Mission of the Youth
Where once missionaries left their homes to convert people who had not heard the Good News, today the message of Christ’s love and sacrifice must be communicated to many of those who have heard but do not embrace it.
Editorials 2017
‘Worse than Apartheid’
Fifty years of military occupation is too long, as a columnist last week noted. Tony Magliano, who writes internationally about issues of social justice, in his column...
Rebellion in the Church
We are living in an era of culture wars, and the Church is not immune from it. Typically the noise in these social conflicts, today amplified by social media, is marked by hype, distortion and fear-mongering. These are some of the tools that have helped demagogues and extremists record electoral successes in many parts of the world.
Translating the Liturgy
Pope Francis’ new document on the liturgy, Magnum Principium, might make a rather minimal change in canon law, but it has historical significance and ramifications.
South Africa’s Catholic History
As the Church in Southern Africa anticipates the 200th anniversary of its foundation next June, the celebration of Heritage Day on September 25 offers an opportune time to reflect on how far Catholicism has come in those two centuries.
Erasing the Cross
The secularisation of the West is gathering at a relentless pace. As we report this week, some 53% of people in Britain, especially the young, say that they have no religious affiliation.
A Liturgical Peace
Pope Francis set down a marker recently when he affirmed “with certainty and magisterial authority that the liturgical reform” which followed the Second Vatican Council “is irreversible”.
Politicians in Church?
President Jacob Zuma, it seems, cannot stop himself from issuing his admonition that churches should keep out of his business — politics — and concentrate on theirs, which is to save souls. Yet, if his expectation is that politics and religion be kept apart, then he cannot use churches for his party political endeavours.
Racism: Clouds over the Rainbow
In South Africa, racism is much like a rotten tooth: it needs treatment but many people are afraid of the dentist and leave the tooth to rot further.
100 Years Romero
On August 15, many Catholics around the world will mark the centenary of the birth of one of the great saints still awaiting canonisation – Oscar Romero...
