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EDITOR'S ROUND-UP

Saturday, 23 February 2008

The five ways we humans respond to anger…

Dear friends,

In the news this morning a Japanese professor, Yoji Kimura, claims that if we could find a way of measuring it, laughter could be used to put an end to world wars (see this AFP report). How wonderful it would be if we could "end world wars" — or even quell the disharmony in our own families, communities, the Church, or even our own hearts?

All of the foregoing is not unrelated to the issue Fr John McKinnon is dealing with in the lead commentary today. He's looking at the five broad ways in which we human beings respond to anger in our lives. If you ask me if the Church put even a tenth the amount of energy it puts into dealing with sexual immorality into discussing the mess created in our lives by anger human civilisation would move a long way ahead — but my even saying that probably betrays some of my "suppressed anger". Interestingly that was triggered s smidgeon more today reading a report of Pope Benedict's comments to the leaders of religious orders in recent days when he told them to start "reading the signs of the times". (See report in today's Tablet HERE.) I honestly think it is about time Benedict himself started reading "the signs of the times" and got off this little trolley bus he's been on of blaming secularity and 'relativism for the decline in influence of the Church. To my mind the religious orders of the world are the one's we ought be following as they tend to have a far more realistic appreciation of both "what is going on in the world" and why the vast majority have stopped listening to the likes of Church leaders like Pope Benedict and his predecessor. Trying to take us back to the liturgies, the mitres, the clerical dress-ups and culture of Trent does not lead people to "paradise", "salvation", "the peace of Christ that surpasses all human understanding". "communion", "resurrection", "the next life", "Ultimate Truth", "reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus", or however you want to define the ultimate objective of faith and belief. All it does is strokes the insecurities of the "nutters" and the "insecure" who have reduced the Holy Roman Catholic Church to the sorry state that it is in today. Perhaps I need to study Fr McKinnon's commentary again myself! <Read Fr John's commentary>

AND FOR OUR WEEKLY READERS HERE ARE OUR COMMENTARIES FROM THE PAST WEEK...

Daniel Gullotta ...

Part I: Tools of the Trade in the search for the historical Jesus… Daniel Gullotta begins his series with a discussion of the "tools of trade" scholars and students use to sort fact from fiction, or fact from pious myth, in the search for the historical or authentic Jesus. <more>

Part I of nn extended interview with Michael Morwood...

Michael Morwood: the personal experience… In the third segment of this extended interview with Michael Morwood, Michael speaks of his personal experience following his banning as a priest and his journey to finding new ways of using his talents. <more>

Peregrinus...

No wonder they crucified him! Today's Lenten reflection from Peregrinus looks at the paradox and contradiction of Jesus as illustrated in the story of the Woman at the Well. Jesus wasn't just contrary for the sake of "sticking it up the authorities", or because he believed that "being different" — some sort of nerd or geek or goody-two-shoes was what set one apart and worthy of "the kingdom". This is an entirely different understanding of "radical". One that pursues justice and truth as the ultimate values for defining life, and "the kingdom", in their own right. <more>

Dr Andrew Kania...

What's the reality of your life? Perhaps the single most difficult thing any of us face is seeing ourselves in the reality that others see us, or as God sees us. Mirrors, cameras, sound recorders can help but just look at the personalities, pop stars and politicians one sees on television and do they really see themselves as the rest of us see them? There are so many things that cloud our own reality … our emotions, even a mirror presents a reversed image. Andrew Kania's reflection today explores this intriguing question and leads to the conclusion that ultimately the entire journey of our lives is to unmask this "unreality" of ourselves so that we see ourselves in the perfect way God sees us. It is powerful, short reflection which readers of Catholica will long value. <more>

SPECIAL SERIES: The Invention of Christianity — the first 500 years by Tom Lee

1.2 The Jews and the Romans… Still "setting the scene", in today's excerpt Tom Lee examines the relationship between the Jewish people and the Romans in the lead-up to the emergence of Christianity. <more>

Tom McMahon...

Reflections on the nature of priesthood #4… Tom McMahon's great value is that he somehow articulates what a lot of people have been thinking but have been too afraid to articulate — perhaps even to themselves. His commentary today is provocative and not for the feint of heart. Nor is it one for those with a vested interest in propping up concepts of priesthood that now seem to be fast fading into history. <more>

	Best wishes for a great day wherever you happen to be ... in life, and in our world, Brian Coyne Editor and Publisher Catholica Australia 34 Martin Place, LINDEN NSW 2778, Australia tel: +612 4753 1226 \| skype name: briancoyne email: editor@catholica.com.au
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