Few things can exercise Catholic minds as much as decorum, or the perceived lack thereof, at Mass. This is, in itself, a good thing: it shows that the faithful regard Sunday Mass not only as a weekly obligation but also as a mystical encounter with God which demands proper reverence.
Christ chose a small band of twelve everyday men and charged them with the awesome responsibility of teaching everyone on earth about him and his mission. He also chose a scholarly man, initially fiercely opposed to this mission, the converted Saul of Tarsus, and gave him the same vocation, that of preaching with them the Good News to every nation on earth.
Pope Francis’ Five Years Read Post »
Few family tragedies leave as many lasting scars as the suicide of a loved one. Those left behind not only are faced with the grief that accompanies all bereavements, but they inevitably will inquire into the past to answer questions that cannot be answered.
Salvation After Suicide? Read Post »
After almost nine years of Jacob Zuma’s mostly ruinous presidency, South Africa’s long wait to finally exhale ended last week with his departure. Under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the nation hopes that sober, responsible, transparent and accountable governance will take hold in South Africa.
With Hope Into South Africa’s Future Read Post »
Pope Francis is in the midst of the worst crisis in his papacy of almost five years.The Holy Father has a good record of saying the right things on the sex abuse scandal.So there was understandable indignation at comments in response to protests against a bishop accused of having known about the abuses of a priest.
The Pope’s Big Crisis Read Post »
A peculiar quirk of the calendar this year times Ash Wednesday to coincide with Valentine’s Day, and Easter with April Fool’s Day.
While Catholics will not mistake the Resurrection for an April Fool’s joke, some will likely be torn between observing the Church’s disciplines governing Ash Wednesday
This week 21 years ago the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, which legalised abortion-on-demand in South Africa, came into effect. For the Catholic Church, this law is a stain on our democracy because abortion kills God-made life, which is sacred.
How to Be Fully Prolife Read Post »
The Eighth Commandment admonishes us not to bear false witness — but the sin of lying is becoming more and more easy to commit as our access to means of communications increases. When we spread fake news on social media, blogs or e-mail, we make ourselves complicit in the act of bearing false witness.
Fake News: Don’t Lie Read Post »
Psychologists may cite a range of reasons to explain why some people bully others, but Pope Francis has identified in blunt language the spiritual roots of the harassment of others.
