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]

This is listed amongst Australia's most inspiring speeches... It's from the Deakin Lecture delivered in 2001 by Dr John Carroll, Professor of Sociology at Latrobe University on the dreaming of white Australians. "It is a leading mark of Australia as a political culture to have always and without exception been sceptical of idealism." [more]

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]

On hope and belief... Ruth was really taken with a post written by Enda the other day in the forum. She, along with a few other contributors to the forum thought it ought to be given a bit more prominence. Check out what Ruth has to say and there's a link there to the post itself. [more]

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]

On the address by the Papal Nuncio to the United Nations Assembly... Our cloistered friends are today quite elated by the address given by the Papal Envoy to the UN, on the subject of terrorism and how it is countered. [more]

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

Why did God create Eve? I don't think this funny was originally created by a man! [more]

A voice from Westminster... 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]

On the tensions in the world today... Ruth's had it up to the eyeballs with all the testosterone and tension in the world these days. She offers a prayer in frustration for Divine intervention to stop all the bickering. [more]

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. What are your thoughts on Vince's suggestions? [more]

COMPETITION: Name our new character! We're about to run our first competition. We want a name for a new animated character in our line-up. The prize will be 6 bottles of quality Australian wine AND a special compilation CD of tracks by Amanda McKenna. And there might be a second prize of a contract for a scriptwriter to pen the homilies which we propose our character will deliver each week. [Full details HERE]