“Be the change that you want to see in the world.” So said Mohandas Gandhi. This was also the theme of a homily presented at the opening mass for the 129th The Knights of Columbus Convention in Denver. “Renewal begins not in vilifying others, but in examining ourselves honestly, repenting of our sins and changing ourselves. This Read more
“New Zealanders are proud of their universal healthcare services, with its founding roots in the Good Samaritan story, but they must be ever vigilant,” says Gerald Arbuckle. “Healthcare is not a commodity, to be available only to those who have money. It is a fundamental right. When people on the margins of our society begin Read more
It is thirty years since the 1981 Springbok tour took place. It was a “coming of age for New Zealand, a time when the country’s traditional cultural roots and a sense of social justice and progressive idealism crashed head on in spectacular fashion. The collision of those competing values, while violent and spiteful, changed New Zealand forever. Read more
Robert Consedine asks himself why he is still a catholic when many of his Catholic contemporaries have left the church. “Because,” he says, “this precious gift called faith has to be constantly nurtured, maintained, developed and connected to the life of Jesus!” Robert’s piece appeared in Tui Motu. It is not available online: Read below Read more
Church reform will not bring back those who left the Catholic Church, says Bob Stewart. He believes so-called “lapsed” Catholics, “continue to be people of faith and have never abandoned their faith; they are simply no longer practicing Catholics.” “As for bringing these folks back to the Catholic Church, I believe what is required is much more Read more
Chris Chivers, vicar of John Keble Church, Mill Hill, London and Canon Emeritus of Blackburn writes: “The self-styled “quiet man“, the secretary of state for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, is proving himself a passionate man when it comes to tackling poverty in our communities. …”People like me, following Harvard professor Robert Putnam and Read more
In response to news that Ricky Gervais is writing a new sit-com about an Atheist going to heaven, Jordan Sekulow the Director of Policy and International Operations at the American Center for Law & Justice writes: “… what truly distinguishes atheists from religious people has to do with charitable work. Sure, plenty of atheists donate time and Read more
Gavin Abraham writes of the ordination of a Vietnamese priest as an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, Australia: “It was an historic occasion because it marked the first episcopal ordination of an Asian-born priest in Australia in the Latin rite. I asked the question then, “When will it happen here?”, pointing to the growing influence of Read more
Matthew Warner sees a problem with the way that the Catholic Church can view new media. He believes that the Church is “out of control” in the sense that the Church is no longer able to control its message as once it was able to do. He says “They are out of control of their Read more
When I go to Confession, I sometimes mention the fact that I’m gay, to give the priest some context. (And to spare him some confusion: Did you say ‘locker room’? What were you doing in the women’s…oh.) I’ve always gotten one of two responses: either compassion, encouragement, and admiration, because the celibate life is difficult and Read more