The meaning of our Eucharist… Tom McMahon argues our understanding of the eucharist is something dynamic and evolving. With the help of plenty of quotes presents some provocative thoughts on how we ought be imagining it today. This is a commentary that will leave you with many stimulating thoughts for fruitful meditation. <more>

Trying to turn the tide… Daniel Gullotta shares with us another of his essays submitted as part of his theology studies. Today he explores some of the controversy associated with trying to interpret the Book of Jeremiah — the longest book in the Bible outside the Psalms. <more>

Reviewing the evidence… Peregrinus reviews some of the evidence from the "Zeitgeist" movie website and basically concludes it's all a load of codswallop. Will the codswallop make any difference to it being widely viewed and believed? <more>

Matters of Perspective… Dr Kania looks at the harm the obession with sport in contemporary society can bring and suggests we need to get these matters in a better perspective. <more>

Breaking apart the principles of democracy (cont'd)… In this commentary Dr Leonard Swidler continues his detailed examination of the eight basic principles of democracy that undergird his arguments. This leads in to his conclusion where he answers his opening question in this series of commentaries "Can there be a Spirituality of Democracy?" <more>

Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus V… Posing a question for meditation: what do you think was Jesus self-understanding of his mission. Bishop Geoffrey Robinson has been pondering this question for a long time but more so in the light of the events of recent decades in the Church which have led him to writing this book. We present this series of meditations in cooperation with Bishop Robinson and his publisher, John Garratt Publishing. <Read Bishop Robinson's reflection>

What would you do? Also today we present an account of a complex case involving allegations of abuse sent into Catholica by one of our readers. The case is situated in another country, not Australia. Our correspondent has brought it to our attention as it involves complex moral issues. They suggest virtually all of the players in this case have become "losers" and asks "which one was the victim?" By way of introduction our correspondent writes: "This is a case involving an infatuated woman, a naive priest, a misguided crusader and a weak bishop and how a confluence of circumstances combined into a tragic loss for the diocese and almost a suicide." All the names have been changed, and other details that might make identification of the particular individuals involved or the location difficult. The principal reason we publish the story is that in a way it is an excellent hypothetical. Except perhaps for the children involved, whom one can excuse on the grounds of childhood innocence, all of the other players in the drama have self-evident moral flaws of one description or another. We end the report with two questions that might form the basis for discussion in our forum. <more>