Promote Bishops' Book On Sex, Don't Criticise

God, Love, Life and Sex
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Since our only Catholic newspaper in South Africa is more inclined to devote the front-page to the critics of the South African Catholic Bishops’ book, “God, Love, Life and Sex”, it has to be left to us ordinary Catholics in the pews – or in my case in bed, to promote the bishops book.

Bishops Page Two, Critics Front-Page

On the 5^th of June 2013 the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference announced that South Africa’s five metropolitan archbishops had released a new book. The book is entitled “God, Love, Life and Sex”. According to Lynn Harrison of the publishers, Mariannhill Mission Press, the book is intended as a “guide and resource for Christian living, marriage and family”.

Does Our Catholic Newspaper Have Right To Press Freedom?

Photo From UNESCO - Press Freedom

It is no secret that I am not a fan of The Southern Cross. I have not been shy about expressing my concerns about this newspaper on this Blog and in other places, like on Twitter. I have stated over and over again that this newspaper should either change its content, or the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference should no longer permit this newspaper to be sold from within our churches.

Beatification of First Opus Dei Prelate

Bishop Alvaro del Portillo

On the 5^th of July 2013 Pope Francis approved the miracle that was attributed to the intercession of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo and this opened the way for the beatification of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo.

Guardians Of Orthodoxy

In this weeks editorial of The Southern Cross Gunther Simmermacher writes: “The internal division in the Catholic Church, and the acrimony that often accompanies it, are a scandal, in both senses of the word: they are a public disgrace and they can tempt people to sin.” Then later he writes: “It is indefensible when the self-appointed guardians of orthodoxy, some of them answerable only to themselves, go as far as to pass judgment over whether practising and loyal members of the Church may be regarded as Catholic.”

Canonisation Used To Sow Discord

Blessed Pope John XXIII

Last week we received the news that Blessed Pope John XXIII and Blessed Pope John Paul II will both be canonised this year. This was good news, worthy to be celebrated. Unfortunately some in the Church have again turned this into a means to create division in the Church.

St Thomas Aquinas - O precious and wonderful banquet!

Corpus Christi Procession

Oil on canvas by Carl Emil Doepler

I don’t know how many people have access to the Divine Office. The office of Matins has as the second reading for today this piece from the works of St Thomas Aquinas on the feast of Corpus Christi. It is entitled “O precious and wonderful banquet”. I felt I had to share it with those of you who don’t have access to the Divine Office on today's feast of Corpus Christi.

Deeper Understanding Of Real Presence

A few days ago my wife brought home from the parish a copy of the Archdiocesan Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Johannesburg. In it I came across, to my horror, an article entitled “Eucharistic Ministers Must Carry Christ In Their Hands”. Why to my horror? Well the reason is that the article was about a workshop that the Liturgical Department of the archdiocese held for Catholic laity.

Father Came To Visit

Bishop Javier Echevarría speaks to Mark Nel

The Prelate of Opus Dei came to South Africa for a very brief visit. He arrived on Friday night, 24 May 2013, and left again on Tuesday night, 28 May 2013. I wrote about this earlier in my Blog “Prelate of Opus Dei Visits South African Parish”. I was convinced I would not get to see him in person. 

Prelate of Opus Dei Visits South African Parish

Bishop Javier Echevarría (Right) and Fr Thomas Gibson

In 2006, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg entrusted the pastoral care of the Mater Dolorosa Parish in Kensington South, Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Opus Dei Prelature. Today the parish was blessed with a visit from the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría.