032 :
31 Oct 2006

Our ultimate accountability is to Truth Tom Scott argues that we are all going to be called to accountability for our stewardship of the earth and the Church. The ultimate accountability is not to any Pope, to our own egos and insecurities, nor to one political position or the other, but to the Truth. [more]

016 :
30 Oct 2006

Why did Jesus have to be crucified? Last week, in an excursus from his discussion of the historical Jesus, Ian explored two competing solutions to the puzzle of why God wanted to become human. This week, he continues further with that subject by examining another piece of the same puzzle, expressed in the equally important question: Why did Jesus have to die? [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]

007 :
29 Oct 2006

Finding the God of love through Jesus Christ... Today we present a moving homily by the late Fr Paddy Meagher SJ which seems particularly relevant at the moment to the conversations going on in Catholica concerning the particular relevance of Jesus in our lives. Do yourself a favour and find the 20 minutes you need to listen to Fr Paddy. You will not regret the investment of time you make. [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]

008 :
26 Oct 2006

Metaphors of Life... Rosemary looks at life through the metaphors of journey and landscape. She argues "the landscape of the gospels is often metaphorical rather than actual" and invites you "to consider the landscape of your life and how it merges with that of Jesus". [more]

021 :
25 Oct 2006

The human yearning for God... Peregrinus goes right back to basics in this commentary to explore the most fundamental human perceptions of the nature of God. Different peoples have come up with many different answers. He asks: "How can we discern the true (or truest) answer from all the answers offered?" [more]

031 :
24 Oct 2006

The changing demographics of Christianity Tom Scott asks whether the boom in Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity truly offers hope for the Christian Church? Or does it only hold out the promise of emotional security in the here and now? [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]

013 :
22 Oct 2006

The value of story telling... One suspects this is a story that will travel far and wide. It's a moving story from Kate on the value of telling stories in the building of families, communities, churches and nations. A powerful story that is worth bookmarking and sharing with family and friends. [more]

015 :
21 Oct 2006

Why did God have to become human? Ian Elmer seeks today to give us an overview of one of the great theological disputes of history: why did God have to become human? It's still controversial. He also provides plenty of further reading for when you have the time to explore these matters more deeply. [more]

030 :
20 Oct 2006

Thoughts on leadership and vision Tom Scott directs attention to two recent articles, one from the realm of Australian secular politics in The Age Newspaper, the other this week's lead story in OnLine Catholics. He suggests they have lessons for the institutional Church on why she is unable to offer a vision of the Jesus message that is retaining the partipation of her flock. [more]

007 :
19 Oct 2006

Coping with situations that make us want to scream... Rosemary offers some thoughts on how to turn a bad hair day on its head into something that is positive. It's a lesson whose turning point hinges on a particular way of looking at Jesus as model. [more]

020 :
18 Oct 2006

Further thoughts on Forgiveness? Peregrinus has another look at the Christian notion of forgiveness following on from Rosemary and Milly's reflections on the same subject in the wake of the Amish tragedy in Pennsylvania. [more]

029 :
17 Oct 2006

Bringing them back to what? Tom takes a further look at what we're endeavouring to achieve here with Catholica Australia. [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]

002 :
15 Oct 2006

A way to solve the Church's problems... Those who've been around this place a while will remember Vince Exley's commentary back in August with Some Suggestions for our Future Church. Today he presents some new "outside the square" possible solutions to help address the prospect of priestless parishes being increasingly faced by regional Australians.[more]

014 :
14 Oct 2006

Did Jesus think he was "the Son of God"? Returning to his series in search of the historical Jesus, today Ian Elmer is focusing on the questionas to what Jesus' self perception might have been: "Did he think he was the Son of God?" [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]

006 :
12 Oct 2006

Can we learn anything from the Amish tragedy? Rosemary Canavan suggests we can learn some valuable lessons from the way in which the Amish people recently responded to the shooting tragedy in their community. The community seemed to exhibit a very Christ-like understanding of forgiveness. [more]

