042 :
19 Dec 2006

The beginnings of the crisis in authority Tom has prepared a special presentation based on a segment from Edward Stourton's 1998 book and television documentary, Absolute Truth – The Catholic Church in the World Today, which explores the crisis in authority that the Church has experienced beginning with the promulgation of the encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae, soon after the Second Vatican Council. Click the headline image above or HERE to proceed directly to the commentary and presentation. PLEASE NOTE: the foregoing links contain heavy multi-media content and are only really suitable for readers with a broadband connection. We have provided an alternate text only page which can be found HERE.

041 :
17 Dec 2006

Self-esteem or self-respect? Hugh Mackay's opinion piece in this weekend's Sydney Morning Herald has caused Tom Scott to re-think one of the homilies he's been preaching for a long, long time. What value should we promote more: self-esteem or self-respect? [more]

040 :
12 Dec 2006

What, precisely, are the core requirements of Catholicism? Tom asks: is it the ability to memorise and recite a list of absolute laws? Or is it the ability to navigate through the absolute laws in order to discern the particular moral truth and course of action? [more]

039 :
27 Nov 2006

A "big picture" view of the communications' crisis II... Tom Scott continues his analysis of the failings of Catholic communications. This time with the assistance of some far stronger voices than his in the form of Sandro Magister and the editor of National Catholic Reporter. [more]

038 :
26 Nov 2006

The Feast of Christ the King... For decades Tom Scott had wonderful memories of the Feast of Christ the King. Following the seed of a few words planted in his mind at the recording of a radio commercial to promote the Feast of Christ the King in the Jubilee Year, he has come to a far more critical view. [more]

037 :
23 Nov 2006

Slander is a blighting sirocco! Why do people engage in this behaviour? We re-publish an article originally published in a book of etiquette in 1890 exploring the nature of slander. [more]

036 :
21 Nov 2006

A hodge-podge reflection on my own search for spiritual meaning. Partly taking up from Milly's reflection yesterday and a conversation with John Briggs on the forum, Tom is exploring the meaning of all these spiritual concepts we are playing with. He also provides information about a lecture by Sr Joan Chittister that is well worth listening to. [more]

035 :
14 Nov 2006

A "big picture" view of the communications' crisis... Following on from some observations NCR commentator John Allen made last Friday, Tom Scott argues the Church has to look at a far bigger picture as to why its communications are failing. [more]

034 :
07 Nov 2006

What's missing from the Archbishop's address? The Vatican's head honcho on communications, Ab Foley, is "convinced that communication is THE essential work of a bishop" [his emphasis]. Tom argues His Grace left a couple of things out in his memo. [more]

033 :
03 Nov 2006

Diarmuid O'Murchu and Amanda McKenna Tom Scott's commentary today firstly points to a fascinating series of interviews Diarmuid O'Murchu has given in recent days to Tom Fox at National Catholic Reporter. Don't miss listening to them. Tom also brings you an exclusive excerpt from Amanda McKenna's new song, One Body in Christ, which is to be launched at a national conference in Canberra in early December for people with disabilities. [more]

032 :
31 Oct 2006

Our ultimate accountability is to Truth Tom Scott argues that we are all going to be called to accountability for our stewardship of the earth and the Church. The ultimate accountability is not to any Pope, to our own egos and insecurities, nor to one political position or the other, but to the Truth. [more]

031 :
24 Oct 2006

The changing demographics of Christianity Tom Scott asks whether the boom in Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity truly offers hope for the Christian Church? Or does it only hold out the promise of emotional security in the here and now? [more]

030 :
20 Oct 2006

Thoughts on leadership and vision Tom Scott directs attention to two recent articles, one from the realm of Australian secular politics in The Age Newspaper, the other this week's lead story in OnLine Catholics. He suggests they have lessons for the institutional Church on why she is unable to offer a vision of the Jesus message that is retaining the partipation of her flock. [more]

029 :
17 Oct 2006

Bringing them back to what? Tom takes a further look at what we're endeavouring to achieve here with Catholica Australia. What do we have to invite them back to? [more]

