Coming up this week on Catholica... (Main Forum)

by Brian Coyne , LINDEN, NSW, Monday, July 30, 2012, 12:11 (294 days ago) @ Brian Coyne

Today I intend to publish the first of a series of translations James has done of the works of South American writers who were former Catholics who have become disillusioned with institutional Catholicism. This first essay, entitled "Soft Atheism" is by Héctor Abad Faciolince whose book "Oblivion: A Memoir" which has sold well through Catholica as a result of the attention James drew to this book some time ago. I'm particularly interested in this series and express thanks to James for preparing it for us. From the outset Catholica was conceived as an outreach to that now large sector of Catholics who have made for the exits or are half out the door. As suggested in our recent video [http://youtu.be/Of4LKyGvI_c] our objectives have changed since we started Catholica. What has been constant though is our desire to gain an insight into what has been disenchanting so many people — particularly thinking people who do take cultural issues and things like the spiritual dimension to life seriously. While I have not read any of them I trust James' judgment that the perspectives these writers present will be worth paying serious attention to. My own sense is that Pope Benedict is correct in his diagnosis that the future for Catholicism is a "smaller, purer Church". What that doesn't answer is what all the rest of the people who have left might end up doing. Will they all become atheist, agnostic, secularist-humanist, or will something new emerge? I suspect the writers James has chosen were not merely luke warm Catholics but came from very strong Catholic environments and personal commitments. As professional writers whose role in society is to try and articulate various things more deeply their views are worth paying attention to.

Tomorrow I'll begin a new three-part series from Dr Andrew Kania entitled "Cry Freedom". It is a look at the entire concept of Freedom or Liberty that we place so much store on in civilized society.

Wednesday I have a commentary from Fr Kevin Murphy that ties in with recent commentaries on Catholica looking at the concepts of eucharist, communion, community, and priesthood. You may recall that Fr Kevin has done a lot of work in recent years endeavouring to develop liturgies that can be used in these communion services that are increasingly offered when a priest is unavailable.

Thursday and Friday are still too far ahead for this boy but Tom McMahon's commentary will be published on one of those days and I've still not decided what we might run on the other day.

Brian Coyne
[Editor & Publisher]