Saturday, 2 May 2009

We've made it to edition 1000. Thank you!

Dear Friends,

To mark the milestone of our 1,000th edition I've written an editorial commentary trying to give an overview of where we now stand, and where we seem to be heading in the difficult conditions that seem to characterise the world, and institutionalised religion at the moment. I'm actually still very hopeful although, compared to where we started, things are a lot less certain than they were one thousand days ago. On Monday and Tuesday this week there'll be about ten or twelve of us meeting at Carcoar with Tom McMahon and because of that I'm preparing the commentaries for the next few days and they will be published early. In addition to that on Wednesday we've been advised the electricity will be switched off in our area of the Blue Mountains on Wednesday for most of the day for a significant upgrade so I will also publish early on Wednesday as well.
<Read today's Editorial>
www.catholica.com.au/editorial/026_edit_020509.php

A theology student gazes into Hell... Today we have one of those subjects that you do not hear too many homilies about these days from mainstream priests and bishops — only the fringe tackle homilies on subjects like Hell today. If you value your job and reputation it's dangerous territory in Church circles these days to challenge the simple but cherished images of the past. Daniel Gullotta though is unafraid to venture into Hell. This commentary was originally written last year as an assignment when he was studying theology at ACU. In it he examines both the traditional and contemporary theological thinking on Hell and shares some of his own uncertainties about what to make of it all. <more>

Girl Fight in Philippi! Today's commentary from Dr Ian Elmer might be approached as an excellent discussion, or lesson, in the art of conflict resolution. It's about a spat that broke out between two women at Philippi and how Paul sought to resolve the tension and restore harmony in his community. Have you ever had to mediate to keep the peace in your family, or your community? This is a lesson worth reflecting on for those times. <more>

Learning from past mistakes... Tom McMahon argues today: "the period following the sexual revolution of the 1960's shattered ties with the Victorian era while offering a dismal aftermath of broken marriages and dysfunctional families; we seem to have failed to hit the jack pot of those who live happily ever after ... Jesus would come ready to work with the ever present human potential, not demanding perfection." <more>

Hymn to Her (cf John 21:25): The Byzantine Easter occurred a week after the Latin Easter this year and today's commentary from Dr Andrew Kania is a speculation following on from his Eastern celebration that speculates theologically on a post-Resurrection meeting between Jesus and his mother Mary. He is assisted in his speculation with excerpts from the Byzantine Easter Liturgies and some thoughts on this speculated meeting given by Pope John Paul II in 1997. <more>

14.1: Novatus and Novatian Today and next week the selection from Tom Lee's manuscript is from a short chapter entitled "Two Asps in One Basket". It looks at the activities of the two like-named stirrers, Novatus and Novatian, or made life a little difficult for Bishops Cornelius and Cyprian. As though Bishops of the time needed these sort of vipers given the pressure the Romans continued to place on Christians. <more>

The pursuit of Truth... A series of power failures caused by high winds up here in the Blue Mountains have prevented preparation of a lead commentary today. Today's late email draws attention to an ongoing discussion in the forum triggered by yesterday's commentary on truth and the mission of religion. <more>

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

Brian Coyne
Editor and Publisher