EDITOR'S ROUND-UP

Saturday, 29 November 2008

Whose side are you most sympathetic to — Paul or James?

Dear Friends,

Particularly for the benefit of our weekly readers, could I draw your attention to two events happening in Sydney and Brisbane tomorrow, Sunday, 30th November. You'll find full details in yesterday's email: <Further information about Sunday's events>

When you've wandered around the Catholic Church long enough you learn that one of the systemic ways of dealing with problems is by not dealing with them. If a complaint comes in, and you're in a position of responsibility you simply ignore it. Dr Ian Elmer's exploration of the very unclear outcome of the first Council of the Church at Jerusalem might suggest we learned this institutional behaviour a long, long time ago. The written records we have are confusing, even conflicting, as to what was resolved at this first Council. Today's commentary is a prelude to next week's commentary where Dr Elmer will look at the practical outcome of the Council — which is easier to discern. In this fascinating tussle between two, almost diametrically opposed leadership visions in the early Church between Jerusalem and Antioch which team would you have backed? <Link to Ian's commentary>

Two events this Sunday: There's no lead commentary today but we'd like to draw your attention to two events happening this Sunday in Sydney and Brisbane if you are close enough to either place to lend your moral support. Details of both events are provided in today's email. Meanwhile the discussions sparked by recent lead commentaries continue apace in our forum. <more>

Unity in Diversity… During the week Dr Luis T Gutierrez sent me an email drawing attention to his E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence. In particular the lead article in the present edition might be particularly pertinent to readers of Catholica in the context of the discussion on Paradigm Shifts and the Zeitgeist movie. It is also relevant in terms of the on-going Catholica discussion about "Building or Rebuilding a sense of Church Community". Readers who have the time will also value the diversity of other resources in this subject area available on his website at pelicanweb.org <more>

God-onomics… The continuing discussion everywhere about the "global economic crisis" as well as the discussion on Catholica recently about changing the paradigm of our thinking stemming from the film Zeitgeist has left me wondering if there is a God-onomics? Does God offer humanity any guidance in his plans for the economy of Creation a plan for the Economy - how we ought organise ourselves economically? The traditional view we have tended to have from within the churches is that "The Economy" is something outside the purview of religious leaders except when it comes to the exploitation of the weak. "Economics" is viewed as something belonging to the temporal order and religion doesn't have much to say about it. Should our theologies not offer us a third way - or a middle way - through which to appreciate the economy of Creation and the economics of civilisation? <more>

A spiritual reflection on the Legend of Sisyphus Dr Andrew Kania today reflects on that frustration we all feel at some time or another when our life doesn't seem to be leading anywhere, or when we feel like we're pushing a piece of excrement up a hill with a pointy stick. It's the story of Sisyphus … and the story of Job and Moses and King David. What sustains us when the odds seems so overwhelmingly against us? (Sounds a bit like holding out any hope of reforming the Catholic Church so that it actually meets the needs of its people doesn't it? Or, for the Pope, and those who think the Catholic Church is just fine the way it was about 100 years ago, pushing the rest of these liberals, heretics and stirrers who have wrecked it out the door?) <more>

10.2: Clement, Evaristus and Alexander… Today's extract from Tom Lee's manuscript is less taxing and more in the form of an interesting piece of early Church history. He looks at the contributions of the third, fourth and fifth leaders of the Church, Clement, Evaristus and Alexander and it is interesting looking at how the liturgical traditions developed and how some of our practices were borrowed and adapted from other religions and the pagans. <more>

Big News story and a Movie for today's reflection... Tom McMahon is taking a break this week. In place of his normal commentary I published on the forum early this morning a full-length movie, "Zeitgeist Addendum", which I am sure is going to provide fodder for much discussion on Catholica for a considerable time into the future. Last year the original Zeitgeist movie generated quite a bit of discussion and I expect this new movie will eventually be the trigger for even greater discussion and reflection. I am also bringing you a news story of an unprecedented cooperatioo that has been developing amongst the major lay reform groups in the Catholic Church across the United States. They are planning a massive American Catholic Council in 2011. This development will be of interest to Australian readers of Catholica following the call made by Frank Purcell last Wednesday for the calling of the Synod of the Catholic Church in Australia. ...Brian Coyne, Editor <News Story> | <News Story>

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

Brian Coyne
Editor and Publisher