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Benediction downgraded?
I have been told that the modern Church has downgraded the old-style worship of the Blessed Sacrament, such as in Benediction and eucharistic processions, in favour of Sunday and daily Mass. Is this so? It looks like it, because our parish has not had Benediction for more years than I can remember, nor has our diocese had a eucharistic procession. Read more…
Culture of bad service
Before I took a wrong turn and stumbled into journalism, I worked for some years in the hotel trade as what may well now be euphemised “hospitality facilitator”. That career offered me insights into the human condition which are useful to a journalist.
And when I claim to have stumbled into journalism, I might be distorting my biography a little: as an eight-year-old I told my late father, the editor of a weekly newspaper, that I wanted to inherit his job one day. In a way I did, even if I didn’t get to write about football. Read more…
Mugabe: The man behind the monster
By Oskar Wermter SJ
One man is ultimately responsible for Zimbabwe’s national catastrophe, though his supporters share in his guilt: Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
He told his police and party supporters: “Bash them!” This is on record. The excuse that these atrocities are being committed by “over-enthusiastic” supporters without his knowledge and approval is demonstrably false. He does know and he approves. Read more…
Rise of a counter-culture
In the streets of Sydney during World Youth Day, some protesters handed out condoms to passing pilgrims. Reporters later spotted lots of discarded, unopened condom packets a street block away. Read more…
40 years of dissent
IN the 40 years since Pope Paul VI released his encyclical Humanae vitae (Of Human Life), which prohibited the conjugal use of artificial contraceptives, large numbers of Catholics have chosen to ignore the magisterium on an issue that they feel the Church has no business intruding in. Simply put, such Catholics believe that the prospect of their salvation is not diminished by their use of artificial contraception. Read more…
For the Sake of Silence – Michael Cawood Green
FOR THE SAKE OF SILENCE, by Michael Cawood Green. Published by Umuzi, Cape Town. 2008. 558pp.
Reviewed by Michael Shackleton Read more…
Humanae vitae: Paul VI was proved right
By Bishop Edward Adams
Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae vitae is almost exclusively linked to birth control. After it was issued 40 years ago this month it became very controversial in the Church and still is in certain quarters. Read more…
How we can cure xenophobia
Last month I endeavoured to show the connection between xenophobia and leadership. This column suggests some long-term strategies for responding to xenophobia.
First, there is a need to recognise that it is the conditions prevailing in the countries of origin that drive the majority of immigrants to flock into South Africa. It is political and economic conditions that cause people in any part of the world to flee their countries of birth. A key factor in seeking a solution to xenophobia therefore is to find viable ways of helping to solve the problems of those countries. Read more…
Pope Benedict, style guru for the noughties
Pope Benedict’s sartorial stylings have made news recently, in lifestyle magazines and in the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.
Last year Esquire magazine acclaimed Pope Benedict as a style guru, naming him “accessoriser of the year”, an ecclesial Carrie Bradshaw, if you will. He certainly is an innovator. Notably, he has brought back into the public a summer hat — once favoured by Pope John XXIII — one might call a papal sombrero, and in winter sports the ermine-lined velvet hat which at first sight this looks a bit like a Santa hat — thus potentially raising the pope’s appeal to children — and a red velvet cape, also trimmed with ermine. Read more…
Anglican discord
Whenever religious faith is a source of conflict between believers, God’s name is offended. In that light, the potential for schism in the Anglican communion is unfortunate and undesirable. Read more…
