061 :
03 Oct 2007

The origin of the Bible VI… Peregrinus concludes his series looking at the origins of the Bible. Today he brings the whole discussion together to address these questions: Who decided that these books are "the Bible"? When did they decide this? How did they decide it? And, most importantly, why? [more]

060 :
26 Sep 2007

The origin of the Bible V… In this fifth commentary in a series Peregrinus examines the origins of the New Testament. [more]

059 :
19 Sep 2007

The origin of the Bible IV… In this fourth commentary in a series Peregrinus concludes his examination of the Old Testament by looking at some of the background to the Books of Wisdom and the Books of the Prophets. [more]

058 :
12 Sep 2007

The origin of the Bible III… In this third commentary in a series Peregrinus examines the History Books of the Old Testament as they are understood via tradition and through modern scholarship. [more]

057 :
05 Sep 2007

The origin of the Bible II… How the bible was constructed is, to some extent "educated guesswork" argues Peregrinus. To illustrate though, how scripture is not only about history, but comes out of history, he looks at just one theory in detail as to how The Torah is thought to have evolved. [more]

056 :
29 Aug 2007

The origin of the Bible I… Peregrinus begins an extended series today which is seeking to explore in some detail what the origins of Sacred Scripture are. His commentary today begins by looking at the origins of the Old Testament. [more]

055 :
22 Aug 2007

Tour de Force… Today's commentary from Peregrinus is a tour de force ripping through more shibboleths than most of us can poke a stick at. You'll meet new and unfamiliar terms like "Prosperity Theology", "Abundance Theology", "Poverty Theology" and "Stewardship Theology". Don't venture into this commentary if you believe you already have all the right answers. [more]

054 :
15 Aug 2007

A difficult discussion… Catholica evolved out of the CathNews discussion board community not as a competitor but from a sense of frustration in being able to continue to hold conversations in that place. As in the relationship of child to its parent, the original community that formed Catholica has had a difficult relationship with the CathNews discussion board in the year and a quarter of our existence. Peregrinus explores the issues in more depth. [more]

053 :
08 Aug 2007

Juxtaposing a vision of Heaven and one of Hell… In contrast to his pictures of Hell last week, today Peregrinus explores that curious juxtaposition we celebrated on Monday — the Feast of the Transfiguration and the Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima. What can we learn? [more]

052 :
01 Aug 2007

Our pictures of Hell… Writing about Hell would have to potentially be one of the most depressing assignments on earth. Yet this commentary is a "must read" for anyone the least bit serious about these subjects of spirituality and religion. Peregrinus explores how human beings came to the range of beliefs we have about the afterlife and, in particular, the idea of Hell. [more]

051 :
25 Jul 2007

On the death of an infant… In this moving reflection written for the grieving parents of a dead infant, Peregrinus reflects on his own experience of losing a son. [more]

050 :
18 Jul 2007

What's the practical effect of the Pope's Motu Proprio likely to be? Peregrinus provides an accessible analysis of Pope Benedict's recently released Motu Proprio which provides for wider access to the Pre-Vatican II Latin Mass. Pere argues there'll not be much change in practical effect on the ground. [more]

007 :
13 Jul 2007

Divorce I: What did Jesus have to say on the subject? Today we re-publish the first installment of a magnificent four-part series prepared and written by Peregrinus on the subject of divorce. Today's take examines what Jesus had to say about it. We are republishing this series as there has been a significant increase in the readership of Catholica since it was first published on 24 August last year. [more]

049 :
11 Jul 2007

Further info from the Census Peregrinus has been doing some further research into the recently released Census figures. In his commentary today he shares a few further conclusions that might be drawn and also outlines some places where we need to be cautious in what we read into the figures. [more]

048 :
13 Jun 2007

The debate over who should receive communion – Continued… As mentioned last week, it was coincidental that Peregrinus' commentary last week was concerned with the withholding of the Eucharist from politicians when on the same day Cardinal Pell was making headlines by issuing such a threat in Australia. This week Peregrinus examines both the politics and the theology that was played out in the various statements and media comments made by the Cardinal and the NSW bishops over the past week. [more]

047 :
06 Jun 2007

The debate over who should receive communion… The Good Lord must be on our side. Overnight Cardinal Pell projected the debate over politicians being denied communion if they vote to approve stem-cell research legislation in NSW. Peregrinus didn't write this commentary with the Cardinal's comments in mind but they are likely to be one of the more measured arguments you are going to find anywhere on the net of the issues both for and against the position being advocated by the Cardinal. [more]

