Ability To Influence

Unsold Newspapers Stack Up

I have become increasingly frustrated and angry by some of the content of the Catholic newspaper being sold in churches in South Africa.  The question that plagues me, is what I should do about the flow of articles and editorials that dilute, contradict, or challenge Church teaching?

Modern Catholic Church...

Here is something light hearted to start the new week. 

Pussy Riot, Let This Be A Lesson, Our Faith Is Not A Joke

I have been somewhat amused at the coverage, which the western media has given to the conviction of the three members of the punk rock band, Pussy Riot.  The western media have almost all chosen to portray the conviction of these three band members as the criminal act, not their actions.  Western media has implied, through their silent refusal to condemn the behaviour of these band members in the Moscow Cathedral, that they condone the offensive behaviour of these three.

Having A Bad Day?

A friend sent me these pictures of a bull terrier that got into a tangle with a porcupine.  Apparently the Vet removed 1,347 quills from the dog.  The dog survived, but was obviously sedated while the quills were removed.

Theologians and The Magisterium

Vatican II

I frequently hear Catholics quoting the teaching of a theologian in order to dispute some or other teaching of the Magisterium.  Most recently it has been a reference to the “expert wisdom of Catholic theologian Professor Gaybba” as a means of repudiating the infallibility of the teaching of the Magisterium on the ordination of women.

LCWR Responds To The CDF

CNS photo/Sid Hastings

I see that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) on the 10^th of August released an official response to the report by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  I have read it very quickly and have not yet formed an opinion about its contents.  I thought I would provide the link to the official statement for those of you who may not yet have seen it.

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Ordination Not A Sign Of Social Advancement

Women Simulating Priestly Ordination

There are today still those Catholics, including some clergy, who persist in trying to deceive fellow Catholics into believing that the matter of the ordination of women has not yet been finalised.  Not only would they like us to believe that the matter has not been finalised, they would like Catholics to believe that any progress in this regard has been stifled by an oppressive Church hierarchy, which has seen fit to censor their opponents by prohibiting any further debate on the subject.

Greenest Nation – Are We Following Suit?

A recent letter to the editor of a Catholic newspaper has attracted my attention.  The letter is titled “Love What God Found Good”.  In it the writer asks a variety of questions regarding what the Church has done about preserving our environment.

Sunny South Africa

In some places in the world these scenes wouldn’t get a second thought.  In sunny South Africa a view like this from the balcony of my bedroom is very unusual indeed.  I only wish it had been Christmas.

Infallibility Of The Pope

First Vatican Council

Michael Shackleton writes in The Southern Cross that: “When the pope, in union with the episcopal college which he heads, clarifies and declares what we must believe, this is done only to bring greater unity to the People of God, because that is the function of the Church’s magisterium.”[1]

Is Legalising Incest Offensive?

Bishop Hugh Gilbert

The bishop of Aberdeen, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, has apparently said that if the Scottish government wishes to legalise gay marriage for the sake of creating equality amongst all people, then they should also legalise bigamy and incest.

Who's Bigoted?

At a store in Fullerton, people line up, some waiting as long as an hour,

during lunch time in support of Chick-fil-A Dan Cathy supporting thebiblical definition marriage.

“We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit.  We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.  We give God thanks for that.”[1]  These are the words that have attracted attention from people, not only in the USA, but also around the world, including South Africa’s media.  They were spoken by Dan Cathy, the CEO of a fast-food chain based in the USA known as Chick-fil-A.

Opus Dei Blamed

Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne

You will no doubt recall that during July 2012 Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, issued a decree revoking the right of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru to use the words ‘Pontifical’ and ‘Catholic’ in its title.