019 :
11 Oct 2006

Is a Christian Society a Healthier Society? Peregrinus takes his scalpel to a study that purports to show religion decreases the general well-being of society. It provides opening thought for much discussion. What sorts of religious belief might increase societal well-being? Are there other measuring sticks? [more]

006 :
10 Oct 2006

The demise of lay aposotolates. What can be done? Catholic lay apostolates today are a shadow of what they used to be. Should we care? If we do what can be done? [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]

007 :
08 Oct 2006

Pride: the place where ego is unbridled! Rosemary Canavan today journeys into that murky world where the ego becomes unbridled. Pride is the last of the Seven Deadly Sins but it is not the least. You'll learn that it heads the list of the Spiritual Sins. [more]

006 :
07 Oct 2006

Envy: viewed within an adult context... Tom Scott in this commentary seeks to explore how his own views on sin and the meaning of life have changed over the course of his lifetime. He uses the different ways in which we can view envy as an example of what are ultimately two incompatible views of what the spiritual objective of our lives is. [more]

005 :
06 Oct 2006

Wrath: what a charlatan! Wendy is a new commentator for Catholica but what a debut she makes. She opens her commentary with these sentences: "What a charlatan anger is! What a cad, a bully, a tart, a scoundrel. Is there a greater chameleon among the Seven Deadlies?" and it just keeps powering on from there. [more]

004 :
05 Oct 2006

Sloth: the easiest of the Seven Deadlies – it requires no effort, no thought, no intent! And now from another voice from around the other side of the world: Alan Simpson has done a lot of theological study in his time but has now retired to grow grass for cows, goats and sheep on a ranch in Texas. He argues in a delightfully whimsical commentary that sloth is probably the easiest of the Seven Deadlies. It requires no effort, no thought, no intent. Sloth happens. Can we do anything about it? Probably not. Besides, nobody cares if we sleep through the homily — as long as we don't snore! [more]

003 :
04 Oct 2006

Greed: it's good (with reservations) Ian Elmer argues that there has been an enormous shift in the official thinking of the Church as to how we approach moral law. He argues: "This new take on sin and greed is the result of both the insights of modern biblical scholarship and other significant philosophical shifts within the Church and wider society. Vatican II embraced anew the biblical themes of covenant, heart and conversion, and not law, as the primary moral concepts. Notions of responsibility and justice have displaced older concepts like obligation and law as the primary characteristics of the moral life." [more]

003b :
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]

002 :
03 Oct 2006

Gluttony: very much a relevant, contemporary issue Peregrinus in his usual, incisive way will give you much to think about is his exploration of the second of the Seven Deadlies. It's a twisting, turning commentary starting off by observing that the Seven Deadlies are not really sins but ends by concluding that gluttony is very much a relevant issue today. [more]

001 :
02 Oct 2006

Lust: Mindless Morality Play or Path to Consciousness? In a thought-provoking start to our series, Washington attorney and convert to Catholicism, Dawn Bowie, applies her mind to the challenges presented by Lust. Quoting one of her favourite spiritual writers she concludes: "relationships are not here to make you happy or fulfilled, they are here to make you conscious." [more]

000 :
01 Oct 2006

Introduction to the series, The Seven Deadlies Editor and Publisher of Catholica Australia, Brian Coyne, provides an overview of why we're running this series and an introduction to the writers who will be providing the commentaries. [more]

012 :
01 Oct 2006

What value is prayer? A long time ago Kate earned herself the nickname of the Dag. She earned it from her ability to write in an alarmingly honest, if disarming and self-effacing way about serious issues. Today you'll find Kate writing at her very best. Do yourself a favour and read what she has to say about prayer. [more]

012 :
30 Sep 2006

Who did Jesus think he was? (Cont'd) Continuing his exploration of the historical Jesus, today Ian Elmer is focusing in on two questions: "What did Jesus teach?" and "What did Jesus do?" [more]

