003 :
22 Mar 2009

How do we provide moral support to our bishops? An interesting, invigorating discussion has emerged on the forum in the last day or so on the meaning of priesthood and ministry. Late last night, after a day in bed feeling as sick as a dog for a long period, I emerged fired up having been reading some of Paul Collins' thoughts on the same subject. I posted some of them in that discussion string. They were from the second last chapter of his book. I had already decided that a good Sunday Forum series, leading on from the discussion last week, might be to look at the questions Paul raises in the last chapter of his book "Does Australian Catholicism have a future?" They are questions that very much intersect with the discussions we've been having. To kick this discussion off — or a little further along — I reproduce here a small section from the last Chapter where Paul is querying the manner in which our ecclesial and spiritual leaders are appointed... [more]

002 :
28 Oct 2008

Catholica Editorial followed by an analysis of the Vatican Questionnaire used for the selection of Australian Bishops... A leaked secret Vatican Questionnaire used in the process of selection of new Bishops raises deeply disturbing questions about the future of Catholicism. In an editorial written by the editor of Catholica and a separate analysis of the Vatican Document by Dr Paul Collins we examine what this document reveals. [more]

001 :
31 Aug 2007

Providing moral support to the Australian bishops... Dr Paul Collins is one of the prime movers behind the petition to the Australian Catholic Bishops asking them to consider a number of proposals that might help address the shortage of priests in Australia. In this very candid and honest commentary Dr Collins argues that we are very fortunate in Australia in presently having some excellent, pastorally-minded bishops who are concerned at the crisis facing the Church in this country in being able to provide for the sacramental needs of the Australian Catholic community. In fact, he argues, the moderate, pastorally-minded bishops form a broad and decisive majority in the college of Australian bishops. He explains how the petition is seeking to elicit moral support from within the broad lay community in support of the bishops as they endeavour to address the significant challenges facing the Church in being able to provide ready access to the sacramental life of the Church in the future. [more]