Religion and Faith
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Catholic Plenary Council – an opportunity for Indigenous reconciliation
It is encouraging that the Instrumentum Laboris (Working Document) of the Catholic Plenary Council due to meet in October 2021 affirms, “We honour and acknowledge the continuing deep spiritual relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of reconciliation”. Continue reading »
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US Catholic Bishops have President Biden in their sights over abortion rights
In what many observers see as a growing episcopal polarization, the US Catholic bishops, the USCCB, in their 2021 spring meeting, voted to advance their “Communion document”. The draft document passed by 75% of the bishops’ conference advances a push by conservative US bishops to deny President Biden communion because of his support for abortion Continue reading »
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Pope Francis’ reforms the Church’s disciplinary system in response to royal commission
One of the main reasons for the Catholic Church shifting around abusive priests was because its disciplinary system was dysfunctional. Far more children were abused than would have occurred if it had a decent one. The Royal Commission made recommendations for change, and Pope Francis has adopted some of them, but he has retained two Continue reading »
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Now or never: Remarks by John Warhurst at Book Launch of Wrestling with the Church Hierarchy
It is now or never for the Catholic Church’s Vatican Two generation. They must continue to wrestle with the church hierarchy if the forthcoming Plenary Council is to have any chance of achieving its potential. Continue reading »
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Australian Catholic media censorship, Pravda style.
There’s a Plenary Council coming up in October 2021 and it is slated to be an opportunity for renewal for the Catholic Church in this country.But is there room for dialogue when evan an Archbishop is gagged? Continue reading »
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The struggle for real reform in the Australian Catholic Church: Catholics and their bishops are at odds
Australians should be concerned about what is happening currently in the Catholic church. Catholics are engaged in a review of their church in this country, yet there is growing evidence the process is being manipulated. Continue reading »
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History clarifies and history challenges for the Catholic Church
It was a strange conversation. A friend who was, at that time, an American archbishop had congratulated me on an academic promotion. He slapped me on the back in his customary gung ho way and said: “You are a smart guy, a theologian, but remember that I have something you don’t have.” Continue reading »
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History lessons for critiques on Christianity
Before we worry too much about school students, it’s the adults who need remedial history lessons if two recent articles are anything to go by. Continue reading »
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Scott Morrison. Politics and Pentecostalism 101
Scott Morrison’s personal religion is entirely his own business. However, given recent public statements about his beliefs, by himself and in the media, it is legitimate to ask about Pentecostalism in Australia and its relationship, if any, to politics and politicians. Continue reading »
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Catholicism must grow up
Catholic reform leader, Sr Joan Chittister OSB, has told a large Australian audience that Catholicism “must grow up” and that Catholics want a reformed Church. Sr Joan boosted the calls for change in the Australian Catholic church in an inspiring address to a 3,000-strong audience. Continue reading »
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Our Christian heritage and the culture wars
The culture war drum-beats are sounding again – pounded out by the usual suspects in the Murdoch media and among shock jocks and the Morrison Government. Continue reading »
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Ramadan in Indonesia
It’s Ramadan, the annual fasting month followed strictly, laxly or somewhere in-between by the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Living among the famished practising their traditions in Indonesia where 88 per cent of the 273 million citizens say they follow Islam can be physically challenging, intellectually confusing and socially engrossing. Continue reading »
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The religious recession
A Gallup poll released on Monday, March 29 , 2021, indicates that the proportion of Americans who consider themselves members of a church or synagogue has now dropped below 50%. The results highlight a dramatic shift away from religious affiliation in recent years, and among all age groups. When Gallup first asked the question in Continue reading »
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Abuse in Catholic care is worse in New Zealand than Australia
The New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions has revealed that the problem of abuse in New Zealand’s Catholic institutions appears to be much worse than the problem revealed in Australia’s Catholic institutions. Continue reading »
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Hans Kung: a theologian for everyone
Hans Küng died last Tuesday aged 93. I had the honour of knowing him as a friend. He was a rare breed: a theologian who spoke to people of diverse beliefs and none. Continue reading »
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Another attempt to mute the voices of Catholic women
My text for today is taken from the Book of Genesis, as translated by John Milton: “Hee for God only. Shee for God in him.”Paradise Lost, 1667. Continue reading »
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Easter Homily: women have witnessed to the truth.
