John Menadue

John Menadue is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Pearls and Irritations. He was formerly Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Ambassador to Japan, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and CEO of Qantas.

John's recent articles

John Menadue. Health Part 2 what can we learn from overseas health services?

Part 2 in this series was originally posted in August last year. In my blog of 6th October on what we can learn from overseas health systems, I drew attention and warned against government subsidised private health insurance. Any growth in this industry spells trouble for a good health service. Another thing that we could learn from overseas experience is that our fee for service (FFS) for GP consultation results in higher costs and inferior treatment. There are many disadvantages in FFS. It drives up costs It encourages turnstile medicine whereby the GP earns more money the...

Europe and the Greek elections.

The Greeks have been suffering for decades at the hands of a political and business oligarchy. Corruption and massive tax avoidance have been commonplace. It is not surprising that the Greek people rejected the mainstream parties and have thumbed their noses at the the EU, the European Central Bank and the IMF. Europe looks to be headed into new territory. Leonid Bershidsky on 'Bloomberg View' has an interesting take on 'Syriza, Le Pen and the Power of Big Ideas'. John Menadue. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-26/syriza-le-pen-and-the-power-of-big-ideas

John Menadue. Health Part 1 what can we learn from overseas health systems?

This article was initially posted in June last year. There has recently been quite a number of articles, including in The Conversation, about what we can learn from overseas health systems. Before looking at these international comparisons, it is worth reminding ourselves that we do have a pretty good health service in Australia. It is not as good as it should be, but Medicare has stood the test of time since 1974. It costs less than the average of all OECD countries, as a percentage of GDP. Nevertheless there are some things that we can learn from overseas...

US Government unveils goal to move Medicare away from fee-for-service.

On 27/28 and 29 January 2015 I posted three articles on Health Policy Reform. One issue I discussed was the major problem of fee-for-service (FFS) as a means of remunerating doctors. Such a scheme remunerates quantity rather than quality of service. On 26 January, the US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Sylvia M. Burwell, outlined a major change in the way that doctors and hospitals will be remunerated in future. She said 'HHS has set a goal of tying 30% of traditional, or fee-for-service, Medicare payments to quality or value through alternate payment models. ... Today's announcement would continue...

John Menadue. Murdoch, Abbott and Credlin

In August 2013 I wrote about Rupert Murdochs abuse of power and his intense fascination with party politics. That blog is reproduced below. Rupert Murdoch is a frustrated politician. He loves the political game. Usually he works indirectly through ultra-loyal and uncritical editors and journalists. But new technology, particularly twitter, allows him to indulge his love of political intrigue more personally. The family must hope that sometime soon he will call it a day, but I think Murdoch will persevere to the end. I cant recall such a blatant abuse of power as Murdochs call on Tony Abbott...

John Menadue. Health Policy Reform: Part 3 Principles for reform

In Part 1 of this series I described the areas in our health sector that need reform. In Part 2 I spoke of the obstacles, particularly those imposed by vested interests in the health sector to protect their own interests by delaying or stopping reform. In this article, I will be suggesting ways in which we can overcome these obstacles to health reform. But make no mistake: it will be hard without political leadership and political will.   Dont rush the process The political process encourages parties seeking election or re-election to address problems with high political...

John Menadue. Health Policy Reform: Part 2 Why reform is difficult. Health ministers are in office but not in power.

In Part 1 on health policy reform I outlined the main areas where health reform is necessary. In Part 2 I examine the reasons why I think health reform is so hard. In part 3 I will consider ways in which the necessary path of health reform can be quickened. There is a major barrier to health reform. It is the power of providers or at least their assumed power. When I was asked by the National Hospital and Health Reform Commission to describe in a sentence or even one word the obstacles to health reform I said power,...

John Menadue. Health Policy Reform: Part 1 Why reform is needed.

I will be posting three articles on health policy. This article outlines the priority areas where reform is necessary. Part 2 will explain why reform is so difficult but not impossible. The key issue is power and how it is exercised Part 3 will be about processes and governance issues that are necessary to move us beyond the present inertia, incrementalism and tinkering, with suggestions for policy directions. I will not be proposing specific policies. The Rudd-Gillard Government lost opportunities Traditionally, in Australia and elsewhere, Labor and similar governments have been the initiators of...

