Two Editorials

Dear Friends,

I've only just received permission early this morning to reproduce the editorial from ARCC Light — the newsletter of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church — in Catholica, so I'm running slightly behind in my publishing schedule today. It is a devasting critique of the pontifical style of Pope Benedict which has been published in the last few days and leads me to ask if the honeymoon is over for Pope Benedict? Personally I've been becoming steadily disillusioned with the constant caving in to the emotionally insecure elements in Catholicism under Benedict and the gutlessness, or inability of anyone in leadership positions to speak up for those hundreds of millions today who no longer believe the Pope is the fount of all wisdom and the only spokesperson for the Holy Spirit on earth and who have had to go searching elsewhere for spiritual sustenance. The recent example of "gutless, corporate Catholicism" in this country undertaken in the name of the Australian bishops in the way the CathNews discussion forum was shut down has been the last straw in what has been for me a slowly growing sense of disillusion and this sense that "nobody is minding the shop — nobody in positions of leadership care as long as their breakfast is on the table the next morning". Catholicism has become a farce with half of those in it either "feeding at the trough" or the other half these sycophants who believe their salvation does not come from Jesus but from how many times they can say "Pope Benedict is a 'good guy' and some kind of person with supernatural skills who never makes mistakes".

I've also submitted today a Catholica Australia editorial in response to what Dr Roussel has written. There is plenty of material in both of these editorials for a good discussion in our forums. <Read the ARCC editorial> | <Read the Catholica Australia editorial in response>

Part IV: A Messiah in the Making… There are three good reasons, whatever your age or position why this commentary is worth reading: (i) It provides a fascinating perspective on Jesus particularly on the speculations of who Jesus himself thought who he was. (ii) It's fascinating looking at these questions through the mind of a young person engaging with these questions perhaps seriously for the first time in his life. (iii) This is simply the most well-written commentary yet submitted for our enjoyment, and enlightenment, by Daniel. It is simply a pleasure being part of the audience that is providing a sounding board for a talented new writer as he hones his technical skills as a writer and communicator. <more>

Michael Morwood: on liturgy and prayer… In this final segment of our conversation with Michael Morwood, he shares his views on prayer, on the inability of the institution to respond to the spiritual needs of the community, his hopes for the future and our sense of 'Catholic' identity. <more>

A new way of unifying society… This coming Sunday brings us the long Gospel reading of the Passion. Today, Peregrinus explores the penchant in society for scapegoats and discord and how Jesus offers a new way towards social communion and unity. (Due pressures of work, Pere apologises that he hasn't been able to write a fresh commentary for today. This Lenten Reflection is taken from the series he wrote last year where the focus was on the Gospel account of Luke. Next Sunday the Gospel Passion narrative will be from Matthew's Gospel.) <more>

The Song of Life's Experience… Dr Kania's commentary today is basically about two subjects: Being "mugged by reality", and it's about "learning from the Ancients" — in particular learning from King Solomon and what he wrote in The Book of Proverbs. <more>

1.5: The origin of some of the early Christian beliefs… In this further continuation of part I, Tom Lee's focus shifts to a closer examination of how Jesus fitted with the schema of his time — both in the ways in which he very much 'fitted in', as well as the places in which, or his followers, contemporary as well as later, offered radically different alternative. <more>

Reflections on the nature of priesthood #7… Tom McMahon takes a rather critical look at the system of "ranks and orders" Jesus set up to manage and govern his Church until the Second Coming! <more>

Best wishes for a great day wherever you happen to be ... in life or in our world!

Brian Coyne
Editor and Publisher