I was distressed to read that The Record has associated Bishop Bill Morris with the ugly word “heresy”, especially coming from a publication which I have known and respected for many years. In what sense could he be demoted to such a level?

A very good and trusted friend of mine is being unjustifiably publicly pilloried and defamed by an opportunistic politician, a sensationalist press and a bishop. My friend is the Catholic Parish Priest of Brighton, SA. This unlikely trio clearly has a defined and individually private agenda. Each agenda is based on an assertion of guilt. The assertion is totally false [...]

When I was reflecting on last Sundays gospel (31st Sun in Ord Time) I found myself changing some words in light of the Australian Bishops Ad Limina visit to Rome.

A few thoughts regarding the differences between Bishop Morris and the Holy See. I think we must accept the fact that Bishop Morris and those that support him are in good faith. Any priest today could do very well for himself in civil life if he felt his vocation to be there. The priests of the Toowoomba diocese are very able men.

Congratulations to John Ryan for his positive portrayal of the secular priesthood. (The Swag Winter 2011 p24). This comes at a time when we hear so many warnings about secularism and secularization. (Yet it should be noted that “secular values” under attack are in fact outcomes of capitalism: in the past we spent so much effort against communism, while ignoring [...]

I, like many others since 1958 when it arrived, first saw the statue, The Pharisee, at St Patricks College Manly. Others may have seen it before in the Sydney Town Hall vestibule when it arrived from Italy in c1890. It was there for about two or so years while L Polena on behalf of the Melbourne based [...]

When Catholics for Renewal was consulting extensively in preparing the Open Letter to Pope Benedict and the Australian Bishops, a ‘30s something’ couple commented that they agreed strongly with the thrust of the draft but felt they could not sign as they no longer considered themselves Catholic. They then said that if the Church seriously addressed the matters canvassed, they would [...]

John Ryan (Winter Swag 2011) asks the question: “What is the secular vocation and what is the spirituality for the secular priest?” He says: “In the beginning to grapple with this challenge I would want to place the secular priest as deeply as possible within the experience of the people he is called to serve. As he walks with [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]