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The celibacy debate
When Pope Benedict convened a meeting of curial top brass to discuss the question of obligatory celibacy in the Latin-rite priesthood, there was no likelihood that this Church discipline would be summarily dispensed with—the world media’s hopeful anticipations to that effect notwithstanding. Read more…
Keeping up to date
I am a calendar person. I have at any time about five or six calendars in my possession. I work a lot with the calendar, using the liturgical one, also taking note of national and—can one avoid it?—some of the commercial days such as Mothers’ and Father’s Days. Read more…
Hawk Nelson – Smile, It’s The End Of The World
CD REVIEW
In the world of Christian rock, Hawk Nelson reside somewhere between Relient K and Switchfoot. The pop punk sound of previous albums has now taken on a certain edge, recalling the likes of Fall Out Boy and fellow Canadians Simple Plan, without losing the sense of exuberance, such as that of the chant-and-response on “Bring ‘Em Out”.
The stand-out tracks on this competent album are “Everything You Ever Wanted”, a touching song about parental abandonment, and “Zero”, about a friend’s suicide, which reveal a more mature side to the band which, after all, is partly named after skateboard hero Tony Hawks. Read more…
What causes Aids?
President Thabo Mbeki has made many harmful statements on the question of HIV/Aids. History will rightly record these as having tarnished his good reputation. Read more…
With respect, we can debate
The Catholic Church is in the news again. That’s not unusual in the United States. In this culture bishops, priests and lay people debate openly.
Now the public is debating the possible successor of New York Cardinal Edward Egan who should retire next year. But Rome decides. The media reports mentioned the names of bishops concerned. In this way people were informed about what is due to happen. Read more…
Evanescence – The Open Door
CD REVIEW
Evanescence used to be billed as a Christian-influenced rock band. This was due mostly to co-songwriter Ben Moody (singer Amy Lee has since said that she is not much of a committed Christian). Moody has left the group, and it shows on The Open Door.
The essential Evanescence sound is still there, but sadly this is a dullfest, musically and lyrically. Almost every song sounds the same, and other than the fine single Call Me When You’re Sober and the operatic Lacrymosa, there are very few tracks that grab the listener’s attention. In brief, we’ve heard it all before, but it was much better then.
Listen to: Call Me When You’re Sober, Lithium, Lacrymosa
Fight for Catholic radio
Over the years, this newspaper has repeatedly covered and promoted the work done by Radio Veritas, recognising that a Catholic broadcaster is vital to the Church in South Africa, and beneficial to society in general. Read more…
Burn survivors: SA’s forgotten people
Cast your mind back to the last time you saw in public—a supermarket, a restaurant, on television—a person with severe burns injuries. Unless your family or professional environment includes a burns survivor, count how many such people you know. Read more…
The death penalty
We may safely presume that not every reader of this newspaper will be delighted at the call by French church leaders for Christians everywhere to oppose the death penalty. Read more…
Are Anglican comfirmations valid
A Catholic boy who studies elsewhere was confirmed in an Anglican church. Was this a valid confirmation? As far as I know, Pope Leo XIII stated in his encyclical Apostolicae curae (1896) that Anglican orders are absolutely null and utterly void. Consequently, confirmations performed by Anglican bishops or priests are invalid. Read more…