045 :
23 May 2007

Abortion and The Law ~ Part II... Peregrinus concludes this elegantly argued exploration of the difficult territory that Catholics need to negotiate when coming to an understanding of how moral law interacts with the formulation of civil law. [more]

044 :
16 May 2007

Abortion and The Law ~ Part I... This week Peregrinus begins a beautifully thought-through and argued commentary seeking to establish with more precision what the authentic Catholic view is in regard to State legislation regarding abortion. [more]

043 :
09 May 2007

Go, the Mass is ended! This may seem at first to be a curious reflection that Peregrinus leads us through. It is well-worth the investment though for the interesting facts he unloads on the way to exploring the attitude we are encouraged to gird ourselves with when we walk out of our Church each Sunday. [more]

042 :
02 May 2007

Reading Jesus in context... Still exploring this intriguing territory our discussions seem to have focused on in the past week or so, Peregrinus today explores how we need to read Scripture, and interpret Jesus, in context — in the context of the times in which Scripture was written, and in the context of our own time. [more]

041 :
25 Apr 2007

Jesus in his own words... Peregrinus takes a different tack on the issue that has been under discussion on our forum concerning the identity of Jesus. He invites us to reflect on Jesus' own self-descriptions of his identity.[more]

040 :
18 Apr 2007

Re-visiting one of the foundational stories of belief – Part II... In this second part of his commentary on the story of Adam and Eve, Peregrinus is exploring different understandings of what the story is meant to convey. In particular he examines what is meant by the expression "the tree of knowledge of good and evil"? [more]

039 :
11 Apr 2007

Re-visiting one of the foundational stories of belief – Part I... Peregrinus submitted his commentary for this week from his homeland of Ireland where he is presently taking a short holiday. In it he goes back to explore different readings of one of the key foundational stories in our understanding of our base nature — the story of Adam and Eve and the notion of Original Sin. [more]

038 :
04 Apr 2007

The meaning in the Mystery of the Resurrection... In this commentary for Holy Week Peregrinus explores the different Gospel accounts of the Resurrection in search of the meaning in the Mystery. [more]

037 :
28 Mar 2007

A new way to communion and unity... This coming Sunday brings us the long Gospel reading of the Passion. Today, Peregrinus explores the penchant in society for scapegoats and discord and how Jesus offers a new way towards social communion and unity. [more]

036 :
21 Mar 2007

Caught in the act... This coming Sunday in the Lenten cycle of gospel readings, we have the story of the woman caught in the act. In this commentary Peregrinus prises the story apart to explore the depths in its meaning. It's another example of Jesus "breaking the rules" but why does he do this? What's he trying to say to us? [more]

035 :
14 Mar 2007

What's the real focus of this story? The Parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps one of the more familiar of the stories Jesus told in the New Testament. Pereginus argues it is probably over-familiar to the point where we lose sight of the key message Jesus is endeavouring to get across. In this analysis he sets the story in the wider context of what surrounds it in order to focus on what is essentially important. [more]

034 :
07 Mar 2007

Contrasting images of God... Peregrinus applies his incisive legal mind in order to try and understand precisely what Jesus seems to be driving at in the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Does it give a pciture of a vengeful God or something altogether different? [more]

033 :
28 Feb 2007

The Transfiguration... In this interesting commentary Peregrinus explores the parallels and contrasts between the Transfiguration story and the Temptation in the Wilderness story as a means of finding the significance of the Transfiguration. [more]

032 :
21 Feb 2007

A Lenten Reflection... Peregrinus argues, in this first of our Lenten reflections, that the process of discernment we all have to travel through is modelled for us by Christ. It is not a process that happens quickly. It is a slow process carved out in years rather than hours or days. [more]

031 :
14 Feb 2007

Exploring the moral issues surrounding the Death Penalty, Part II... In this second part of his exploration of the moral issues surrounding the death penalty, Peregrinus, endeavours to analyse in detail the significance and nature of the changes in official Church teaching which came about with the publication of Evangelium Vitae in 1995. [more]

030 :
07 Feb 2007

Exploring the moral issues surrounding the Death Penalty, Part I... For his first contribution for 2007, Peregrinus, begins a two-part exploration of the moral issues surrounding the death penalty. In particular he examines how Church teaching has been developed and refined with the publication of Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, in 1995. [more]

