The leading American Catholic writer, George Weigel, has told Polish Catholics the Pope’s new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, fails to present Benedict XVI’s real views and urged them to remain faithful to the procapitalist teachings of their countryman, the late John Paul II.
Missal translation courts disaster, says bishop
A leading American bishop has launched a fierce attack on the new English translation of the Roman Missal, as the US bishops’ conference prepares to vote on the acceptability of the missal when it meets in Baltimore.
Cardinal Cassidy looks back
As Official of State, Cardinal Cassidy had a vital role in preparing for Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Pope John Paul II on 1 December 1989. It was the first time a Russian communist leader had met with a Pope. “It was my job to help the Holy Father in the lead up to those meetings,” he said. “It was an exciting time because it became clear early on that Gorbachev was no longer going to use the Russian army to stop uprisings in Communist Europe. Within a year the communist system collapsed.”
Fr Tate journeys back to his past
For Fr Michael Tate of the Sandy Bay Parish, Tasmania, a two month sabbatical leave will see him return to his former university, Worcester College in England.
Three new books by local authors…
Light of Other Days – Fr John McSweeney. This well produced book portrays the life and times of the author in Sydney, Japan and Ireland…
A wonderful achievement for Bishop Ray
Bishop Ray Benjamin attended many functions throughout July to celebrate 60 years of priesthood and 25 years as bishop. Our heartiest congratulations Bishop Ray!
Retired priests are the heart of today’s church
“I have just completed three years as Archbishop and in that time I have come to see many things.“ Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra, has said. “One of the things I’ve come to see is that without the so-called ‘retired’ priests we would be in deep trouble.
Fr Laurie is still on the right track
Fr Laurie Timms OCarm, parish priest of Coorparoo, in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, is a qualified diesel rail motor driver.
Young people and the future of religious and priestly vocations
In order to approach this question realistically, we must face the fact that the world that our young people inhabit is very different from that of our younger days, writes Fr Frank Moloney, leading scripture scholar, currently Provincial of the Australian Salesians.
Did Pope Benedict’s encyclical go far enough?
Caritas in veritate is the most considered new papal statement on the great issues of our day, hinging around globalisation, hunger and poverty, climate change and social equity among nations. The issues are most urgent, with possibly millions of lives at risk.