John Menadue. Health Workforce Reform.

Conservative commentators and the Business Council of Australia speak endlessly about the need for industrial and workforce reform particularly in the blue-collar area where there has already been very substantial reform and improvement. Changes in the Australian workforce have helped transform the Australian economy in the last 30 years. It was begun under the Hawke/Keating governments and continued under the Howard governments. But the health sector has scarcely been touched. I guesstimate that there is a potential productivity dividend of at least 40% in health workforce reform over the next decade. That 40% may be on the low side....

Nanny Endovelicus. Preventing prevention Part 2

This is part 2 of a series on health prevention. It was initially posted in October last year. John Menadue. Yesterday, in part 1, I began the task of analysing the cuts to the Commonwealths health budget and to the promised payments to the States and Territories in the area of prevention. Are the cuts well justified by the statistics? Obesity - Nutrition and Physical Inactivity Other than tobacco and excess alcohol consumption, the rising rates of obesity are the most concerning statistics in the area of preventable diseases. Peoples diets and their levels of physical activity...

Nanny Endovelicus. Preventing prevention. Part 1

This repost is an outstanding article on prevention that I originally posted in October last year. Part 2 will follow tomorrow. John Menadue   One of the more curious decisions of the Abbott Government in its 2014 Budget was the decision by Health Minister Peter Dutton to reduce Commonwealth expenditure on prevention. Funding for population health broadly is set to decline substantially - although the brunt of the cuts are for later years and the real devil is in the finer detail. For the Commonwealth Department of Health in Outcome 1 - Population Health, the pain...

Brian Johnstone. The right to freedom of speech.

The recent murders perpetrated in France have been rightly condemned by all people who take seriously morality and human rights. However, the accompanying discussion of the right to freedom of speech has reflected different points of view. For some the right to freedom of speech means the claim to be free to say whatever one wants to say, whether this injures the rights of others or not. This view can justify any kind of remark from adolescent attempts to shock to the inane sledging in which our politicians so frequently indulge. The right to freedom of speech as a right...

Robert Douglas. Senate report on Australian inequality.

Bridging our growing divide: Inequality in Australia is an important report tabled without fanfare in the Senate by its Community Affairs References Committee. The report is clearly argued and well-buttressed by data and references. The points it makes about an issue central to the kind of society we are developing in Australia deserve wide community discussion. The inquiry terms of reference called for a review of the extent of income inequality, the rate at which it is increasing and its impacts on access to health, housing, education and work. The senators were also asked to inquire into specific...

Ian Coller. Liberty, equality, fraternity: redefining 'French' values in the wake of Charlie Hebdo.

Beyond the tourist fantasy of the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, France today is a fabulously colourful mixture of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists. This is the situation all over Europe. Yet many Europeans are deeply uneasy with this diversity. The names of Charlie Hebdo victims reveal the diversity hidden by the Je suis Charlie hashtag: cartoonists and writers Charb, Cabu, Wolinski; psychoanalyst Elsa Cayat; proofreader Mustapha Ourrad; policemen Franck Brinsolaro and Ahmed Merabet; two students killed in a kosher supermarket, Yoav Hattab and Yohan Cohen. Yet media and government often still refer to Muslims as them:...

Chris Clohessy. Bad reading leads to destructive religion.

The recent terror attacks in France have highlighted a number of issues, all needing furtherdiscussion. One is the reality that it took an attack on European soil to provoke such a reaction 1.6 million people marching in Paris, led by forty or more world leaders. But militant groups,under Islamic guise, have been slaughtering people for an extended period of time in Nigeria,in Pakistan, in Syria and Iraq in the last few weeks Boko Haram terrorists have killed over twothousand in Nigeria. The world reaction, compared to its reaction to Paris, has been negligible,suggesting an inconsistency in the way...

John Menadue. Why are the Nordics so successful? Part 2.

You might be interested in part 2 of these articles on the Nordics. In my earlier postcard from Denmark, I described the Nordic success. I didnt mention that they are rated the happiest people in the world, have the lowest rates of corruption and are on track to achieve their target of 50% renewable energy by 2020. Copenhagen is a very liveable city. But why have Denmark and other Nordics, Finland, Sweden and Norway been so successful? Obviously a small country like Denmark with less than six million people has advantages in terms of social cohesion....

