Of all that happened in the liturgy in the aftermath of Vatican II, only two events were visible to most people. First, was the disappearance of Latin (which had become a de facto badge of identity for many Catholics), and the second was the fact that now the president of the Eucharistic assembly ‘faced the Read more
Following allegations of unauthorised exorcisms, Bishop Michael Gielen has suspended all exorcisms in the Christchurch diocese and ordered a comprehensive review of the practice. Gielen is currently in Portugal at World Youth Day. The announcement arrives in the wake of a report by TV3 journalist Michael Morrah that exposed alleged unapproved exorcisms conducted by the Read more
The recent television reporting of exorcisms and potential abuse by a fringe religious group in the Diocese of Christchurch is deeply disturbing on several levels. Poor Church communication is in the spotlight. The nub of the issue is why a fringe group, that does not belong to the mainstream of the Church and does not Read more
I wanted to start by acknowledging that what the Church calls Good News and what journalists call good news are entirely different things. The Christian Gospel, which is a word meaning, ‘good news’ – is that the Creator of all things, God, so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that all Read more
The Dicastery for Communication at the Vatican recently released Towards Full Presence, a pastoral reflection on engagement with social media. Although a Catholic can only appreciate the pastoral value of this document, its numerous insights, and biblical inputs, it is hard not to see its neo-liberal approach and question its partial way of addressing challenges raised Read more
Polarisation is exhausting largely because it seems hopeless and also because it gets progressively worse. As measured in surveys, Americans’ negative attitudes toward political parties other than their own have increased dramatically in recent decades and at a much faster pace than in other countries. These entrenched divisions simultaneously increase the vehemence of our arguments Read more
Listening is not a one-way process but should be a matter of mutual concern, each paying attention to the other. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus concludes the parable of the Sower with the words, “Listen, anyone who has ears to hear”. Talking is not enough. If real communication is to occur, each has to listen to Read more
“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate,” is the famous excuse the Captain uses to beat up Paul Newman’s character in the 1967 classic movie Cool Hand Luke. But more recently, it’s the Pasifika community who are feeling battered and bruised over a series of Covid-19-related communications blunders. Our Minister for Pacific Peoples was Read more
The policy of social distancing means that the newly homebound are seeing less of coworkers than they did just weeks ago. They’re seeing fewer friends too. But they might be seeing a lot more of their family, or their roommates. And that isn’t easy. For some, especially those who live alone, social distancing can bring Read more
People and how they are shaped in faith and not buildings make up the strength of the Catholic Church says Cardinal Luis Tagle. Those with the gift of listening are the biggest gift of all, he said. Tagle, the newly appointed congregation head for the Evangelisation of Peoples was speaking with clergy and laity at Read more