even what we're trying to achieve here at Catholica. If you don't have time to follow the entire string(s) in which this discussion has taken place you might start with the post James wrote in response to the editor, Brian Coyne, trying to delineate what form of Catholicism might offer hope today, or if it offers any hope at all. [more]

015 :
24 Jul 2009

The use of the term YHWH or Yaweh? George Ripon sent in some questions on the Vatican directive for us to stop using the word "Yaweh" in our liturgies. We've used his questions to try and trigger a discussion in the forum. Can you pronounce the word "YHWH? Should you? [more]

113 :
23 Jul 2009

What Did Jesus Say at the Last Supper? Gone are the days when the Church authorities told us we had to believe something simply on their authority. Adults are no longer prepared to be treated like children who ask of their parents "why?" about something and Mum or Dad can get away with saying "because I told you so!" Dr Ian Elmer this week would almost seem to be inviting trouble in the second of his Puzzling Passages commentaries by delving into the mysteries surrounding the origin of the central Catholic liturgical celebration, the Eucharist and what Jesus was actually reported to have said at the First Eucharist. Dr Elmer is brave enough to ask the questions our bishops should be asking, discussing and preaching homilies about for the benefit of all. Let us hope their offices are flooded with complaints about this commentary on Catholica. Let us pray they respond with courage, and truth, to those who might be silly enough to try and argue that they know irrefutably what Jesus said at what tradition tells us was the First Eucharist. [more]

086 :
22 Jul 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #4 Tom McMahon, still recovering from his recent stroke, shows in today's commentary that the fight has not yet left the man. While critical of the feudal system that so many today are rejecting, Tom urges us to search for the alternative that does take us to the real Spirit of Jesus. [more]

131 :
21 Jul 2009

Render unto Caesar (cf Matthew 22: 17-21) In one sense Dr Andrew Kania's commentary today is preparatory for one that is going to be even more interesting next week looking at the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In another sense though, today's commentary is highly provocative, even controversial raising issues that nice people would perhaps prefer not to think about. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was both a traitor and a conscientious objector. He was supportive of those who thought it was morally justifiable to kill the leader of their own nation, Adolf Hitler. How could any Christian, let alone an eminent theologian, justify such thinking in a moral sense? The issues the case of Dietrich Bonhoeffer raises are not simply 'an interesting piece of history'. They cut to the moral core of the issues at stake in the Church's understanding of the notion of Primacy of Conscience. Ultimately, and as pointed to by Jesus himself in Matthew 22: 17-21, our ultimate loyalty has to be to moral truth and God not to any temporal notions of loyalty to temporal leaders. In his commentary today and next week, Dr Kania is driving towards an exploration of the theological and moral questions which he raises at the end of today's commentary. [more]

063 :
20 Jul 2009

19.3: The legacy of Constantine… In this conclusion to Chapter 19 of his manuscript Tom Lee brings us an outline of the major events in the life of Emperor Constantine and the Church after the Council of Nicea and up until the time of Constantine's baptism and death. It's an interesting commentary bringing us interesting detail from that period albeit a time of less controversy than we found in the last two excerpts. [more]

005 :
19 Jul 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #3… In both his physical presence and in his writing Francis Brown exudes a spirit of gentleness. He may no longer be a Franciscan priest but he remains both Franciscan and priestly to his core. We're splitting Chapter 2 of his book, My Love is Here — an evolution in spirituality, into two parts. He recalls the re-awakening of his childhood spirituality as a form of resurrection. [more]

112 :
18 Jul 2009

The great Eucharist starvation in the Church... How to address the shortage of priests? Fr Kevin J Murphy applies a bit of lateral thinking in today's commentary. He seems to assume the shortage isn't going to be addressed so the focus of his attention is more directed at us — the recipients of communion rather than those who confect it and distribute it. He invites us to turn every meal into a Eucharistic celebration. There is no law against it but he also cautions against the threat to Church unity if we become too cavalier in our attitudes. [more]

015 :
17 Jul 2009

Do we need a new Creed? Catholica commentator, Kerry Gonzales, and myself, Brian Coyne, editor, were the two invited to stir up a good discussion at the Sutherland Shire Spirituality in the Pub meeting on Wednesday night. Our addresses certainly seemed to fire up a vigorous discussion on the relevance, or factual truth, of various parts of the Creed today and on wider related issues of how the institution seems incapable of responding to the questions many educated people have today on fundamental questions to do with our beliefs as Christians and Catholics. We reproduce here the discussion-starter addresses each of us gave which stirred up the very interesting and positive discussion. [more]