John Menadue. What does Labor stand for? Part 6

You might interested in this repost of part 6 on the economic role of government. The economic role of government In addition to key principles the second immediate issue is the economic role of government. Those who would benefit from weak and distrusted government have deliberately undermined the legitimacy of the public sector. We are often told that there is really no difference between the major parties. In some respects that is unfortunately true but I suggest there is a major and continuing difference. And that difference is over the role of government. The Labor Party has...

Wendy Sharpe - Asylum seeker portraits and stories

The Asylum Seekers Centre is presenting an art exhibition 'Seeking Humanity'by renownedAustralian artist, Wendy Sharpe. It opens in Ultimo, Sydney, on 17 February, for four weeks, before moving to Canberra on 20 March, and then Penrith. It is not about politics, but puts a human face to those who have fled situations of great danger in their home country in search of safety and freedom in Australia. The video has been very successful, with over 500 people viewing it within the first 24 hours. A previous Archibald winner and 2014 finalist, Wendy has drawn portraits of 39...

John Menadue. Postcard from Denmark on the Nordic Success

For holiday reading, you may be interested in this repost. I have been interested for many years in the economic and social success of the Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Together they have a population of about 26 million. But what triggered my recent interest and decision to visit Denmark was the sheer pleasure of watching several Danish TV series Borgen, The Killing, The Bridge. They are the best TV series that I have seen in years and far superior to the tosh that we often get from the US and sometimes from the UK. The...

John Menadue. What does Labor stand for. Part 1

You might be interested in this repost . It was part 1 of a six part series. Part 6 will be reposted tomorrow. John Menadue Labors constituency The Labor primary vote has declined from about 45-50% fifty years ago to 35-40% today. Labor has lost its clear identity with the working class and what it stands for. Its natural constituency and membership has declined. To contain the loss, Labor has increasingly committed itself to focus groups, marginal seat strategies and whatever it takes. Values, principles and ideas have given way to marketing of products .Money has replaced membership...

John Menadue. Co-payments and the governments attack on general practice.

You might be interested in this repost.   A strong primary health care system based on general practise is the key to a sustainable health service. Unfortunately the government is doing its best to weaken general practice. Primary care offers the best prospect of improved quality of care and increased efficiency, particularly through new work practices. The evidence is worldwide that primary care provides A greater focus on prevention and chronic care for our ageing population. Care at lower cost e.g. specialist care in Australia is more than double the cost of care by a...

John Menadue. Be careful what you wish for.

You may be interested in this repost. John Menadue   Be careful what you wish for. With the Victorian election result the Labor Party may be hoping to see the demise of Tony Abbott in the New Year. But it should be careful what it hopes for. Gough Whitlam successfully crippled Billy Snedden as the leader of the Liberal Party in 1974 and got Malcolm Fraser in his place, a much more substantial leader. Paul Keating pulled the rug from under Alexander Downer and got John Howard instead. We know that John Howard proved to...

Building more roads is not 21st century thinking.

In my blog of 3 January, I discussed our love affair with cars and how cars are crippling our cities. In the SMH on January 12 this year, Jacob Saulwick takes up the issue of our failure to face up to the futility and cost of building more roads. See link below to the article. John Menadue.   http://www.smh.com.au/business/building-more-roads-is-not-21st-century-thinking-20150111-12lstx.html

Charlie Hebdo - Freedom of expression in an imperfect society.

In this article, Paul McGeough in the SMH says 'Yes, it is utterly inappropriate to go round shooting those who cause offence, but is it appropriate to go round causing offence?' Paul McGeough also recalled that when Charlie Hebdo republished the controversial Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in 2006, then French President Jacques Chirac issued a swift rebuke. 'Anything that can hurt the convictions of someone else, in particular religious convictions, should be avoided - freedom of expression should be exercised in a spirit of responsibility'. John Menadue http://www.smh.com.au/world/charlie-hebdo-total-freedom-of-expression-has-little-chance-of-survival-in-an-imperfect-society-20150112-12mgih.html

John Menadue. Mission creep in Iraq again

I have reposted below my blog of September 1 last year about the developing pattern of mission-creep in Iraq. Now, four months later, we are seeing it happening again. Last week in Iraq Tony Abbott made it clear that Australia was receptive to any further requests to send more Australian military to Iraq. Tony Abbott, with John Howard, have both been part of our disastrous intervention in Iraq. We now intend to continue and expand it. War is a serious business, but Tony Abbott doesn't seem to think so, given how easily he makes one military commitment after...