029 :
20 Dec 2006

Celebrating Christmas... Peregrinus, in his usual style, really does present a different twist to the usual sort of reflections and homilies we can expect at this time of the year. [more]

028 :
13 Dec 2006

A commentary on wealth and freedom... Peregrinus was struck by Andrew's piece on "affluenza" on Sunday — the endless pursuit of possessions, driven by the conviction that possessing things is the key to a better life. It led to this response. [more]

027 :
06 Dec 2006

Some thoughts on the Bishops' Report on Catholics who have stopped going to Mass Peregrinus today applies his incisive mind to the recently released summary report the Australian Bishops put out. He concludes: "If the bishops are concerned to 'stem the flow', there are some important lessons for them here." [more]

026 :
29 Nov 2006

Sex and the Wesleyan Quadrilateral It's not as snappy a title as 'Sex in the City", is it? "Wesleyan quadrilateral" sounds like something out of a geometry textbook. At any rate, it sounds dull. But bear with Peregrinus in this fascinating commentary on the four ways in which we make sense of our faith. (He gets on to the sex bit at the end.) [more]

025 :
22 Nov 2006

Ten things you never knew about Saint Peter Today Peregrinus explores some scriptural trivia about "the rock" on which Christianity is founded — Saint Peter. The picture that emerges is of "a credible human being, with conflicts and contradictions and growth like the rest of us, instead of an idealised saintly figure". [more]

024 :
15 Nov 2006

The morality of State-sponsored torture II Peregrinus concludes his two-part series investigating the morality of terror. This week his focus is on what he calls "the moral analysis". [more]

023 :
08 Nov 2006

The morality of State-sponsored torture I Peregrinus begins a two-part series investigating the morality of terror. This week his focus is on what he calls "real world morality". [more]

022 :
01 Nov 2006

Communion and Dissent... Peregrinus presents a powerful commentary examining how some forms of dissent break the communion of the Church. It can also be read in a very positive light for its observations on what Church communion actually is. [more]

021 :
25 Oct 2006

The human yearning for God... Peregrinus goes right back to basics in this commentary to explore the most fundamental human perceptions of the nature of God. Different peoples have come up with many different answers. He asks: "How can we discern the true (or truest) answer from all the answers offered?" [more]

020 :
18 Oct 2006

Further thoughts on Forgiveness? Peregrinus has another look at the Christian notion of forgiveness following on from Rosemary and Milly's reflections on the same subject in the wake of the Amish tragedy in Pennsylvania. [more]

019 :
11 Oct 2006

Is a Christian Society a Healthier Society? Peregrinus takes his scalpel to a study that purports to show religion decreases the general well-being of society. It provides opening though for much discussion. What sorts of religious belief might increase societal well-being? Are there other measuring sticks? [more]

018 :
03 Oct 2006

Gluttony: very much a relevant, contemporary issue Peregrinus in his usual, incisive way will give you much to think about is his exploration of the second of the Seven Deadlies. It's a twisting, turning commentary starting off by observing that the Seven Deadlies are not really sins but ends by concluding that gluttony is very much a relevant issue today. [more]

017 :
27 Sep 2006

The feast day of St Vincent de Paul... It's the feast of St Vincent de Paul today. Pretty well everyone has heard of him, because they've heard of the Vinnies, the worldwide organisation that bears his name. The primary aim of the Vinnies is not, in fact, the relief of distress or poverty. It is to foster the spiritual growth of its own members. Peregrinus takes a look at the charism of St Vincent de Paul. [more]

016 :
20 Sep 2006

The value of icons and symbols in communication... Practically from the beginning, right down until modern times, Christian art, sculpture and even architecture has revolved around iconography. Peregrinus to. [more]

015 :
13 Sep 2006

The meaning of Human Suffering (cont'd)... Today Peregrinus provides a summary of Pope John Paul II's lengthy 1984 discourse on the meaning of Human Suffering — Salvifici Dolores. This Apostolic Letter was written relatively early in the pontificate of Pope John Paul and reputedly out of his own experiences of suffering following the attempt on his life in 1981 by an assassin in St Peter's Square. [more]

014 :
12 Sep 2006

Some further lay reflections on the Lectionary... Peregrinus challenges Ruth Fox's view on gender bias in the compilation of the Lectionary that Kate quoted on Sunday. His response here though opens up further the discussion on how effective the Mass readings are in themselves in educating us about religious faith if that is all we had access to from Scripture. [more]

