Dr Phyllis Zagano and Dr Joe Grayland discuss the diaconate, the actual need for deacons and women deacons. Joe Grayland – What’s the point of having deacons You’ve written a lot about the diaconate and women as deacons. So I’m going to start because, coming with a little bit of a parish priest appreciation, it’s Read more
After the second time I appeared on CNN, an anonymous Twitter user tweeted at me: “What makes you so qualified to go on there talking about Catholicism?” The topic I had commented on? Having children. Me, a Catholic mother, seem imminently qualified to speak on such a thing, but still, this faceless follower without a Read more
Feminist theologian Dr Niamh M. Middleton has repeatedly warned that both the Church of England and Catholic Church, which have seen dwindling congregations for decades, face extinction within 30 years. That is, unless they radically reform to give equal standing to women. Dr Middleton, author of Jesus and Women, tells The London Economic (TLE) digital Read more
I am a gay priest who is publicly open about belonging to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. As a gay man, I was shocked and saddened by the Holy Father’s reported use of an offensive slur during a discussion with Italian bishops. While ostensibly justifying a policy of refusing to accept gay men into seminaries, the pope Read more
In the coming days, the Premier of China will be visiting New Zealand and Australia. This is significant, although the role of the Premier—nominally number two in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hierarchy—is not quite as important as some may think. Much of the power is now deeply centralised in President Xi Jinping. Don’t get Read more
Since the beginning of May, a dispute has flared up in the USA between the Catholic magazine “Commonweal”, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the media organisation “Word on Fire”, founded by the prominent US bishop Robert Barron. The cause was a column by the Italian theologian and church historian Massimo Faggioli (pictured), who Read more
During COVID-19, nearly every church utilised technology to keep its congregation engaged. Many viewed the pandemic as just another interruption to their most essential means of discipleship —in-person worship — and planned for communications to return to prepandemic methods after sheltering-in-place mandates ended. However, as the pandemic receded, churches discovered unexpected benefits to their newly Read more
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), about one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted. Biggest challenge If we drill down, food waste in food service businesses (FSBs) and retail outlets is the main challenge, because many resources have already been invested in food that’s then discarded at the Read more
I was surprised recently to learn that Rome’s Dicastery for the Clergy upheld two more parish merger recourses opposing St Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski’s decision to merge their parishes. This makes an unprecedented three parish merger appeals won by St Louis Catholics determined to defend their parish homes. Historically Rome has upheld bishops in merging Read more
There is only one topic trickier than death, according to Kathryn Mannix, who has made it her life’s work. “We’re embarrassed to talk about love. We’re not very good at talking about dying and deaths. Oh my goodness, we’re terrible at talking about love. We’re awful at it.” Why? “It’s about being vulnerable — if Read more