028 :
07 Oct 2006

Envy: viewed within an adult context... Tom explores today some fundamental questions about values that underpin the stability and coherence of human civilisation. [more] [seven deadlies series index]

027 :
26 Sep 2006

Hypothetical... Tom explores today some fundamental questions about values that underpin the stability and coherence of human civilisation. [more]

026 :
17 Sep 2006

The communication challenge facing the institutional church... Tom explores several dimensions of the complex challenge the institutional church faces today in getting its message across in the Western world. [more]

025 :
31 Aug 2006

What are God's politics? Tom returns to a theme he's battled with in his own mind for many years. What are God's politics? Is there an ideal political party and an ideal political philosophy? You might be surprised with the answer he comes up with. [more]

024 :
22 Aug 2006

A question for Michael Willesee... Well-known Australian journalist, Mike Willesee was interviewed by Andrew Denton on ABC television last night about his re-conversion to Catholicism and his journalistic quests in search of miracles. Tom Scott, who has a family connection with Mike Willesee, has a question for Mike ... and all of us. [more]

023 :
15 Aug 2006

"Let no man put asunder..." It was a momentous day in my life yesterday so much so that I slept in and am late with the bulletin today. If you have ever doubted the power of words, do yourself a favour and read this. [more]

022 :
08 Aug 2006

The conundrums of my new-found friendship with Cliffy Baxter... Following on from his last take, Tom Scott, explores a little further the conundrums and paradoxes in his new found friendship with Cliff Baxter. What are the things that attract us to people who might have opposite views to the one's we hold? Where do you sit along the line on these issues which Tom and Cliff have differences about? [more]

021 :
31 Jul 2006

Should the Aboriginal people embrace capitalism? A week or so ago the head of the Federal Government's Indigenous business advisory group, Joseph Elu, blamed a failure to embrace capitalism for Aboriginal social problems. Cliff Baxter argued that capitalism is not a response. On the contrary, he argues, we can learn from their culture of the common good. In this response, Tom Scott, challenges the arguments advanced by Cliff. [more]

020 :
21 Jul 2006

How our perceptions of the nature of the relationship God calls us to changes in time... Tom Scott has been reading Jared Diamond's book, Collapse - How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive. In this commentary he explores some of the theological implications (our understanding of the nature of our relationship with God and of God's nature itself) that flow from some of the new knowledge we have begun to access in recent decades. [more]

019 :
08 Jul 2006

A two-part special exploring the human emotion of fear... This weekend as an experiment I thought we'd try something different – a two-part special exploring the part that fear plays in all of our lives. My own interest in this subject was sparked a number of years ago by the Australian social researcher and commentator, Hugh Mackay, when he presented researched evidence that the anxiety level was rising in modern society. He also observed that while fear was a common feature in all of our lives that his research was throwing up interesting information on the different ways in which different groups in society coped with their fear. Today I will present what I hope will be a discussion starter and tomorrow we'll bring you a column by Theologos, writing from his professional perspective as a clinical psychologist and priest, also exploring this subject which seems to play such a vital role in all of our lives — both as individuals and as a community. We invite you to "broaden out" or "depth" this discussion through your own observations and reactions to what we present in the discussion forum. [more]

018 :
06 Jul 2006

An audio visual reflection on the three faces of God... From the feedback we've received the reflection from Theologos yesterday was a tough read. Today we have something that extends some of the ideas he was exploring but in a way that hopefully is also pleasant on the ear. It is a short audio visual reflection based on a beautiful set of words I came across on another discussion board yesterday. Enjoy! [more]

017 :
29 Jun 2006

Some questions for Archbishop Denis Hart... It is time to start dialoguing with a world that is sick to death of being treated as little children. The world is adult enough today to make their own assessments and take on board the good stuff a person like Diarmuid O'Murchu writes and to appreciate those places in which he is "pushing our buttons" and trying to extend our thinking about the meaning of God in our lives. [more]

016 :
27 Jun 2006

The "paradigm" within which we live... I often wonder what thinking paradigm might eventually replace the one we presently live in. Eventually civilisation will discover that politics is not THE answer to everything. It's difficult to imagine though what might replace it. I suppose if we could imagine that we'd probably already be living in the new paradigm within which we do all of our living. [more]

