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The conscience: God’s presence in us
This is the first of three articles on faith and the common good by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM.
As a man of faith I am a firm believer that God is close to those whom he created to live as his image and likeness, by possessing and showing forth goodness, justice, mercy and love. I believe that he is even closer to those who acknowledge his presence among and within them; those who believe in him and in all that he has revealed about himself, and as a result try to discover and live according to his plan for them. Read more…
Christianity: more by example than by word
From Bernard Staughan, Cape Town:
Sincere and hearty congratulations to The Southern Cross for publishing Chris Moerdyk’s invaluable contribution to the debate that is slowly but surely gathering momentum – among the laity especially – on what is truly meant by “being a Christian” .
Read more…
28 July to 3 August, 2010
Headlines
» Archbishop Tlhagale: Leave divisive struggle songs behind
» From Pretoria to United Nations
» Lessons from the World Cup
» Recalling SA’s pioneer black priests
» New series on faith and common good by Cardinal Napier
This Week’s Editorial
Sport to build a nation
Sport to build a nation
There was a rich symbolism in a football event serving as a vehicle for South African nation-building. Where previously it was the success of the rugby Springboks that produced outpourings of national elation, during the FIFA World Cup South Africans congregated around the sport of the masses, thereby legitimising the passion of the majority.
Sport has often been used to galvanise populations, for good and for ill. Argentina’s controversial victory in the 1978 World Cup, which it hosted, is said to have extended the life of the country’s murderous military junta. The Soviet Union and its satellite states pumped extensive resources into the accomplishment of sporting success for the sake of international prestige, and domestically to give their oppressed people something to cheer about. Read more…
Parish volunteers from hell
When I was an altar server more than half a century ago, there were so many priests at my parish, I could hardly remember all their names. Those were the days when parish priests were able to pop in every so often and have tea with parishioners, spend hours at sickbeds and generally have a pretty peaceful, unhurried life with oodles of time for prayer and contemplation.
It’s different now, of course. Any parish that can boast one permanent priest can count itself lucky. Priesthood today is a tough, all consuming job that carries with it all the stresses and strains of corporate life, with priests not only juggling parish finances to survive but inevitably also involved in regional and diocesan work along with serving on myriad other committees, advisory boards and charities.
Read more…
True leadership must be rooted in love
I am going to take a break from writing articles for The Southern Cross and will be back again in the new year. Before I take my columnist’s sabbatical, I thought I should leave those who read the “Leadership in the Church” column with some food for thought about the importance of the Bible to the Christian view of leadership. Read more…
What choice?
From Edward Urban, Johannesburg:
I was recently given an article that was fascinating, enlightening and horrific. It is about published findings based on research conducted by the Elliot Institute in the United States which links violent attacks on women, and other coercive tactics to forced abortions. Read more…
July 21 to July 27, 2010
Headlines
» St Thérèse’s relics draws big crowds
» Church tackles xenophobia
» 4th century paintings of Jesus, apostles found
» Who’s who in the gospels
» Parish of the Month
This Week’s Editorial
Why xenophobia?
Why xenophobia?
It is encouraging that the South African Police Services and government are taking appropriate action on violence against foreign nationals, even deploying the military to trouble hotspots. While no amount of engagement will preclude isolated attacks, the threat of violence spreading countrywide as it did in May 2008 seems to be containable.
Likewise, the response of many South Africans in protecting foreigners from attacks, even at the risk of sustaining personal harm themselves, must be highlighted and commended. Read more…
Jesus in hell?
In the Apostles’ Creed we say that Christ “descended into hell”. An old text says he descended to the dead. Jesus was sinless. How could he descend to hell? I can’t say that. Please explain.
Read more…