Charlie Hebdo and Algeria.

Robert Fisk of The Independent traces the Charlie Hebdo massacre back to the French occupation and disaster in Algeria. See link to this article below. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/charlie-hebdo-paris-attack-brothers-campaign-of-terror-can-be-traced-back-to-algeria-in-1954-9969184.html

John Menadue. Getting back on the front foot.

The tide is turning on climate change. It is going out on Tony Abbott and Rupert Murdoch. They will never admit it but the efforts of the Rudd and Gillard Governments will be vindicated. It is time for the ALP to really go onto its front foot on climate change. In recent months they have been extraordinarily quiet. It is not good enough to rely on the failures of the Abbott Government. The ALP needs to develop and prosecute its own policies. People in South Australia must be extremely worried about recent bushfires and now predicted heavy rainfalls....

Walter Hamilton. Crunch Time for Abenomics

Is it time to declare Abenomics, the recession-busting strategy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a failure? If so, was the recent Japanese election purely an exercise for Shinzo Abe to protect himself and the ruling coalition from a half-awake electorate before the deluge? Launched with much fanfare in 2012, Abenomics promised to cure deflation, revive economic growth, break down structural rigidities in the economy, unlock the talents of women in the workplace and salvage the nations deficit-drowned budget. In two years, it has achieved none of these objectives; nor, arguably, has it brought any of them within reach....

John Menadue. If I were a Muslim...

The brutality and assasination of the editors and cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo must be condemned. Those responsible must face and perhaps have faced the full consequences. But if I were a Muslim, I would have been offended by the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. They were not a critique of Islam but gratuitous insults. I expect my Christian faith to be respected. Religious tolerance requires respect for other people's beliefs. The cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo did not do that. We live in a fragile and pluralistic world and we must be aware of the consequences of what we do and...

Corporate tax avoidance.

The Parliamentary Library has prepared a report for the Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance. The report provides background on this issue as well as a summary of what other countries are proposing to address corporate tax avoidance by multinational companies. See link to report below. John Menadue http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2014/December/Senate_inquiry_into_corporate_tax_avoidance

A taxing tale of two peak bodies.

In the SMH on 2 January, Michael West drew attention to the ways that two BCAs were treated differently. The Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) learned that it had been subject to federal government funding cuts. Another BCA, the Business Council of Australia, did much better. 'Only a week earlier the government had backflipped on a proposed tax-avoidance reform entailing some $600 million in tax deductions that multinational companies could claim on interest on their debts in offshore subsidiaries.' For the full story from Michael West see link below. John Mendue http://www.smh.com.au/business/a-taxing-tale-of-two-peak-bodies-20150101-12gcty.html

Max Corden. Without revenue, Australia can only have half a budget debate.

The missing element in this weeks mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, and more broadly, in current government policy, stares Australians in the face. Revenue needs to be increased. Increasing taxes, reducing tax concessions and eliminating loopholes are all options, which I and other commentators have argued for. For example, journalist Peter Martin has shown that if compulsory superannuation contributions were taxed as income, i.e. like wages (rather than being taxed at a concessional rate) there would be a net gain to the budget of approximately A$12 billion a year. But there are many other measures to consider, all designed...

John Menadue. Australia and the White Mans Media

I have said many times that a person from Mars who read and listened to Australian media would conclude that we are an island parked off London or New York with little relationship to Asia. Our news and media coverage is so derivative, relying heavily on the BBC, CNN and other news and entertainment houses in the UK and the US .We are recyclers. Tony Abbott delights in our being part of this Anglosphere with its British monarchy, Sirs and Dames. My main concern about the ABC is its meagre coverage of our region by its foreign correspondents. That...