015 :
25 Jun 2006

Interesting choice for next encyclical. The proposed new social encyclical on globalisation by Pope Benedict is to be welcomed. We should all look forward to its publication with much anticipation. [more]

014 :
23 Jun 2006

What I hate about retirements and funerals What I hate about retirements and funerals is that it is often on these occasions that one finds out in the retirement speeches or eulogies a heck of a lot about the person who has retired or just died that one didn't know before. And you suddenly wish you'd been paying much more attention when the person was still alive or making their contribution. [more]

013 :
22 Jun 2006

What, precisely, do we mean by "forming of conscience"? This commentary on "formation of conscience" has been triggered by a remark Cardinal Theodore McCarrick made in an address to Catholic members of the United States Congress in the last few days. [more]

012 :
21 Jun 2006

Reasons for great hope - a lay strategic plan for renewal from Britain. Is there anything in this for Australia? Independent Catholic News in Britain carries a report today of a new lay initiative in Great Britain for renewal of the Church. Is there anything in this strategic plan that might be valuable for us here in Australia? I think it offers great hope for two important reasons. [more]

011 :
20 Jun 2006

How will we be judged for our stewardship of the Church? John Allen has written an interesting column in the current issue of National Catholic Reporter in which he challenges the notion that the Catholic Church is in decline. His commentary though deserves challenge on a number of fronts. [more]

010 :
19 Jun 2006

Mark Coleridge's appointment as Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn It has just been announced that the Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Mark Coleridge DD BA DSS VG, is to be the new Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn. Can we read anything into this symbolically important appointment? [more]

009 :
17 Jun 2006

"Why men don't like to go to church" Marketing executive, David Murrow writes: "I was sitting in church and all of a sudden it dawned on me that the target audience of almost everything about church culture was a 50- to 55-year-old woman". We need language and liturgies that also appeal to men. [more]

008 :
16 Jun 2006

"I would like to understand women" Stephen Hawking claims that of all the big "mysteries" of creation he'd better like to understand, women is one of them. Tom Scott agrees ... but there is some interesting theology in all of this as well. [more]

007 :
15 Jun 2006

Why should we bother to rock up to Mass occasionally? In the survey to find out why people have left the practice of their faith the Pastoral Projects Office reports that many people find little "spiritual fulfilment" in attending. Should we be asking ourselves to think about this in fresh ways? [more]

006 :
13 Jun 2006

Bridging the gulf between Religion and Science Through his seminal books, Quantum Theology and Evolutionary Faith, Diarmuid O'Murchu seeks to develop a more holistic paradigm that enables us to transcend (or move beyond) the conflicts and confusion that exists between religion and science. Tom Scott endeavours to provide a background understanding from which to understand what Diarmuid O'Murchu offers. [more]

005 :
7 Jun 2006

Bringing balance into our thinking Beyond all our words and reflection, the challenge that doesn't go away is the one of bringing balance, equilibrium, happiness and, ultimately, that "peace which surpasses all human understanding" into our lives... [more]

004 :
6 Jun 2006

Bravo! We have progress... Today might be the day marked by the sign of Beezelbub, but rather than being remembered for that reason it might be remembered in the Australian Catholic Church for two pieces of bounteous "Good News". Do you know why? Read on and find out... [more]

003 :
5 Jun 2006

Why don't we just get on with our lives and forget all this constant thinking? Referring to yesterday's commentary a respondent asked: why can't we just BE! Why are we always searching for 'something more'? [more]

002 :
4 Jun 2006

What's this spiritual quest all about? Some thoughts stemming from an article by Paul Wilkes in Commonweal magazine on Merton's Enlightenment. The spiritual quest seen as a life-long process of literally growing ourselves, or maturing ourselves until we can think, feel, smell, taste, touch, hear and act as God thinks, feels, smells, tastes, touches, hears and acts. [more]

001 :
3 Jun 2006

Selling Jesus – Benedict's style of catechesis" Jesus Christ, invites us into a complete new Way of thinking and acting. It is a "Way" that we cannot learn through television commercials, door-stop news "grabs" or the eight minute celebrity interview. To learn, and understand, Jesus takes an entire lifetime! [more]