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Editor's Round-Up

Friday, 15 May 2009

What's the sacramental sign in cutting men's willies?

Dear Friends,

Commentary Headline

It has long intrigued me what the fascination in religion is with cutting little boys willies — in other words having them circumcised? It has passed out of fashion with many today but even when I was brought up it was still the thing that parents got "done" — perhaps not even fully understanding why other than it seemed to be the custom or part of "the law". Today's lead commentary is an essay Daniel Gullotta wrote last year as part of his theology studies at ACU where he went back to the earliest book of Scripture in an effort to try and understand how this practise developed. Was it some sort of ritual to inflict on men some understanding of the pain women go through at childbirth? Was it something developed principally as a health measure in desert communities, or where people couldn't bathe much? Was it something imposed by the Temple Police to remind us not to play with our willies? Or is their some deep theological meaning in this ancient ritual?
Meanwhile I'm getting back to slicing up computer code in the development of our new forum. It's going to incorporate a number of innovations that I am sure will greatly enhance its value. I hope to have it all ready early next week.
<Link to Daniel's commentary today>
www.catholica.com.au/gc1/dg/033_dg_150509.php

Wishing you a great day wherever you happen to be ... in life and in our world.

Brian Coyne

Editor and Publisher

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