The recent Episcopal appointments of Bill Wright (Maitland – Newcastle), Peter Comensoli (auxiliary Sydney) and Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv (auxiliary Melbourne) show encouraging signs that those making these decisions are listening to the importance of balancing intellectual prowess with pastoral experience. All three of the new appointments have had significant pastoral activities and that can only augur well for their future ministry. I congratulate [...]
Ordination Anniversaries
With love and with gratitude we acknowledge and congratulate the following priests who are celebrating significant ordination anniversaries during 2011.
Editorial
Having made the top story two days in a row on CathNews after the last edition of The Swag, courtesy of a little sensationalism from the secular media on the article by Cardinal Pell, it seems opportune to reflect on the first year of my experience of editing The Swag with Hal Ranger. The overwhelming response has been very positive with very few [...]
Editorial
I join with Peter Maher in thanking the members of the NCP executive for their confidence in us as co-editors of The Swag and in gratefully acknowledging the contributions from priests and people across Australia over the past year. Please keep writing and sharing your insights and experiences with our readership in Australia, NZ and Oceania. My personal contribution to this issue of The [...]
Re Bill Morris
Three cheers and many more cheers for Bishop Bill! Pity the other “gutless wonders” among our bishops, who may agree with him privately, have not stood beside him in solidarity. The words of Edmund Bourke ring in my ears, “All that is necessary is for enough good men to do nothing.” I am not saying the Australian [...]
Letters to the Editor
About noon one day Peter (AKA Ben) had had a hard morning. He was hungry and tired so he went up on the flat roof of his house to sit in the winter sun, say a few prayers and have a quiet smoke, while his lunch was being prepared. He fell into a trance. He saw the heaven [...]
Re Hodgens and Pell
We would like to congratulate Eric Hodgens for his recently published article “Time to speak- and act”. His prophetic stance and the rigor of his theological arguments were in contrast to the article in the same publication of Cardinal George Pell. Our only disagreement with Eric is that we believe the Church may well have missed the opportunity to transform [...]
Re Hodgens and Pell
I read with great interest Hodgens’ reminiscence of his 50 years in the priesthood and Pell’s reply. Softly as he may have wanted it to be read, Pell’s response was polemic and distant. Typical of our bishops today! I often wonder what would be their retorts if bishops followed St Paul’s advice to be married once. As parents, our bishops [...]
Letters to the Editor
In previous editions of The Swag, letters have been written about priests being able to access help when allegations have been made about them. I wish now to address the area of staff employment because a number of priests I have spoken with feel powerless to act in this area. lt can seem that employees have more [...]
Re Ethnic Caging
I have just read the editorial in the latest copy of The Swag concerning “ethnic caging”. I agree wholeheartedly with the premise that boat people are being caged to show “who’s boss”. I am sure it is the bureaucrats in the Immigration Department who call the shots and for which the unfortunate Minister must take the blame. Twice a [...]