001 :
29 Sep 2006

A Time for Reform Today we have pleasure in presenting an article that Bishop Pat Power sent in to us. It was actually written as on op-ed piece for the Melbourne Age in 2002 but is particularly relevant at this time as Bishop Power will be one of the keynote speakers at the forthcoming Australian Reforming Catholics Annual Conference on 13-14 October. In this article he articulates some of the areas in which he believes reform is necessary and he seeks to outline some of the characteristics he sees the institutional Church needing to embrace if it is to surmount the challenges it is presently facing. [more]

004 :
28 Sep 2006

Celebrating the personalities who make us who we are... Each of us draws our identity from our families, our community, our nation and our Church. Rosemary mounts some cojent arguments as to why we should celebrate the personalities who make us who we are. [more]

017 :
27 Sep 2006

The feast day of St Vincent de Paul... It's the feast of St Vincent de Paul today. Pretty well everyone has heard of him, because they've heard of the Vinnies, the worldwide organisation that bears his name. The primary aim of the Vinnies is not, in fact, the relief of distress or poverty. It is to foster the spiritual growth of its own members. Peregrinus takes a look at the charism of St Vincent de Paul. [more]

027 :
26 Sep 2006

Hypothetical... Tom Scott explores today some fundamental questions about values that underpin the stability and coherence of human civilisation. [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]

011 :
24 Sep 2006

Discernment – Knowing what to hold onto and what to let go... Today Kate is looking at that difficult task we all face of discernment with a particular emphasis on our religious values. [more]

011 :
23 Sep 2006

Who did Jesus think he was? This week our resident Biblical scholar, Ian Elmer, begins to focus in on the message and mission of Jesus. The commentary today explores Jesus' relation to John the Baptist and the common links, and differences, between the visions of John the Baptist and Jesus. [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]

003 :
21 Sep 2006

How do we handle the mortality of our lives? Taking as her starting point the deaths last week of three prominent Australians, Steve Irwin, Peter Brock and Colin Thiele, Rosemary is exploring the ways we Catholics "celebrate life" in the death and funeral rites of passage. [more]

016 :
20 Sep 2006

The value of icons and symbols in communication... Practically from the beginning, right down until modern times, Christian art, sculpture and even architecture has revolved around iconography. Peregrinus to. [more]

001 :
19 Sep 2006

Spirituality — what does it mean in a Christ-centred context? Fr John O'Keefe is a Vincentian priest of 49 years standing. In his first commentary for Catholica Australia he is exploring the question of what me mean by the term "spirituality" — but particularly within a Christ-centred context. [more]

023 :
18 Sep 2006

What sort of community are we trying to create here? Cliff Baxter asks whether we are a community trying to be an institution, or an institution attempting to become the sort of interactive community the Lord requires. Or is it some kind of shaky alliance between so-called communities, each fired by self-righteousness, and determined to seize power? [more]

026 :
17 Sep 2006

The communication challenge facing the institutional church... Tom explores several dimensions of the complex challenge the institutional church faces today in getting its message across in the Western world. [more]

010 :
16 Sep 2006

What was the world of Jesus really like? This week our resident Biblical scholar, Ian Elmer, provides an overview of the social and political climate in which Jesus lived. It is by way of further background preparation to his commentaries in future weeks which will focus more and more on Jesus' own mission and message. [more]

010 :
15 Sep 2006

Demystifying the Mystical... Theologos has been on retreat this week. He submitted his commentary for today before he went on retreat in order to help us Demystify the Mystical. That is his title. I am not sure that he achieves that as I've been working on it for four days now trying to make head from tale in this Alice in Wonderland World he is writing about so that I might present it here in an accessible way. I can assure you though, Dear Readers, that as with Peregrinus' comment the other day regarding PJPII's Apsotolic Letter, Salvifici Dolores, perseverence does bring its rewards. [more]

001 :
14 Sep 2006

Handing on and Handing Over... Rosemary Canavan today takes up from a brief discussion that occurred in our forum during the past week: How do we hand on the faith to our children? What, precisely, do we mean when we say we have this desire to pass on our faith, our values or our ways of looking at life? [more]

015 :
13 Sep 2006

The Christian meaning in Human Suffering Catholica Australia presents a special feature on the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering. The editorial provides an overview and leads into a commentary prepared by Peregrinus on the Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II on the subject — Salvifici Dolores. [the editorial]

