Storms and Councils 

Eric Hodgens, Melbourne priest, considers the perfect storm that is upon us in the Australian church and if a Plenary Council can save us.

The 19^th century was a stormy period for the Catholic Church as the papacy battled to regain its European dominance undermined by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. How appropriate that the First Vatican Council final vote declaring Papal Infallibility was accompanied by thunder and lightning – a massive storm. Papal power won out in the long run as Paul Collins has shown in Absolute Power. But – at a price.