The new Catholic Archbishop of Sydney has expressed shame and sorrow at child abuse by clergy and at the Church’s abandonment of victims. In his first news conference last week, Archbishop-elect Anthony Fisher, OP, said he was determined to do everything he could to make sure the abuse didn’t happen again. To the survivors of Read more
Sydney’s Catholic Weekly newspaper is refusing to run an advertisement for an event at which former Irish president Mary McAleese will speak. The reasons cited by Catholic Weekly editor Peter Rosengren are Ms McAleese’s views on homosexuality and the ordination of women. Ms McAleese is the guest of Catholic think-tank, Catalyst For Renewal, and will Read more
When it was announced in 2001 that Melbourne Archbishop George Pell was to be made Archbishop of Sydney, the incumbent, Cardinal Edward Clancy, said Pell was ‘a controversial figure, and controversial figures generally create a few enemies as well as friends along the way’. Pell’s latest promotion, to head an important new office in Rome Read more
Politicians, pundits, and even a few dissenting Catholic clerics are calling upon Catholic priests to break the confessional seal in sex-abuse cases. Australian Federal Attorney General Nicola Roxon said that a federal commission investigating sexual abuse would take up the question of whether priests should be required to disclose information from sacramental confessions. Prime Minister Read more
A Sydney school is accused of stealing Christmas after removing all references to Santa, carols and Christianity in end-of-year celebrations.
Three to six-year-olds at the Inner Sydney Montessori School replaced the festive lyrics “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” with “We Wish You A Happy Holidays”.
One angry parent said he would withdraw his daughter from the Balmain school next year. The dad, who did not wish to be identified, said: “There were about five songs and not one of them mentioned Christmas. There was no Santa or Christmas decorations or a Christmas tree or any reference to Jesus.
Instead of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, students at an inner west school were twisted into wishing everyone a “Happy Holidays”.
“Is this politically correct? I don’t understand.”
He said some of the children were so confused they blurted out the word Christmas while singing: “They should not force this on young kids. Christmas is meant to be all about Santa and presents.”
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No blackboards, 200 students in a mega-classroom, agile learning areas, open-plan rooms where much larger groups, and sometimes even the whole school, learn under one roof are increasingly part of the Catholic school system in the Sydney diocese of Parramatta. With a stated goal of closing the last traditional classroom within 5 years, executive director of Read more
Sydney, Christians will have their core beliefs challenged by provocative advertisements which will appear on billboards and busses in June. The ads, paid for by an Islamic group called MyPeace, will carry slogans such as ”Jesus: a prophet of Islam”, ”Holy Quran: the final testament” and ”Muhammad: mercy to mankind”. The organiser of MyPeace, Diaa Read more