Israel must be its own worst enemy.

The Palestinians have requested that they join the International Criminal Court. It could be a double-edged sword if both Palestinian and Israelis were brought before the International Court. But most people would believe that joining the International Court would be an important way to demonstrate that the Palestinians wanted to join the international community and be subject to its norms. But both Israel and the US opposed the request. Robert Fisk in The Independent on 6 January this year underscores the futility of policies in the Middle East. See link below. John Menadue. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/robert-fisk-the-real-reason-why-israel-and-the-us-dont-want-palestine-to-join-the-international-criminal-court-9956751.html?utm_source=indynewsletter&utm_medium=email05012015

John Menadue. Is the state being captured by special interests?

In his recent book, The Origin of Political Order and Political Decay Francis Fukuyama of End of History fame, focuses on how even developed and democratic societies can be captured by powerful vested interests. He suggests that this has happened in the US with the coalition of extremists in big business, the Republican Party and the Tea Party. First there was the crippling of the political process in the US with money and lobbying; then followed the capture of the state. It is a warning for us. We have the institutions of democracy- responsible government, a parliamentary system,...

The Chinese are coming.

After WWII the financial hegemony of the US and Europe in the IMF and International Bank was established. Later, the Japanese came to dominate the Asian Development Bank. That is now being challenged by China. See article below by William Pesek in 'Bloomberg View', subject 'China steps in as world's new bank'. John Menadue. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-12-25/china-steps-in-as-worlds-new-bank

Mary Chiarella. Co-payments, general practice and workforce reform.

If theres a problem in primary health care then nurses are (and always have been) the solution. Susan Sontag wrote in 1978 Illness is the night side of life: a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and the kingdom of the sick. I was working in palliative care nursing when I first read this and it struck me that, continuing the metaphor, nurses were therefore like tour guides for those negotiating these health care kingdoms of both the well and the sick. We provide the translator services (what did...

John Menadue. Our love affair with cars.

We are infatuated by the convenience of our cars, particularly at holiday time. There are clearly major economic and social benefits but the costs both economic and social are going to become much more apparent. How can we continue to realise the benefits of car travel, but minimise future costs. There are enormous political problems in addressing the cost of traffic accidents, traffic congestion and carbon pollution from cars, but we need to start thinking seriously about a suite of options to minimise the damage that cars will continue to inflict on our economy and society. It is...

Maggie Callingham. Top schools 'top' because someone has to be bottom.

Across Australia Year 12 students are collectively holding their breaths to see what results theyve achieved and, consequently, what their futures hold. Only hours after their release, many secondary schools proudly display their best results on billboards for passers-by to see. Newspapers select high-achieving students to profile. As schools promote these glowing results, its worth highlighting that many have had the invisible slave of the disadvantaged schools working for them. That is, the high-profile academic success of some schools has occurred as a result of social stratification the increasing gap between students into schools of low socio-educational...

Malcolm Fraser. Australia's dangerous ally.

The National Interest, in its January/February 2015 edition has just published an article by Malcolm Fraser, 'Australia's dangerous ally'. The National Interest is not sold on news stands in Australia, but it is available online. Malcolm Fraser concludes his article by suggesting several steps that Australia should take to address problems in our relationship with the US. First, the removal of US task force out of Darwin. Second, closure of facility at Pine Gap. Third, expanded diplomatic facilities and relationships in our region. Fourth, a boost to Australia's defence force spending to about 3% of GDP. This article...

What a disgrace! Australia at the UN on Palestine.

Concluding our two year term on the Security Council, Australia voted against the proposal in the Council demanding Israel and the occupation of Palestinian territories end within two years. For the resolution to pass, nine votes were needed. Eight countries voted in favour of the resolution, including China, Russia, Luxembourg, France and Jordan. Five countries abstained, including the UK and South Korea. Only two countries voted against the resolution, the US and Australia. Over the years there have been a number of UN resolutions. Australia's voting on these important resolutions can be found in the table in a blog...

Glencore buying Rio Tinto could burn hole in Hockey's pocket.

