James Martin SJ delivered this talk at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin on 23 August 2018. Reprinted by permission. In this extract of the full talk, Martin talks about some fundamental insights for parishes and what can a parish do to be more welcoming and respectful.
James Alison is a priest, theologian, lecturer, retreat giver and itinerant preacher who lives in Madrid, Spain. He analyses the dangers of the Catholic Church’s approach to ‘gay’ priests. Reprinted with permission from The Tablet August 4, 2018. A follow-up article will appear in the next edition of The Swag.
Eric Hodgens, retired Melbourne priest, asks how we might construct church leadership in a changed world. Clericalism is on everyone’s lips. The pope decries it. Australia’s Royal Commission judged it a major factor contributing to child sex abuse by priests. Some bishops have joined the chorus denouncing it, even though other bishops resentfully bite their […]
Aengus Kavanagh FSP, Patrician Brother, Ryde, NSW suggests that with a little tweaking, parish councils could assist in offering a stabilising force in a church in uncertain times. Over fifty years ago, five of the main documents of the Second Vatican Council made reference to a structure for more intentional and active participation of the […]
Kevin Burke, Parish Priest of Eltham, Victoria, offered these reflections at the launch of his book Even God Smiled on 14 October in the Community Centre of the Eltham Parish Primary School. You can obtain a copy by sending $40 (includes postage) to Kevin Burke, PO Box 310, Eltham VIC 3095.
