Interview - Cardinal Schönborn

I came across this truly amazing video of an English interview of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn OP. I found it on the Southern Orders blog, one of the Blogs I follow. What a delightful warm man Cardinal Schönborn appears to be.

Birth Control Reality Check

Margaret Sanger

It was today, May 9, in 1960, that the US Food and Drug Administration first approved the use of the birth control pill[1] and it was Margaret Sanger who apparently first coined the phrase, ‘birth control’, in about 1914.

Radical Reform - Church or Editors?

How often have we heard talk about the urgent need for the Church to begin a process of radical reform in order to stem the exodus of people, especially young people, from the Church? Those who utter these warnings claim that radical change is the only way we can possibly save the Church. The Church, they claim, must keep up with a rapidly changing modern world.

Editorial – Dismiss As Hilariously Bad?

Matthew Archbold published his take on “The 7 Most Hilariously Bad Arguments for Gay Marriage” at the beginning of April 2013. In it he highlights, in a light-hearted manner, some of the really ridiculous arguments that are sometimes presented by those who support same sex marriage.

The Revolution Of Family - A Response (Part II)

As promised in an earlier Blog post – The Revolution Of Family - A Response (Part I) – here is another extract from the Vatican document: “Considerations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition To Unions Between Homosexual Persons”.

The Revolution Of Family - A Response (Part I)

A reader sent me a message via Facebook to draw my attention to the editorial in the latest edition[1] of The Southern Cross. The editorial has served, yet again, to confirm to me that this publication should most definitely not be sold from within our Catholic churches.

Pope Emeritus Returns Home

Mater Ecclesiae Convent

Today Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, has returned to the Vatican to take up permanent residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Convent, which has just been restored.

Pope Francis In The Chapel Of The Domus Sanctae Marthae

Pope Francis in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae (CNS)

I absolutely love this photo, seen in the Catholic Herald, of Pope Francis sitting quietly amongst the people in the back of the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae before Mass. My impression is that those in the chapel have not even cottoned on to his presence there with them. Wonderful.

Preaching Truth

St Mark the Evangelist writing his Gospel
Photo from Sacred Destinations

Today is the feast day of St Mark the Evangelist. It is a wonderful day, as far as I am concerned, for a very obvious reason – my name, Mark. (Happy feast day to all those who share the same name as me.) The second reading of Matins for today's feast of St Mark the Evangelist is from the writing of Saint Irenaeus against heresies. This reading could not have come at a more opportune moment this week as far as I am concerned.

Squirming Shepherds

From "Lousy Leaders and Sorry Sheep"

I could not help wondering if any deacons, priests and bishops felt uncomfortable standing up and giving a homily on Sunday following the Gospel reading about the Good Shepherd. (John 10: 27 – 30) I also wondered if they would feel equally awkward every day of this entire week, since the message of Sunday extends through each day of this week? Sadly, the reality is that those who should, probably do not even realise that they have a reason to squirm.