How the bishops’ job descriptions changed
Many years ago I read a book titled Bishops – But What Kind? It was a collection of essays by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant scholars about the different...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published July 16, 2012 · Last modified September 21, 2017
Many years ago I read a book titled Bishops – But What Kind? It was a collection of essays by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant scholars about the different...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published July 1, 2012 · Last modified October 28, 2013
Although it has been seen primarily as a “pastoral” council, Vatican II had a dramatic impact on ordained ministry. It restored the permanent diaconate and it called...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published June 18, 2012 · Last modified October 31, 2013
Youth Day on June 16 can all too easily be reduced to just another holiday commemorating yet another figure or group engaged in South Africa’s democratisation. To...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published June 3, 2012 · Last modified October 28, 2013
Vatican II had a lot to say about the scandal of divided Christianity, indeed a whole decree (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1964) was written about ecumenism. And non-Catholics welcomed...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published May 21, 2012 · Last modified November 6, 2013
‘Catholics worship Mary, not Jesus,” you hear many Christians say, particularly evangelical and Pentecostals. “No we don’t,” we reply. But then you hear of some of the...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published May 7, 2012 · Last modified October 28, 2013
Responding to the “new” question of workers’ rights and organised trade unionism in the 19th century did not come easily for the Catholic Church. The papacy in...
Church / Church Teaching / Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published April 22, 2012 · Last modified July 10, 2017
Many centuries ago, a pope who was trying to build St Peter’s basilica in Rome started selling indulgences – literally time off – in purgatory – to...
Prejudices – such as racism, sexism and homophobia, to name but three – die hard, not least those that seem to have religious approval. Sometimes shameful experience...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published February 12, 2012 · Last modified October 25, 2013
In some circles the “seamless garment” approach to life issues is perceived to be inadequate, almost a “relativising” of Catholic pro-life teaching. This, I suggest, is a...
Egan / Hope&Joy / Perspectives
by Anthony Egan · Published January 1, 2012 · Last modified October 28, 2013
In many of his writings and speeches Pope Benedict, like many other Church leaders, sees care for the environment as a moral challenge to all people. While...
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