The meaning of Human Suffering (cont'd)... Today Peregrinus provides a summary of Pope John Paul II's lengthy 1984 discourse on The Meaning of Human Suffering — Salvifici Dolores. This Apostolic Letter was written relatively early in the pontificate of Pope John Paul and reputedly out of his own experiences of suffering following the attempt on his life in 1981 by an assassin in St Peter's Square. [peregrinus'commentary]

014 :
12 Sep 2006

Some further lay reflections on the Lectionary... Peregrinus challenges Ruth Fox's view on gender bias in the compilation of the Lectionary that Kate quoted on Sunday. His response here though opens up further the discussion on how effective the Mass readings are in themselves in educating us about religious faith if that is all we had access to from Scripture. [more]

009 :
11 Sep 2006

A second glance at the Holy Family... In this special post which Theologos has submitted to fill in while Cliff is indisposed, he explores another dimension of the recent discussions on the Holy Family that have been taking place both in commentaries and on the discussion forum itself. He asks us to "consider the possibility that Divine Wisdom intervened in the life of Mary and Joseph, to enable the outcome to be as it has been revealed within Holy Scripture". [more]

010 :
10 Sep 2006

Have you ever wondered about the Mass settings and readings? Today Kate provides an overview of how the Lectionary was developed and examines some of its shortcomings. Why do women get a raw deal in the coverage? [more]

009 :
09 Sep 2006

Searching for the historical Jesus ... The Holy Family: What is the true picture? This week our resident Biblical scholar, Ian Elmer, seeks to strip away the pietistic myths that have built up around the Holy Family over the centuries. He is seeking to take us back to establish a more historically honest understanding of who Jesus really was based on the extant evidence and how this might influence our understanding today of who Jesus continues to be as both Son of God and Son of Man. [more]

008 :
08 Sep 2006

Guilt and the complex labyrinth that is the human mind and emotions... This is a difficult commentary from Theologos but I suggest you not give up. It follows on logically from his commentary last week which was about "learning to trust our spiritual intuition and inner guide". Today he's looking at some of the factors which prevent us hearing our inner guide. [more]

001 :
07 Sep 2006

Around the Table... Allow us to introduce Rosemary Canavan to the readers of Catholica Australia. Rosemary lives in Adelaide. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology and two Bachelors degrees in Theology, the most recent an Honours degree in New Testament studies. She has two adult children. Her first commentary focuses on the value of family meals. [more]

013 :
07 Sep 2006

The problem of evil II... Peregrinus today explores the great Old Testament classic on the subject of suffering – The Book of Job – and then concludes by directing our attention to the Incarnation as the place where we can find most solace. [more]

012 :
06 Sep 2006

The problem of evil I... Peregrinus begins a two-part examination of Christian perspectives on the meaning of evil and suffering. [more]

002 :
05 Sep 2006

We have pleasure today in presenting a very special multi-media reflection on the challenge we face as individuals, institutionally, collectively and as a civilisation. Note: This reflection contains heavy multi-media content [11.5Mb total downloads] and is only suitable for users with high speed broadband connections. To view the multi-media version click HERE or the headline image above. To view a text only version suitable for dial-up connections click HERE.

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]

009 :
03 Sep 2006

Some reflections on what we do at Mass... KateD has an interesting reflection this morning on questions that I am sure we've all asked ourselves many times. Is there an ideal way to participate in the Mass? What about those times when our mind drifts off? Is there an ideal Mass setting? [more]

008 :
02 Sep 2006

Searching for the historical Jesus ... How did Jesus' childhood shape his later teachings? This week, Biblical scholar, Ian Elmer continues his quest to reconstruct what scholars are finding out about the historical Jesus. In his second article today in this series Ian is looking at what we can learn from the extant information of Jesus early years. How did his childhood shape his later teachings? [more]

007 :
01 Sep 2006

Learning to trust our spiritual intuition and inner guide... In his commentary today Nathanael is exploring the nurturing of this spiritual intuition and "inner guide" that leads us to make the correct life choices. [more]