013 :
07 Sep 2006

The problem of evil II... Peregrinus today explores the great Old Testament classic on the subject of suffering – The Book of Job – and then concludes by directing our attention to the Incarnation as the place where we can find most solace. [more]

012 :
06 Sep 2006

The problem of evil I... Peregrinus begins a two-part examination of Christian perspectives on the meaning of evil and suffering. [more]

011 :
30 Aug 2006

The need to Question... Following on from Kate's commentary on Sunday Peregrinus argues that it is the very process of questioning that leads to spiritual growth. [more]

010 :
26 Aug 2006

Divorce IV: The twist in the Orthodox perspective... In this final of the series on divorce, Peregrinus looks at the interesting twist in pastoral pragmatism, or compassion, the Eastern Orthodox Church brings to her interpretation of God's will in these difficult matters. [more]

009 :
25 Aug 2006

Divorce III: What is the Protestant perspective? In today's take Peregrinus looks at the ways in which the Protestant churches have developed different perspectives on divorce. [more]

008 :
24 Aug 2006

Divorce II: What did Paul have to say on the subject? In today's take Peregrinus looks at St Paul's views on divorce and the Roman Catholic perspective. Over the next two days he looks at the Protestant and Orthodox perspectives. [more]

007 :
23 Aug 2006

Divorce I: What did Jesus have to say on the subject? Today we begin a magnificent four-part series prepared and written by Peregrinus on the subject of divorce. Today's take examines what Jesus had to say about it. Tomorrow's instalment will look at St Paul's views on the subject. On Friday Peregrinus will take us on a tour of the Protestant perspective and on Saturday will examine the orthodox view. [more]

006 :
16 Aug 2006

What do the Gospels really have to say about sex? This week Peregrinus begins a fascinating two-part series on what the Gospels and Jesus really had to say about sexual morality. His article today focuses on the place of sex in Scripture and Jesus' teachings. Next week his article will continue by examining the issue of divorce as it was treated in Scripture and by Jesus. [more]

005 :
09 Aug 2006

Being able to see God in the ordinary and mundane... Peregrinus has been challenged by Cindy's memoirs of the controversy in her Sacristy with the Parish Priest over the disposal of the surplus Holy Oils. He writes: "All the fussy rules, protocols and precepts about these things are at best ludicrous, and at worst a distraction from the gospel. But, as with a lot of things that look ridiculous, there's a valuable point buried under all this nonsense, if we're willing to see it. The point is the Incarnation." [more]

004 :
04 Aug 2006

Struggling with the issues surrounding celibacy... Celibacy continues to be a hot topic. It raises hackles in discussion forums and seems to be cause for division in the Church. In today's commentary our resident "seeker of moderation and balance", Peregrinus, takes his pen to all the arguments seeking that place of intelligent sense. [more]

003 :
26 Jul 2006

What do you know about the history of the mother of the mother of God? And why you might bother to know at least a little... Today, 26th July, is celebrated as the Feast day of St Anne — the mother of the Virgin Mary. In his commentary for today, Peregrinus explores the vexed progeny of the stories that grew up around her and then goes on to explain why, despite all their controversy, we might pay attention to some lessons this woman might teach us in our lives. [more]

002 :
16 Jul 2006

The lessons from the situation of Catholicism in Ireland... Last week the Chicago Tribune carried a story entitled How Catholicism fell from grace in Ireland which drew a lot of attention around the world on serious Catholic discussion forums. Peregrinus, who was brought up in Ireland and lived through the changes documented by the Chicago Tribune story, gives us another perspective on how and why the changes occurred and what lessons might be learned in other parts of the Western world. [more]

001 :
07 Jul 2006

The vexed issue of infallibility. What do you really know about it? Today we welcome Peregrinus as a commentator on the Catholica Australia webpages. Peregrinus has already attracted much respect from across the political and theological spectrums in other forums. He is a lawyer recently migrated to Australia from Ireland. He has a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of Catholic church history and the ability at short notice to put his finger on the facts that are needed in the many controversies that erupt on internet discussion forums. His first column for us provides a fascinating insight into this vexed issue of papal infallibility that seems to dog our relations with the other great faith traditions and also continues to cause much tension internally within the Church. –Editor [more]