St Mary's

FINTAN O’TOOLE

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0501/1224315407633.html

We are witnessing the cruel humiliation of a generation of clergy that deserves better.

Michael J. Matt Editor, The Remnant  4/23/2012 (www.RemnantNewspaper.com)

Remember how uncomplicated Catholic belief once was, before the Church got “sophisticated”?  Catholics generally accepted without question not only that Christ is present in the Sacrament, but also that Noah really built his ark, Jonah actually spent three days inside of that whale, and the Red Sea did, in fact, close in on Pharaoh’s chariots and charioteers, wiping out his army and thus delivering the Israelites from destruction. 

But as he began to look back into where the books of the Bible actually came from, Robert questioned what was true, and what was a beautiful fiction.

He was charged with heresy by the Catholic Church, and although he was acquitted he decided to leave the priesthood. Robert is now the Director of the South Australian Ethics Centre. Three Revolutions: Three Drastic Changes in Interpreting the Bible published ATF Press.

Peter Kennedy is the former Catholic Priest of St Mary’s Church in South Brisbane.  Three years ago, April 2009, he was asked to leave this church.  He moved to the TLC building down the street and now gives his service from there.  Hear what happened after he left that Catholic Church.

Click here to listen to this interview (.mp3)

http://www.catholicreligiousaustralia.org/

Significant concerns with coal seam gas mining are the potential impacts that this industry will have on water security, food production, the environment and our health.

What awareness do you have of coal seam gas mining and the related issues?

Article by Tim Carter

Peter recently introduced us to a book, Perfect Brilliant Stillness, by David Carse, which Peter described as the book to end all books.

Terence Stamp, who reads the audiobook of Perfect Brilliant Stillness, says that almost every popular spiritual writer in America and Europe is teaching that ultimate spiritual enlightenment can be yours and that reading their books, or attending their seminars, will help you towards that end. Stamp says Carse’s book will tell you that these ideas are absurd, because it is quite obvious that neither you nor anything else had ever existed.

By Gregory C. Jenks

This year we mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the so-called ‘King James Bible’ (KJB) under the authority of King James I of England in 1611. That particular version of the Bible has had a profound impact on the history of religion in the English-speaking world, as well as playing a powerful role in the shaping of modern English. As a result of its influence on modern English and the subsequent development of English as the lingua franca of the modern world, the KJB has enjoyed an influence that its translators could never have imagined. Not  only is the Christian religion in a very different place because of the influence of this book, but even the present form of our global society owes a great debt to the KJB.

‘Due to Christine’s good standing at Churchie, we were indeed fortunate to be able to arrange a eucharist at the Churchie Chapel and have our two priests participate with two Anglican priests who we knew. Whilst this was a fitting farewell for a wonderful woman, it was an embarrassing occasion for all Catholics present.’

This is an excerpt from a matter that the Catholic Church recently dealt with.

For the full response please read

Bathersby

Finnigan

Finnigan Harkin

http://www.catholica.com.au/email/2014.html

When Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, few Catholics were aware of the central role he played for decades in reversing the reforms of the Second Vatican Council — to restore the Catholic Church to its status as an authoritarian monarchy and a system impervious to change from below. Few authors have told this story as well as Matthew Fox in his new book,The Pope’s War. Fox, an outspoken progressive theologian, was forced out of the Dominican Order in 1988 by order of Ratzinger, then head of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith. The author of more than 23 books, Fox continues teaching and exploring the big spiritual questions today. Mark Day interviewed him recently for Catholica.

Matthew Fox argues that it is the Vatican that is in schism with the Second Vatican Council and the present structure needs to be buried. Matthew Fox’s website:www.matthewfox.org.

Mark Day: Do you agree with the Swiss theologian Hans Kung who asserts that Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, by opposing the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, created a schism in the Catholic Church?

Dick Gross, Sydney Morning Herald, Jan 30, 2012

Father Bob McGuire is being forced out of his South Melbourne parish. Photo: Justin McManus

The death throes of the latest Australian Catholic cause célèbre are being played out over the next few days.

Yesterday was Father Bob Maguire’s last Sunday Mass at his beloved St Peter and Paul’s Church in South Melbourne.