013 :
02 May 2013

Sustainable Solutions for Global Warming (Part 3 of a series on Climate Change) A recent string on our forum [LINK] continues to demonstrate that the conversation over the environment and climate change can generate passionate responses even in our little domain. The responses there by AJB were part triggered by Dr Don Fausel's two earlier commentaries on the subject. Our editorial position on this subject here at Catholica is more in line with what Don is arguing in this third part of this series. Whatever the merits of the debate as to whether we're experiencing climate change, or whether or not it is human induced or as a result of long term natural cycles in the global and solar climate, what seems inescapable is that our theological beliefs are changing. Humankind might have been given some kind of "dominion" over the rest of Creation but there is a dawning realisation that we are not given license to exploit the rest of Creation. Dr Fausel today places a focus on our spiritual and moral responsibilities towards our environment. [more]

012 :
10 Apr 2013

Sustainable Solutions for Global Warming (Part 2 of a series on Climate Change) Today's lead commentary by Dr Don Fausel was written before we were all so rudely interrupted by the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict and the equally unexpected election of Pope Francis. As we informed you with the first commentary in this series on climate change, Don spends about a month writing each of these commentaries and they're not designed for readers with the attention spans of goldfish. They're packed with references to television programs, video clips, articles and even entire books and designed to be reflected on over perhaps the space of a month. This commentary looks at practical contributions any of us might make to be both informed, and to contribute to, the search for "sustainable solutions for Global Warming". [more]

011 :
20 Feb 2013

Social Justice and Environmental Justice Dr Don Fausel spends about a month writing each of these commentaries and they're not designed for readers with the attention spans of goldfish. They're packed with references to television programs, video clips, articles and even entire books and designed to be reflected on over perhaps the space of a month. This month he takes a deeper look at the climate change debate and comes to the conclusion we need to "put these issues of environmental justice on the same level for change, as we do social justice". [more]

010 :
26 Dec 2012

The Creeping Culture of Consumerism... What a winner this commentary from Dr Don Fausel is for the busiest shopping day in the year? Most of us these days, particularly as we get older complain we've got too much "stuff". Don's commentary today is all about "stuff", getting rid of it, and just having "enough". Quite apart from the damage our "stuff" is doing to the world, how about building a more equitable world whereby the "stuff" is distributed a bit more fairly? [more]

009 :
07 Dec 2012

Who can put the Church back together again? Dr Don Fausel provides his own introduction for today's lead commentary: I'm not sure why, but as I was thinking about a title for this commentary, one of my childhood nursery rhymes Humpty Dumpty popped into my head. It was almost as if I were having a mystical experience. But why Humpty Dumpty I thought? What does he have to do with despair or hopelessness for reform in the Church? Then I remembered as kindergartener I could never figure out why Humpty fell off the wall in the first place. Did someone push him or was it his own fault that he fell, and why couldn't they ever put him together again? Then in my adult mind it dawned on me, perhaps Humpty Dumpty is an analogy for the situation the Catholic Church is in? There are many who believe the church is at a breaking point or already has "had a great fall" and can't be put together again. An increasing number of us no longer have the energy to "fight the good fight", and are ready to admit defeat, and move on. The question is, can Humpty Dumpty be put together again? This commentary will consider whether the hopefulness for renewal in the Church that I covered in my last commentary, makes me a Cockeyed Optimist, like the song in the Broadway musical, by Rodgers and Hammerstein, South Pacific. Or is it time to join the increasing numbers of what Tom Roberts calls 'had it' Catholics? [LINK]. [more]

008 :
31 Oct 2012

Rekindling the hope of Vatican II: Is it Hopeful or Hopeless? This is the commentary from Dr Don Fausel I was going to bring you yesterday. It's an essay about continuing to have hope that the Vatican II vision might yet be realised. Personally I think Don is far too optimistic and hopeful. He promises though, in his next essay, to provide an antidote to all of us who think the situation is hopeless. ...Brian Coyne, Editor ...Brian Coyne, Editor [more]

007 :
30 Oct 2012

What's your Ikigai? This is an essay from Dr Don Fausel I've been meaning to bring you for ages. It was the first one he published on his own blog in October last year. In my own old age (LOL) I keep forgetting but last week, Don sent me another email where he mentioned this fascinating subject: how to live a longer and more productive or enjoyable life. As we have a large number of retirees in our readership, I am sure this essay today will be valued by many readers of Catholica. ...Brian Coyne, Editor [more]

006 :
27 Sep 2012

Confronting the challenges of retirement... A segment on the Australian Broadcasting Commission's 7.30 television program last night warned of the challenge facing retirees and the government with the looming entry of the Baby Boomer generation into retirement. In light of that we bring you an essay we've been meaning to bring you for a while from Dr Don Fausel that might be a good opener for a conversation on the challenges of ageing. [more]

005 :
12 Sep 2012

The breakdown in communication between the Higherarchy and the Lowerarchy... The Catholic Church seems to be falling apart at the seams. In today's commentary Dr Don Fausel looks at the breakdown in effective communication between the Higherarchy and the Lowerarchy. What is the place of the sensus fidelium in the life of the Church? There seem to be some conflicting opinions. [more]

004 :
07 Jun 2012

Why is the Catholic Church taking a sharp turn to the right? The Catholic Church as well as entering a crisis that now seems as severe as the Great Schism between East and West a thousand years ago, or the Reformation five hundred years ago, appears to be taking a massive turn to the right politically. In this commentary Dr Don Fausel outlines some examples from the landscape of the United States. Here at Catholica we ask: is this "shift to the right" being actively driven by Pope Benedict, or is it because he is losing control and all the conservatives and neanderthals who actively want to see Catholicism reduced to an irrelevant rump in society have come out to play? [more]

003 :
16 Apr 2012

My Church Right or Wrong? This is the third in a series of three commentaries by Professor Don Fausel in which he continues to explore the theme of his book "From Blind Obedience to Responsible Faith". Many today seem to ask "Should I stay or leave?". Don Fausel appears to have no inclination to want to consider himself something other than Catholic. But to truly "follow Jesus" what, precisely does that mean today? This professor's advice in the end is "Keep the Faith but Challenge the Beliefs!" This is a lengthy commentary with many links to other resources that might merit extended reflection and discussion. [more]

002 :
30 Mar 2012

Humanae Vitae: The Turning Point for the Catholic Church... This is the second of three commentaries by Dr Don Fausel which explores different aspects of the issue of artificial birth control in light of the current controversy in the United States between the Obama administration and the Bishops of the United States. In this second commentary, Don focuses on the the history of the decision taken in the Catholic Church to ban artificial contraception. Is the real issue about sex and contraception or is it about Papal Authority, Infallibility, and the inability of hierarchs to admit when they are wrong? [more]

001 :
08 Mar 2012

The Bishops -vs- The President... This is the first of three commentaries by Dr Don Fausel which will explore different aspects of the issue of artificial birth control in light of the current controversy in the United States between the Obama administration and the Bishops of the United States. In this first commentary, Don focuses on the Bishops' strategy in dealing with the issue that was set in motion by the decision of the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require employers to provide contraception to their female employees. [more]