Women have been commissioned to lead the way as our society makes its way out of the present commotion of disrespect, discrimination and violence. Continue reading »
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Christ is risen, He is risen indeed
During his final week of his life, Jesus world was savagely ripped away from him. And it all happened so quickly. He was arrested by the Roman troops in a security sweep of Jerusalem during the Passover celebrations. He was charged with sedition, convicted and sentenced to death as a criminal. He suffered an utterly Continue reading »
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‘To err (and shame) is human, to forgive is divine’
Something’s happening to western civilisation. A paradigm shift: a movement away from the Judeo-Christian Guilt/Righteousness (Redemption) Culture to a Shame/Honour (Exclusion) Culture – and there are significant consequences. First, some distinctions: Continue reading »
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Reflecting on the lead up to Jesus’ final week
During Holy Week Christians will experience in their liturgies an intense symbolic overload. In the space of eight days, the unfolding drama of Jesus’ final days, the confronting brutality he endured and his death by crucifixion give way to the great surprise of the faith, the Resurrection. Continue reading »
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Instrumentum Laboris: A major disappointment
Catholics for Renewal finds this Instrumentum Laboris a major disappointment. It takes us nowhere in particular, and certainly not towards an agenda that will achieve genuine reform and renewal in our Church. It is not the impetus needed to get the Church in Australia ‘back on mission.’ Continue reading »
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Newman’s sermons as spiritual reading during Lent
If you are anything like me, you have on at least one occasion squandered the holy season of Lent. The Church has established such times on the liturgical calendar so that we might enter more deeply into the mysteries of Christ’s life. Continue reading »
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Some thoughts during Holy Week
Lent is as we know a time in the life of the Christian community when we focus on the invitation Jesus makes to us to repent – to be converted. But what actually does conversion mean? What are the signs we should look for in our conversion? What gifts and graces should we pray for Continue reading »
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Statement in support of LGBTIQA+ Catholics
The Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR) issues this statement in support of LGBTIQA+ Catholics, their families and friends following the ill-informed statement from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in which it bans “the blessing of unions of persons of the same sex.” Continue reading »
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Catholic renewal coalition discusses Plenary Council with Archbishops
Catholics, priests and laity, are increasingly wanting renewal and reform of their Church to overcome dysfunctional governance and leadership failures, particularly reflected in the scandals of clerical child sexual abuse and its cover-ups. Recently the co-conveners of the Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR),Peter Johnston and Andrea Dean, met with Archbishop Coleridge, President of Continue reading »
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While we can ‘celebrate small victories’ Catholic women deserve much more
When women question the status quo with openness, frankness and boldness, they are ignored or figuratively told to go away by male gatekeepers. Continue reading »
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Your graces and my lord bishops of Australia: are you listening?
Ok. That’s it. Time to stand up. The alarm has sounded. Rub the sleep from your eyes, take off your embroidered nightshirts, do a few stretches and let’s get moving. No shilly-shallying. No dilly-dallying. Come on, just do it. Get out of bed. There’s work to be done. And the whole family’s depending on you Continue reading »
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The Church and social justice after Trump
Church social teaching is strongly opposed to neoliberalism, so how did this opposition become so muted, with prominent Catholic voices and resources captured by neoliberal ideology and money? Continue reading »
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Plenary Council progress without transparency or inclusion for lay Catholics
Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn last August challenged the President of the forthcoming Fifth Plenary Council of Australia (PC), Archbishop Tim Costelloe of Perth, to avoid a breach of faith with the Australian Catholic community. It called on him to open the process of formulating the Instrumentum Laboris, the PC working document, to public scrutiny prior Continue reading »
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Abortion: people want clear-cut answers but it’s not that simple
For many religious and political conservatives, “pro-life” often becomes convenient rhetorical shorthand for avoiding the broad spectrum of urgent contemporary life issues. Continue reading »
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