In the SMH on December 20, 2014, Michael West draws attention to Glencore's checkered history on paying tax and the consequences for Joe Hockey's budget if Glencore acquired Rio Tinto. Michael West said that 'billions of dollars in tax payments are on the line, not to mention job losses and the spectre of this country seeding control over a large chunk of its natural resources to a secretive group of commodity traders ultimately run out of Switzerland.' Glencore has a colourful history. According to an Australian public radio report the company was founded by Marc Rich and Company...

John Menadue. What a remarkable thing to say!

As reported in the SMH of December 22/21 this year, Dyson Haydon, who heads the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption, said the following in respect of Julia Gillard. Her intense degree of preparation, her familiarity with the materials, her acuteness [and] her powerful instinct for self-preservation made it difficult to judge her credibility. What an extraordinary and remarkable things to say by a Commissioner who is a former High Court Judge. Would he have preferred Julia Gillard to be un-prepared and incompetent before the Royal Commission? If he could not find against her credibility he should...

Rodney Tiffen. Murdoch - The tabloid tweeter tangles the truth.

With two glaring exceptions, Australian public figures and media outlets generally rose to the challenge during the long siege at Martin Place this week. Mike Baird and Tony Abbott spoke with calmness and compassion, careful not to inflame the situation or do anything to encourage bigoted and unjustified reactions. The media especially theABC, Nine, Seven and Sky News reported the long hours of uncertainty, when very little was happening, with restraint, generally resisting the temptation to speculate in the absence of verified facts. While some false reports and rumours were broadcast, a sense of professional responsibility prevailed. ...

Brian Johnstone. Terrorism and torture - the Catholic tradition.

In Australia today, we accept that a person who has expressed ideas that justify terrorism may be restrained from acting out those ideas. But we would not justify torturing a person suspected of harbouring such notions to force him to reveal them or to reject such ideas. However, surveys in the Western world find that torture to obtain information is sometimes justified. The Prime Ministers acceptance of torture in the context of the Sri Lankan civil war was as follows: Obviously the Australian Government deplores any use of torture. We deplore that, wherever it might take place, we deplore that....

Why Rupert Murdoch is forever in Twitter trouble.

In the 'New Daily' of December 17, 2014, Bruce Guthrie, a former editor-in-chief of 'The Age' and Murdoch's 'Herald Sun' tells us what he thinks about Murdoch's twittering 'But here he was seemingly gloating over the outcome of the appalling Martin Place events as if the only thing that mattered was its news value and the profits that might bring. No wonder he was dubbed a gleeful ghoul for the tweet. 24 hours later, despite dozens of entreaties, he still hasn't apologised for it.' See below for full article. John Menadue   http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2014/12/17/murdochs-twitter-trouble/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+New+Daily+Thursday+181214&utm_content=The+New+Daily+Thursday+181214+CID_e0b29d13c4b7895f43354a244523cc86&utm_source=#.VJJJpU5bKqg.gmail

John Menadue. Capitalism and the fall of communism

In this blog on 5 November I drew attention to an article by the Economics Editor of the Guardian Larry Elliott. In that article Elliott said As the Berlin Wall fell, checks on capitalism crumbled. The principal thesis of that article was that with the end of communism capitalism became more aggressive and less inhibited. He said The fear that workers would go red meant that they had to be kept happy. The proceeds of growth were shared. Welfare benefits were generous. Investment in public infrastructure was high. But there was no need to be so generous once the...

What will Israel become?

In the International New York Times of December 20, Roger Cohen focuses on the future of Israel. He says 'Every day ... another European Government or parliament expresses support for recognition of a Palestinian state ... In the space of a few weeks something has shifted. The Leader of the Labor Party, Isaac Herzog has been ushered from unelectable nerd to plausible patriot. Polls show him neck and neck with the incumbent [Benjamin Netanyahu]. For link to this article see below. John Menadue   http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/opinion/sunday/roger-cohen-what-will-israel-become.html?emc=edit_th_20141221&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=69612024&_r=0

Jesus and the modern man.

James Carroll has been writing about religion for over 40 years. In this beautiful piece in the International New York Times of November 7 this year, he describes how he still keeps going to Mass despite his many doubts. See link below. John Menadue. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/opinion/sunday/can-i-stay-with-the-church.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone

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