|
Exclusives for Catholica members!
Dear Friends,
I'm taking a break from doing the layout for a lead commentary today but we still have a couple of exclusives for you. One is a letter from Paul Collins commenting on the recent Australian Bishops's statement regarding Bishop Robinson. That has already stirred up a bit of a fuss in the forum with a response from Alex Caughey. I hadn't actually read that controversy when I posted up there another post from a well-placed source who, for obvious reasons will remain anonymous, providing a perspective on how the events unravelled. <Read Paul Collins' letter and follow the discussion in our forum>
For registered members of the Catholica Forum we are today previewing another new song from the current series Amanda McKenna is recording. This is a more sophisticated treatment that will be appreciated by more skilled musicians. It is a reflection entitled "Take The World Away" written by Amanda and Dave Brebner in 2002 but this is the first time it's been recorded. In a Jazz style we are interested in both general feedback as well as feedback from pro and amateur musicians before the final vocals are recorded and the final mix takes place. The version on the Members' Forum only has a guide vocal and was recorded at 4.00 am this morning so you people are the first to hear and preview this track. <Click HERE to listen to the preview (Registration Required)>
COMING UP: Yesterday evening I recorded a half hour interview with Carla Van Raay, the former nun turned call girl, who published an international best seller, "God's Callgirl", a couple of years ago and which I previously drew attention to on Catholica (see: www.catholica.com.au/brianstake/034_bt_260308.php). She has recently released a new book, "Desire: Awakening God's Woman". Readers of Catholica will find this an engrossing interview as Carla is most forthcoming of her journey into the convent, her later journey out and into exploring her sexuality, and then later still this new phase of her life. While she has left the Catholic Church her journey continues to be marked by a deep spirituality and searching. I will publish the interview on Sunday. One prominent priest I know, who knows Carla well, has suggested to me that this woman ought be employed lecturing all seminarians in the Church to give them some understanidng of real world human sexuality. This ain't for Maria Goretti fans. It's for a mature, adult audience grounded in their own spirituality but open to listening to the perspectives of others who for a time shared our journey, became disillusioned with it, but continues the search. Her story gives insights into some aspects of the disillusion that so many seem to feel today for institutionalised religion. Carla also voices interesting criticisms of New Age spirituality — one of the other alternative attractions out there in the wider world. |
