Pope Francis has been a remarkable pontiff by almost any measure, one who may well rank among the most consequential in the long and colorful history of the papacy. That judgment might even be shared by his detractors, if for different reasons from those of his far more numerous supporters, who welcome Francis’ passionate promotion Read more
“To call the world’s nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger and its immediacy,” warned Rachel Bronson, Ph.D., president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Famous for their symbolic Doomsday Clock, the Bulletin’s highly respected scientists and 15 Nobel Laureate consultants recently moved the clock to two minutes before midnight – warning that Read more
This morning I sat with two lots of readings. Early prayer was with John 15, verses 7 – 11, the beautiful love commandment in which Jesus uses the word “love” nine times to emphasize its importance, finishing with, “I am giving you these commands so you will love one another.” Then at breakfast, I opened Read more
Cardinal Sarah, the Vatican’s most senior liturgy official who has in the past been reprimanded by Pope Francis for his views on liturgy, is raising eyebrows again after expressing his opposition to the widely accepted practice of receiving Communion in the hand. In an introduction to a new book about Communion practices, the cardinal writes, Read more
Cardinal Zen would do well to take a short course in Catholic history. In what is both false and misleading, Cardinal Zen keeps repeating the claim that the Vatican’s behavior in its relations with Beijing on the appointment of bishops in China is “unprecedented.” It is not and it is false to claim it is Read more
If I could only give my friends advice, it would be this: have children. At least one. But if possible, have 2, 3, 4 … Brothers are our bridge with the past and the safe harbor for the future. But have children. Children make us better human beings. What a child does for you no Read more
Dear Pope Francis, I have an idea. You know how you keep advancing the sainthood causes of all your predecessors? What if you stopped doing that? That’s my idea. It’s pretty simple: Just stop making every pope a saint. Instead of canonizing Paul VI this year, as you are reportedly planning to do, I suggest…not Read more
What is happening right now is no way unprecedented in recent Catholic history in China. Moral outrage and high emotion are a potent cocktail. Such is what is reverberating around the world right now about the Vatican’s moves to replace two bishops in China. The events have triggered reports and comments in the Catholic media Read more
The Fairfax media (The Age) published a big story on the Australian Church’s wealth, highlighting the property assets. Fair’s fair. Just as the Church is being held to account for its behaviour, Fairfax media also needs to be held to account for the standard of their reporting. So in this light, should we be surprised Read more
About 15 years ago, I was editing the Catholic Church’s online news service CathNews Australia, when stories about clerical sexual abuse were beginning to appear in significant numbers. It was usually difficult to find a photograph or other visual image to illustrate the abuse stories. But eventually I settled on one generic image that I Read more