At first glance the scenes from the Polish capital Warsaw in recent days resembles those iconic images from the 1980s of a country under martial law, writes Vince Chadwick from Warsaw.
Catholicism
Letter from...: Letter from Warsaw: a cross for all sides of politics to bear
Father Marcial Maciel: Mexico’s most notorious pedophile priest
Powerful Mexican priest Marcial Macielmay have died two years ago, but his life is suddenly getting a lot of attention in Mexico’s newspapers: with new revelations of child sexual abuse, bigamy, drug abuse and plagiarism being uncovered every day.
Catholic priests on what it’s like to live without sex
The Catholic Church sex abuse scandals have stirred up the old debates about whether it’s actually healthy — or even possible — to live a life of celibacy. Current and former priests weigh in.
Is Abbott leading a Catholic revolution in the Liberal Party?
The ALP was once the party for Catholics, but they have since switched allegiances to the Liberals. Has it shaped the party’s policies? And is Tony Abbott really representing their views? asks John Warhurst.
Hitchens: The Pope is not mightier than the law
Christopher Hitchens rips into the Catholic Church, particularly Pope Benedict XVI’s personal knowledge of paedophile priests. These criminals — including the Pope — deserve punishment not protection.
Dowd: We need a female Pope
The Catholic church needs to dump Ratzinger, allow priests to marry, and put a nun in charge if it’s to have any chance of cleaning up the big mess it’s gotten itself into, says Maureen Dowd.
Catholic Reporter: What did the Pope know, and when did he know it?
American Catholic paper the National Catholic Reporter says the Pope has some ‘splainin to do over charges of sexual abuse within the church, labelling it the “largest institutional crisis in centuries”. Can you excommunicate a newspaper?
Sullivan: The Pope must resign
Atlantic columnist and Catholic Andrew Sullivan says the Catholic Church will have to undergo a “wrenching transformation” if it’s going to survive its recent scandals: the Pope must quit, and priests must be allowed to shag.
Why the Pope should resign
To address the latest sex scandals involving paedophilia and sexual abuse by priests in Ireland, Pope Benedict XVI has penned a letter to the Irish faithful. But did the Pope know that priests were being protected from their crimes?
Who are the Patron Saints of Parliament?
It may have only been a light-hearted assessment of his and Tony Abbott’s saintly namesakes, but last night’s comparison of the canonised from Kevin Rudd has got Crikey wondering: just who are the Patron Saints of Parliament? asks Crikey intern Tom Cowie and Crikey reader Frank Campbell.
The sex scandals destroying the Vatican
New sex scandals involving priests, abuse, cover-ups and gay prostitutions rings has struck the Catholic Church in Europe, and the culture of silence and suppression is causing the Church to crumble, writes James Carroll.
Deveny: The Tony Abbott Delusion
Why are people so shocked that a conservative, right-wing Catholic doesn’t believe in sex before marriage? asks Catherine Deveny. At least he’s being honest.
Tony Abbott and the sex talk
Christian parents like Tony Abbott may mean well when encouraging their daughters to remain chaste and pure, but their “bizarre glorification of virginity” is unempowering and unrealistic, says Catherine Marshall.
Abbott’s Catholicism is fair game
Tony Abbott himself placed his faith on the political agenda through his own actions — and it won’t change just because he now finds it politically inconvenient.
Bishop bans Kennedy from Communion
He may come from one of America’s most famous Catholic families, but Democratic Rep Patrick Kennedy has been banned from receiving Communion over his support of abortion rights.
The Vatican discovers LOLcats, Rick Astley and hax0rz
Ambassadors from the Web 2.0 — aka execs from Google, Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia — are headed to the Vatican to introduce Catholic bishops to the mysterious ways of the internet. We think the Pope and his pals will fit riiiight in.
Video of the Day: Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry vs. The Catholics
Is the Catholic church a force for good in the world? On the affirmative, Archbishop John Onaiyekan and British MP Ann Widdencombe. On the negative, Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry. Let’s get it on!
Blair’s mission from God rings hollow
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.
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.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Talkin’ ’bout our generations
Crikey readers jump into the generation wars, the fallen Abbott, and the climate change clashes continue.
Political snippets: Should Rudd really root for MacKillop’s sainthood?
Richard Farmer reveals breakthroughs in hairy back research and asks if our lapsed Catholic Prime Minister — who now prays as an Anglican — is really the best person to lobby the cause of Mary MacKillop’s sainthood.
The Pope and I
A true story by First Dog on the Moon
