Revitalising the Church to meet the needs of the Modern World… Following a recent letter to many of the Australian Bishops in which I invited them to submit any commentaries they might have from time to time that might be of interest to the readership of Catholica Australia, Bishop Pat Power sent in a copy of this address he gave two weeks ago at Chevalier College, Bowral. It is a powerful address effectively making a call for the entire Church to get back "on message" to the vision of the Second Vatican Council which was outlined in the Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes. …Brian Coyne, Editor. <more>

Living in Hughie Time… There's no lead commentary today (Thursday) but be sure to read our email message about "God-incidence" and "living in Hughie Time". <more>

Catholics and voting… Here is a commentary that many Catholics perhaps might wish was being issued with the authority of the Magisterium. It does quote some magisterial documents to further its arguments but one suspects it will not satisfy those elements in the population who would like to introduce a Catholiv version of Sharia Law in society. Peregrinus has a look at the authentic Catholic Church attitude towards elections, politics and voting. <more>

Green Wood! Another vintage commentary from Dr Kania … in this one he reflects on an insight from Cardinal Newman about how in order to grow spiritually we need to be open to change. He argues this insight is a bit like Buddhist spiritual philosophy: that a plant which is alive and fertile is green and flexible, and that which is dead or dying, is hard and brittle. <more>

Bishop John England "Apostle to Democracy"! In today's commentary Professor Leonard Swidler's spends time in some detailed examination of the legacy of one of America's most far-sighted early bishops, John England. He suggests the man ought be canonised by popular acclaim. <more>

Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus VII… Chapter Seven of Bishop Robinson's book looks at power and structure in the Church. He argues in this meditation: "Ideas concerning such matters as participatory government and subsidiarity, which the church constantly preaches to nations, must be applied to the church itself". We present this series of meditations in cooperation with Bishop Robinson and his publisher, John Garratt Publishing. <Read Bishop Robinson's reflection>