The Dead Sea scrolls will now be accessible for public viewing, and you don’t even need to leave your home to see them. Orchestrated under the Israel Antiques Authority (IAA) with support from Google, the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library is a free, online archive comprised of thousands of high resolution fragments. History, now, is Read more
In the late 1960s, our theology schools were abuzz with the Second Vatican Council, but that had not yet impinged on confessional practice. Among other things, we had “mock confessions”, in which (in front of everyone else) the ordinands took turns at being confessor while our professor, the redoubtable Paul Brassell, took the role of Read more
Roman Catholic women of a certain age will remember being obsessed as teenagers with Kathryn Hulme’s The Nun’s Story, book and film – “Is God calling me to be Audrey Hepburn?” It’s still a good strong read, and even more fascinating when you know the story behind it. It is a novel, but based on the Read more
The Beatles have had a diverse, ever-evolving spiritual journey since they first graced America with their music 50 years ago on the Ed Sullivan Show. From their controversial comment about being “more popular than Jesus” to later forays into eastern religion, the Fab Four have always been interested in getting higher. A look at the lyrics Read more
There’s sound reason why one of Britain’s leading ‘cultural thinkers’ would tackle such a weighty topic. As Krznaric writes, empathy (the ‘Golden Rule’) has its foundation in major spiritual traditions including Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism and Christianity. Empathy, he adds, lies ‘at the very core of human existence’. Most of us like to see ourselves as Read more
The Vatican last year sent out a survey to Catholics around the world focusing on attitudes to sex and sexuality. The responses are now in — and they show that the Church is badly in need of reform. Can Pope Francis meet such expectations? Adolescents find it embarrassing to talk about sex with adults. Even Read more
“I was a bit of a dumb cluck in the film,” the real Philomena says, chuckling. “Some of those things I didn’t say. But it had to bring a bit of laughter into it. Because it’s so sad, you know.” Even today, there’s a lingering stigma about women who choose to place their children for Read more
When the freshly named patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, chose 37-year-old Fr. Loris Capovilla as his private secretary in 1953, a skeptical adviser told the cardinal that the priest looked too sickly to bear the strain of his new job. “Then he’ll die as my secretary,” replied the future pope, now known as Blessed Read more
Much attention has been given to the pope’s concern for the poor, which was reflected in his choice of Francis as his papal name. But as Pope Francis explained to journalists three days after his election, he also chose the name Francis because St. Francis of Assisi is “the man of peace. … He is the man Read more
New Zealanders are among the highest users of cannabis in the world, and the debate over whether it should be legal continues. In 2008, about 14 per cent of New Zealanders had used cannabis, the Ministry of Health’s alcohol and drug use survey reports. According to the United Nation’s World Drug report, that puts us Read more