Month: November 2017

You may find it strange that I'm posting about the appointment of a bishop in a diocese that is not my own, but there is a very good reason why I should. It has been announced tonight Australian time - midday in Rome as is the custom - that Pope Francis has appointed Fr Brian… Continue reading New Bishop of Wollongong Announced

An interesting report of an interview given by the now former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who while professing loyalty to Pope Francis at the same time distances himself from all that Pope Francis is doing in the life of the Church. One cannot help but think that the Cardinal… Continue reading Agreeing With The Pope

The current White House, under the administration of President Donald Trump, constantly rails against what it perceives as 'fake news' in the mainstream media (i.e. the real media that asks questions without fear of favour, and that show no deference to the President). It has been one of the prominent features of the media strategy… Continue reading The Reality of ‘Fake News’

The Australian Senate today passed the legislation to give effect to the results of the recently concluded Marriage Law Postal Survey. I, along with countless others I suspect, watched the televised last division because, regardless of one's position on the question, today was an historical day in the life of Australia. In watching the the… Continue reading Nailed It Completely

An interesting analysis from Massimo Faggioli on the state of Vatican-US relations, particularly in light of the renewed emphasis from Pope Francis on Vatican diplomacy. Of particular concern to myself, largely because it is an understanding of Church that I don't see here in Australia, is the analysis that Faggioli provides of the state of… Continue reading More Balance Required

An interesting story out of the United States describing an interaction with The Washington Post with a group that goes by the moniker of Project Veritas (veritas being Latin for 'truth'). It is a somewhat disturbing phenomenon where the concept of 'the Truth' is being further devalued by groups who seem determined to control the flow of… Continue reading When Fake News Is Planted

An interesting article from Massimo Faggioli appears in La Croix International, where he discusses the increasing polarisation in the Catholic Church and some of its causes. While writing from a specifically US context, where I think he would argue this polarisation is exceedingly evident, there can be little doubt that the phenomenon that Faggioli points to… Continue reading Polarisation Amidst The Faithful

The article by Rita Ferrone in La Croix International makes an interesting and appealing point I think. Supporters of Pope Francis need to give voice to their support - not in terms of demanding this or that, but simply expressing their gratitude for all that the Pope is seeking to do. To which I say, Amen!… Continue reading Speaking Out In Support

This story in today's edition of The Saturday Paper makes for chilling reading, highlighting the complete break down in humanitarian concern on Manus Island orchestrated not in Papua New Guinea but the halls of power of the Australian government. The behaviour of the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, going on public radio and crying… Continue reading Inside The Brutal End Game

The news that the New South Wales government is going to fork out over $2 billion to demolish and reconstruct a few stadia around the greater Sydney metropolitan area must be a real 'kick in the pants' to those whose own areas of need will miss out on that large sum of taxpayer's money. As… Continue reading More Pressing Priorities Perhaps?

Recent attempts by the current Australian government - ultimately unsuccessful - to amend the conditions under which eligible Australians are to be privileged to receive the largesse of the Australian taxpayer have raised some interesting questions in my mind. When did Australia's regime of social security mutate into welfare and benefits? And it certainly has,… Continue reading Friday Filing: Whatever Happened to Social Security?