112 :
16 Jul 2009

What Did Jesus Say at the Last Supper? Gone are the days when the Church authorities told us we had to believe something simply on their authority. Adults are no longer prepared to be treated like children who ask of their parents "why?" about something and Mum or Dad can get away with saying "because I told you so!" Dr Ian Elmer this week would almost seem to be inviting trouble in the second of his Puzzling Passages commentaries by delving into the mysteries surrounding the origin of the central Catholic liturgical celebration, the Eucharist and what Jesus was actually reported to have said at the First Eucharist. Dr Elmer is brave enough to ask the questions our bishops should be asking, discussing and preaching homilies about for the benefit of all. Let us hope their offices are flooded with complaints about this commentary on Catholica. Let us pray they respond with courage, and truth, to those who might be silly enough to try and argue that they know irrefutably what Jesus said at what tradition tells us was the First Eucharist. [more]

085 :
15 Jul 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #3 Tom McMahon provided this personal update on his health and introduction to today's commentary: "A personal to my readers: Since my June 30th stroke I have tested myself as to what damage still remains. Can I still think clearly? Today's medical examination offers that all symptoms will pass away. I do tire. I am driven to pursue the connection from early Roman psychology to the present day clerical sexual abuse and its cover up. The following is my fourth revision of an original paper and I can see a need for more, nature willing. Readers be patient as I need be with myself; every day I glean more information in talking with others that helps complete the mosaic. We are at a point of history bigger than the revolt of Martin Luther and we need proceed with painstaking care. We are on the trail of an elusive psychological link in the haystack of 1700 years of history. I do appreciate feedback as to my clarity and your understanding." [more]

130 :
14 Jul 2009

Last Man Kneeling (cf. Genesis 18: 23-33, LXX) In his most recent commentaries Dr Andrew Kania has made passing reference to the German Lutheran Theologian and World War II martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. That led to him reading up much further on Bonhoeffer in the past week and preparing this essay which explores the courage of the man. Understated in his summary of the life of Bonhoeffer, Dr Kania hints, via a quote from the Dominican mystic, Johannes Tauler, that the real question posed by the example of Bonhoeffer is the one of what moral courage are any of us asked to exhibit in the face of injustice and tyranny? Would any of us have had the courage of a Dietrich Bonhoeffer were we faced with a similar set of circumstances? Faced with a political leader like Adolf Hitler what are the moral limits one must go to in opposing their behaviours? [more]

062 :
13 Jul 2009

19.2: The Council of Nicaea… In today's commentary and next week Tom Lee spends a little time looking at the outcomes of the Council of Nicaea. This first ecumenical council played a crucial role in moulding the subsequent development of the Church. [more]

004 :
12 Jul 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey #2… Chapter One of Francis Brown's book, My Love is Here — an evolution in spirituality, he entitled "Beginnings" but I think it might be more accurate to describe it as a fourteen paragraph set of stepping stones across his entire life. He lays out the five or so paradigmatic turning points of his journey which he'll be exploring in more detail as this series moves on. [more]

037 :
11 Jul 2009

The Point of Pursuing the Notion of Trinity – Part 2... Whether we appreciate it or not, all of us model our lives and behaviours on paradigms — big canvas ideas that mould our thinking and which we learn from our culture, our religion, ideas planted in our minds and being passed down through our families, the heroes we learn about through our reading and study, as well as the big ideas that are fashionable in society in our present moment. Just think of all the paradigms driving the behaviours of so many individuals around the world in the last week at the passing of pop star Michael Jackson. In this two-part article (we published the first part yesterday) Dr Anthony Lowes is looking at the theological concept of Trinity and argues that for many it has become an esoteric idea trying to describe a God 'out there' or 'up there'. Consequently most people today probably spend very little time if any at all thinking about "Trinity" — or see it as having much relevance in their day-to-day lives. Along with other theologians he refers to in this theologically dense essay, he is arguing we need to grab the concept anew and not exclusively see it as a concept trying to describe the 'Being' of a God "out there" but it is a powerful tool through which we can understand our own 'being' and what it means to be a person aspiring to re-union and comm-union with God and with one another. There is a profound mystery or paradox to our own being: to be the perfect individual we cannot achieve it as an individual but only in relation (communion) with others. [more]

036 :
10 Jul 2009

The Point of Pursuing the Notion of Trinity – Part 1... Something a little bit different today — and a bit heavier to provide much food for useful reflection and comment. Dr Anthony Lowes sent this in to us for consideration a couple of weeks ago. In the wake of the decline in relevance of religion he argues we are in danger of effectively throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Most people probably don't spend much time thinking about the Trinity these days considering it a form of thinking that belongs in the past. In this two-part article, Tony Lowes argues we need to re-discover the real depth in Trinitarian thinking (and rescue the entire concept from the neanderthal sectors — those incapable of change even if the survival of their church or species depended on it — who seem to make us want to believe Trinity is a physical reality and we're all damned if we don't accept their dogmas on the Trinity [yes, you have our permission to smile])... [more]

