Writer
Paul Collins
Paul Collins is an historian, broadcaster and writer. A Catholic priest for thirty-three years, he resigned from the active ministry in 2001 following a dispute with the Vatican over his book <em>Papal Power</em> (Harper Collins (1997)). He is the author of seventeen books, the most recent being <em>The Depopulation Imperative </em>(Australian Scholarly (2021)) and <em>Recovering the ‘True Church’</em> (Coventry (2022)). A former head of the religion and ethics department in the ABC, he is well known as a public commentator on Catholicism and the papacy and also has a strong interest in ethics, environmental and population issues.
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In a wheel chair to the peripheries
Eighty-seven-year-old Pope Francis’ trip to Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore shows he’s not slowing up. Continue reading »
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Digital technology: blessing or curse?
The challenge we face with digital technology is not just managing it; it’s about what it’s doing to us. Continue reading »
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The Olympic Games are not neutral and often used for non-sporting political and cultural purposes as the Paris Opening showed
I’ve never been a fan of the Olympics, although I occasionally check to see how Australia is going on the medal tally. I watched a bit of the opening extravaganza – it certainly wasn’t a “ceremony” – but got bored with Gallic self-importance, so I missed the Last Supper parody with a drag queen representing Continue reading »
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Religion and the census
The Census is important because it tells us so much about ourselves. But the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is complicating the data we collect on religion. Continue reading »
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A Catholic church responsive to the human needs of our fellow citizens
Analysing contemporary Catholicism requires a bit more knowledge than merely quoting a couple of reactionary Catholics – as does a recent New Statesman article. Continue reading »
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Podcast: Herzl’s Nightmare — one land, two peoples
Paul Collins interviews former Australian Ambassador to Israel, Peter Rodgers, on the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Zionist movement and the creation of the Israeli state, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Continue reading »
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Stan Grant on Good Friday, Easter, and God’s absence in our suffering world
I never thought I’d see an inspiring Easter reflection in the usually secular, The Saturday Paper. But last Saturday (March 23) there was Stan Grant, writing on the Christian feast. Continue reading »
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Amidst strategic stalemate, Ukraine war remains Vatican priority
Two years since the Russian invasion, Ukraine has faded from the headlines. But not in the Vatican and for the man who might be the next Pope. Continue reading »
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Vatican – Israel rupture over Gaza
The invasion of Gaza, described by Pope Francis as ‘terrorism’, is causing strained relationships between Israel and the Vatican. Continue reading »
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Could Pope Francis provide some hope for peace in the Middle East?
I really didn’t want to write this article; I’d rather be saying something about the theological meaning of Christmas. Much safer. Continue reading »
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Tuvalu: Paradise lost?
The recent treaty with Tuvalu opens the way for a more generous treatment of Pacific people. Continue reading »
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Climate disaster: Pope Francis repudiates developed world’s economics and culture
‘It is no longer possible to doubt the human origin of climate change’ (Pope Francis). Continue reading »
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Has Australian Catholic University just lost the right to call itself “Catholic”?
Where’s Cardinal George Pell when you need him? Gone to God, I know, but as one of the founders and a former Chancellor of Australian Catholic University (ACU), he would be horrified at what is currently happening there. Why? Continue reading »
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Political instability and Niger’s biggest problem
West Africa is emerging as a highly unstable region and massive over-population is at the heart of the problem. Continue reading »
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Is Pope Francis preparing for the next pope and an “October revolution” in Catholicism?
Its mid-summer in Rome and last week there was a heat wave with a top temperature of 38° Celsius. Hot days in Rome are stifling, with the heat compounded by the over-whelming influx of tourists. Continue reading »
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Our digital Aunty
The ABC is in trouble again as it abandons its cultural role to become “fully digital” by 2028. Continue reading »
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The Voice and Reconciliation
The Voice is beyond politics. It’s about reconciliation between two profoundly different cultures and approaches to life. Continue reading »
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Vale, Stan Grant
Stan Grant is always intelligent, insightful and provocative. He demonstrated this in his extraordinary farewell piece last Monday night on the ABC’s Q+A. Continue reading »
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Opus Dei: A Catholic sect
Opus Dei is a sect. Its spirituality doesn’t free the spirit, but enslaves it. Continue reading »
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The Pell memorandum must be confronted
We’ve all had far too much George Pell lately, but his so-called “Memorandum” on Pope Francis’ papacy is about much more than the present papacy and needs to be confronted. Continue reading »
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Cardinal George Pell
The media reaction to the death of Cardinal George Pell is extraordinary. But his contribution to Australian Catholicism is very much a mixed blessing. Continue reading »
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Reflecting on the Ratzinger papacy
Benedict XVI’s life and papacy was a mixed blessing for Catholicism. Continue reading »
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Christmas: war and peace
As we end 2022, we seem besotted with rumours of war. In contrast, the central message of Christmas is God’s gift in Christ of peace, justice, humility and joy. Continue reading »
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One established church is enough
Just now we all need a rest from royalty. But what’s gone unnoticed in media is how intimately connected the monarchy is to the Church of England. Continue reading »
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How to become a Catholic bishop
The fundamental crisis of Australian Catholicism is one of leadership and bishops are at the heart of this crisis. Continue reading »
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Christianity: a dismal future?
The future for religion in Australia, especially Christianity, looks rather bleak following the 2021 Census. But is the future really that dismal? Continue reading »
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Paul Collins: Pope Francis keeps them guessing
For a week or so the Vatican rumour mill has been in overdrive. How sick is Pope Francis? Will he resign? Where next for the papacy? Continue reading »
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A mixed blessing for Catholicism
The man who effectively ran the papacy in the late-1990s and the early-2000s during declining years of John Paul II died on Friday 27 May. His career was a mixed blessing for Catholicism. And sixteen new voting cardinals just appointed. Continue reading »
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Christ’s Resurrection in 2022
In the gospels Jesus challenges the religio-political establishment, hostility to him grows, and he is convicted on trumped-up charges and dies as a common criminal on the cross. His life seems over. Continue reading »
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Putin, the Pope and the Patriarch
While the invasion of Ukraine is fundamentally strategic, religion, faith and history also play a major part. Continue reading »
