Looking at the problem of evil through the eyes of a young theology student... Apart from the university lecturers amongst us whose job it is to be regularly marking student assignments, I expect this essay from one of Ian Elmer's theology students at ACU National, Daniel Gullotta, will be of interest to other readers of Catholica from two principal points of view. Firstly it enables us to see how a young person tackles one of the big questions for the first time. Daniel certainly has tackled a huge canvas for his first essay for Catholica and I think his condensation of the arguments into less than 1400 words is commendable. Secondly, and this is one of our main aims in encouraging the submission of these commentaries from younger writers, is it provides some insight into the broader perspectives of young people _Ed. <more>

A Reverend Hannibal Lecter in a Cheap Cardigan... At least for this week we're back to publishing on seven days as today it is a pleasure to bring you a provocative film review written jointly by Cliff Baxter and Markham Nolan (Deputy Editor of The Irish Echo). It's not a documentary on a subject that will be of much pleasant news to readers of Catholica nevertheless both Cliff and Markham make a strong recommendation that all Catholics take the opportunity to view this new documentary in order to really appreciate the gravity of the error that has been committed in the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. <more>

Amazing Grace? This week Peregrinus gave his commentary today the headline "Amazing Grace?" with a sense of wry emphasis on the question mark. He personally hates the song but he also explores the questions surrounding the grace attached to the song's author, the Rev John Newton – a man credited with helping to end slavery. Are there lessons we might take on board today from the story of John Newton and his conversion to Christianity? Do we suffer from a similar blindness? <more>

Mob Rule... 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>

Sr Susan Connelly on the challenges of Language... We present a news report on the New Pentecost Forum and Brian's Take for today has been given over to an audio file of the provocative public address given at the forum by Sr Susan Connelly. <more>

The Spirituality of Thomas Merton IV... Over the next two weeks, in the fourth and fifth excerpts from his essay on the Spirituality of Thomas Merton, Fr Collins examines how Merton's ideas developed between the late-1950s and mid-1960s on what is actually happening in the mystical (ecstatic) experience. What's the relationship between the natural and supernatural in the realm of mystical experience? <more>