111 :
09 Jul 2009

The Legacy of St Paul… Today's commentary is Dr Ian Elmer's conclusion to the year-long series he has shared with us exploring the life, the controversies and the teachings of St Paul. In this final commentary Ian seeks to suggest a wider understanding of the legacy of St Paul. It's a sort of 'big picture' overview of the importance of Paul to the subsequent way in which Christianity developed. [more]

084 :
08 Jul 2009

The Psychology of Priesthood #2 Tom McMahon wrote today's commentary before he suffered the stroke late last week that is now keeping him laid low. Not too low though that he hasn't made a few small forays onto discussion forums that we both follow. He is taking things slow though and forewarns there may be delays in this series examining the psychology of priesthood. He entitled today's commentary "The Psychology of Priests #2 — the outsider looks back in". [more]

129 :
07 Jul 2009

What sort of priests do we want? Dr Andrew Kania is far more of a gentleman than the editor of Catholica who takes responsibility for today's headline. Dr Kania couches his arguments in constrained language. Today's essay is every bit as provocative as the one he brought us last week. Priesthood today is "on the nose". The fact that the Vatican has chosen to hold a Year of the Priest is partly an exercise in trying to re-elevate the position of priest to one of esteem in the wake of the abuse scandals. We might ask though whether the abuse scandals occurred because we had put priesthood on the wrong sort of pedestal? Dr Kania, in this essay he entitled "Teacher, Preacher, Witness, Friend (cf. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3)" invites us to reflect on what sort of model we need for priesthood... [more]

061 :
06 Jul 2009

19.1: Heretical Challenge and Imperial Solution! In our long exploration with Tom Lee of the Origins of Christianity we come today to one of the epoch turning events that helped mould modern Christianity — the Arian controversy over the Divinity of Jesus which led to the Council at Nicaea called by Emperor Constantine to resolve the issue. [more]

003 :
05 Jul 2009

A lifetime spiritual journey… It is a pleasure to begin an extended series of short commentaries from Francis Brown They are extracts from his book My Love is Here — an evolution in spirituality. If we might be so bold as to provide an overview summary this is the spiritual journey of one man — one who might now be described as an "elder amongst us" — from childhood, into school, into seminary, into priesthood, as a missioner in PNG to people who still lived in a culture far removed from our technological culture, into married life and raising a family, back into the urban life of Brisbane and Sydney but all the while seeking to re-discover a spiritual Presence he had experienced in the innocence of his childhood and which he believes was educated out of him for a long period. [more]

012 :
04 Jul 2009

Wither Liturgical Reform & Renewal in 2009? Part 2 In this second-part of his commentary on liturgical renewal, Fr Patrick Collins, outlines a series of developments which he believes will help make the liturgy more accessible to the ordinary church goer and which also take us closer to what the prime objectives are in our conducting liturgies. Driving his own thinking are the thoughts of Thomas Merton. [more]

011 :
03 Jul 2009

Wither Liturgical Reform & Renewal in 2009? Part 1 In this two-part commentary Dr Patrick Collins , who is a great apostle for the thinking of Thomas Merton, explores where the Church is heading in the area of liturgical renewal. Part 1 of the commentary looks at Merton's changing attitudes towards the liturgical reforms which were made at the Second Vatican Council and Dr Collins offers his own thoughts on where the present leadership seem to be now heading in this realm. In the second part, which we will publish tomorrow, Dr Collins, puts forward proposals which might form the basis for a way forward again at some point in the future when the present "reform of the reform" has driven everybody out of the pews except the remnant. [more]

128 :
02 Jul 2009

Questioning the direction in which our leaders are taking us... One of the things that seems to characterise the community that has gathered here at Catholica is a collective memory of a time when there was excitement within Catholicism. We were fired up following the Second Vatican Council — re-invigorated and anxious to get out and share our excitement about what Jesus and our institution had to offer the world. That excitement and hope seems to have been dissipated by a leadership that is timid and trying to pacify only the insecure and those who see their faith as some security blanket of certitudes. Our present leader, Pope Benedict, speaks of a "smaller, purer Church". Today Dr Andrew Kania questions both the leadership and ourselves as to where we are going. Are we a Church trying to perpetually prove we are the only one's with access to Truth or should we see ourselves as the institution leading and encouraging the world in unearthing what the ultimate truths are? This is a powerful commentary coming from a writer often perceived to have a more conservative disposition. [more]