This gets personal. In fact, should I even be saying all this to people I have never met? What do I say? How far do I go? These are things I never talk about with strangers. Anzac Day is one of those mysterious days. We know the meaning, only what is the meaning precisely? I Read more
Australian Speaker, Peter Slipper, has also been asked to stand down from his role as a priest in the Traditional Anglican Communion. The request comes while investigations continue over Slipper’s alleged mis-use of tax payer money and allegations that Slipper made sexual advances at a male staff member. “It is right for anyone accused of Read more
A lawyer representing 45 victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy is calling for a Royal Commission following a police report linking dozens of suicides to sexual abuse by clergy. Most cases concern sexual abuse by Catholic brother, Robert Best and former priest Gerald Ridsdale. “An inquiry would horrify the community”, Vivian Walker told the Read more
The new Queensland government has sought legal advice about repealing civil unions in and is not ruling out the retrospective scrapping of the partnerships. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said he had requested a full legal brief from his department about the legislation that allows same-sex partnerships. He said all aspects of the law were “open for Read more
Retiring Catholic Australian Archbishop Barry Hickey has the guilts.
The Perth church leader, who finishes up as Archbishop on March 21, says he is struggling with the fact the church will provide him with a house, pay his electricity bills and other household expenses as well as his pension.
Archbishop Hickey says he won’t be flush with money. But he says he will be better off than many other retirees and that worries him.
“I see people who are struggling and I say, ‘Why have I got all these benefits and they haven’t?’. So it does make me wonder. If every family got given these things they would be happy, too.
Archbishop Hickey said during his tenure as a church leader he had tried to help the needy by giving away as much of his annual $28,000 salary as possible. He said he would do the same with his pension.
Read the article...The twice-weekly recital of the Angelus will be introduced into every Catholic primary school in Adelaide within months.
Catholic Bishop the Most Reverend Gregory O’Kelly said the Angelus was an important way to remind students of the reality of Christ’s birth and the spiritual significance of the Annunciation – the moment the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary.
“It’s an eight century-old prayer, and a reminder of the incarnation and that God became human and dwelt amongst us and this was made possible through the consent of a young woman, Mary,” Bishop O’Kelly said.
“It’s an effort to remind children that Jesus is more than just a good man of history but is the Son of God and it’s a reminder that God so loved us and came to live among us.”
Read the article...
Frank Bainimarama – Fiji’s prime minister and the current chair of the four-nation Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) joined the chorus of criticism of Kevin Rudd in advance of last Monday’s leadership vote in Australia, accusing him of having neglected the Pacific as foreign minister.
He said Canberra’s lack of attention to the region – and especially its policy of shunning Fiji – had weakened Australian influence in the Pacific and had created a power vacuum that bigger powers were moving to fill.
Countries such as China and Russia were building relations with the smaller island states and strengthening their presence in Australia’s backyard.
Read the article...
The Apostolic Administrator of an Australian diocese is appalled at the decision by a Catholic primary school in the Wilcannia-Forbes diocese to exclude a girl because of her parents’ sexuality. Bishop Kevin Manning said, “To penalise a five year old child because her parents are living in a homosexual relationship is just quite wrong.” Manning Read more
The Australian Labor Party is set for a religious backlash over its decision to support same-sex marriage and accusations that it has breached another of its election promises, to protect the Marriage Act, reports the Australian. Focusing on the marginal seats of Corangamite, Deakin, Greenway, Reid and Moreton, on Sunday, religious leaders from across Australia warned Read more
A retired Supreme Court judge has found the Roman Catholic Church breached both canon and civil law in asking Toowomba Bishop Bill Morris to retire earlier this year. Retired Judge Bill Carter QC was invited to conduct an investigation into the controversial sacking. Angered by the sacking, Morris’ supporters, more than 1,000 people signed a petition over Read more