Come to Rome

Come to Rome

At the Annual general Meeting of the ACCC, held during our recent conference in Sydney, I was elected as National Chairman of our Confraternity. It was an honour to be elected after 4 years away from the executive. I would like to record the debt of gratitude we owe...

Editor’s note

Editor’s note

This is the twentieth issue of the journal published under the present Editor. The photo above marks the last Mass celebrated by Father McGavin in the Parish of Taralga in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, ending 8 years there as pastor. “PP” is not found...

On allegations of misconduct

On allegations of misconduct

This talk was introduced by the Rev Dr John Doherty, Parish Priest of Oatley in the Archdiocese of Sydney and a member of the Tribunal of the Province of New South Wales. During his introduction, and in subsequent answers to questions, he made strong...

Caritas in Veritate made simple

Caritas in Veritate made simple

This long encyclical is not an easy read and from a social science perspective some of the analysis may be questioned. It is important to discern the "heartland" of this encyclical. What is the enduring contribution of this encyclical? Where does this encyclical most...

Basil & the Arrogant Theologian

Basil & the Arrogant Theologian

by Dr Anna Silvas My most honoured father among the Fathers, St Basil of Caesarea, was not surnamed ‘the Great’ for nothing. Not in one field only, but in a whole range of fields he proved to be an outstanding Father of the Church in the later part of the fourth...

Vestments: friends, not enemies

Vestments: friends, not enemies

rubric / "roohbrik" / noun 1 a heading, e.g. in a book or manuscript, written or printed in a distinctive colour or style. 2a a heading under which something is classed, b an authoritative rule, esp a rule for the conduct of church ceremonial, c an explanatory or...

Giving sorrow words: testimonies of abortion

Giving sorrow words: testimonies of abortion

In 2002 I had a book published called Giving Sorrow Words, I wrote it because two women told me their stories about abortion within a week of each other. They were really suffering, still in shock. They had no idea abortion could do that to you. I wondered how many...

Pope Benedict XVI on Love and St Gregory of Nyssa on Eros

Pope Benedict XVI on Love and St Gregory of Nyssa on Eros

Let me put a question that I have put to others with interesting results: What would you say is the central Christian affirmation, the most definitive confession of the Christian Faith? The central Christian revelation, I suggest, is that the divine absolute is both...