Former British PM Tony Blair continued his Mission from God last week with a star-billing at a conference at the Vatican. Too bad his actions in office don’t coincide with his Catholic principles.
Catholic Church
Why should priests retire at 75?
Despite dwindling numbers of priests, the Catholic Church refuses to retain influential men of the cloth with wide appeal, like Father Bob Maguire, once they reach 75, writes Crikey intern James Pattison.
Understanding Dan Brown’s America
If you want to understand American religion, says Ross Douthat, you need to understand why so many people love Dan Brown.
Thousands victims of Irish church abuse
A new report from Dublin has found tens of thousands of Irish children were sexually and physically abused in religious schools and institutions from 1930 to 1990.
Ladies’ man Berlusconi scolded by Catholic Church
The Italian Prime Minister’s “exuberance and a weakness for young, flowing actresses” is “worrying”, says the official Catholic newsletter, after his wife announced she was fed up and divorcing him.
The Catholic Church rebellion is getting out of control
The move by the Catholic Diocese of Brisbane to close down its rebel priest, and congregation, in St Mary’s Parish in South Brisbane is starting to get international coverage, writes Jeff Wall.
Rebel Catholic priest shown the door
It came as no surprise yesterday that “rebellious” parish priest, Fr Peter Kennedy, has been removed from office by the Archbishop of Brisbane, writes Jeff Wall.
Forget Backman — meet the Pope’s anti-semite
Williamson’s a virulent, Protocols-of-Zion-quoting anti-Semite who thinks that the Holocaust didn’t happen. He’s also just been welcomed by Pope Benedict back into the Catholic fold, writes Jeff Sparrow.
Legal complexities of the Catholic abortion stance
The Catholic Church is sanctioning medical professionals clearly breaching their duty of care to a patient and possibly exposing them to manslaughter charges because of their deliberate inaction, writes Greg Barns.
Abortion in Catholic hospitals: what would Jesus do?
What would Jesus do…if he was the CEO of a catholic hospital confronted with the proposed new abortion laws currently before the Victorian Parliament?
Crikey Essay: Churches, tax and deniability
The Australian $80 billion not-for-profit sector is facing two reviews, one by Treasury and one by a Senate Committee, which entails a long overdue look at tax exemption for the unrelated-to-religion commercial businesses of the churches, writes Max Wallace.
News Ltd outrage patronises ordinary Australian Catholics
The Australian’s response to criticism of its editorial stance on the reporting of sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy takes hypocrisy to new heights, writes Irfan Yusuf.
Business as usual for the Catholic church and s-x abuse victims?
Now that the Pope has left Sydney, will it be back to business as usual for the Catholic Church in its dealings with s-x abuse victims? asks Greg Barns.
WYD wash-up: NSW put on a great party (even if it snubbed most)
Just imagine what type of event could be staged in Sydney for close to $150 million that was for all citizens, writes Nicholas Pickard.
Fischer’s costly new job in Rome rewards Mr Nice Guy
Kevin Rudd’s appointment of Tim Fisher as ambassador to the Holy See comes with a million dollar-plus price tag, writes Bernard Keane.
WYD is the best PR the Catholic Church could pray for
World Youth Day has re-positioned the Catholic Church, two millennia old, as alive and well and relevant to a whole new generation of enthusiastic adherents, writes Trevor Cook.
Sydney Anglicans frosty with the Pope
At a meeting between the Pope and Anglican church leaders in Sydney on Friday, Sydney’s conservative diocese has once again upstaged the majority of the church, this time in about as powerful a way as possible.
The speech on behalf of Protestant and Orthodox Church leaders was delivered by Bishop Robert Forsyth, an Assistant Bishop […]
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
World Youth Day … the Green Paper … banks and fee-gouging … Jason Falinski … bloggers vs. journalism … Dick Pratt …
WYD: Sydney converted, it’s time to rein-in Spain
It’s not all txt and gospel rap. Scratch the surface of World Youth Day and you find a profound conservatism, writes Nicholas Pickard.
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
The Catholic Church seems to have found itself caught between worlds through the unfolding week of World Youth Day (caught between time references too), an event dominated theologically by doctrinaire and conservative hardliners, but one working hard to adapt the aura, energy and communications tools of youth to its cause. Pilgrims have shopped for merchandise, rocked out […]
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
World Youth Day and George Pell … Crikey’s green paper … the Wilkins Ice Shelf … the battle for Warringah …
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
These WYD co-ordinators just don’t get it, do they?
Tips and rumours
Is Iraq over for the US? Barry Everingham writes with a word from his informant: Two of the USA’s largest news organisations — NBC and the White House press organ Fox News — have, it seems, been given the nod from Washington. Journos and commentators are not to take leave and camera crews are at the ready to leave for […]
WYD music: the headline acts
While his Holiness clearly steals the limelight, the plethora of religiously inspired performances by international Catholic musicians is set to amaze even unbelievers, writes Eleri Harris.
