James Murphy-O’Connor, the oldest brother of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, was a GP and former Irish rugby international who developed a revolutionary goal-kicking style.
The elephant in the synagogue
21-Aug-2014
The Old Testament contains many tales of wonder, but on the existence of elephants it is quite silent. So the discovery of an elephant in a mosaic on the wall of an ancient synagogue in Galilee is creating quite a stir.
George Brandis on religious liberty, 102-year-old refugee safe in Sydney, TAS concert against human trafficking, AMA compromise for $7 co-payment, analysis as Abbott Government announces freedom for some child asylum seekers.
Ecological encyclical nearly ready, Vatican Cricket Club set to take on Church of England, Cardinal Brady, Pakistan Franciscans celebrate, World Humanitarian Day, China pulls down more church crosses, Cardinal meets Indian PM.
Vatican II made some great changes in the Church, but one of the casualties according to some observers was a neglect of ordinary forms of piety. This review in The Tablet looks at the arc of that aspect of Catholic devotion.
St Alberto Hurtado SJ - a musical meditation
21-Aug-2014
"To be an apostle does not mean to carry a torch, to possess the light, but to be the light". Listen to a special meditation on the life of the Jesuit Alberto Hurtado, to mark the 200th anniversary of the Restoration of the Jesuits.
It caused an uproar in Sweden when Ulf Ekman left his Protestant ministry and became a Catholic. As he told The Catholic Herald: "We need what the Lord has given to the Catholic Church to live fully as Christians."
Caritas begins at home
21-Aug-2014
As Caritas Australia celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, watch the story of its aid and development work in solidarity with indigenous Australians.
Peter Sculthorpe, inspired communicator
21-Aug-2014
Australia's leading comtemporary composer, whose most substantial work is considered by many to be his 2004 Requiem, has died in Sydney. The Guardian's David Matthews wrote this obituary.
Returning from Korea, the Pope covered many subjects with his travelling press corps - including 'licit' counter measures to unjust aggression, and where he would like to travel next. America Online has the full transcript.
'Who do you say that I am?'
20-Aug-2014
Matthew 16:13-20: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
The Feast of the Assumption
14-Aug-2014
August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin's passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and a Holy Day of Obligation.
Tributes for Cardinal Clancy overflow
14-Aug-2014
Cardinal Edward Clancy's life as a priest spanned 64 years of unimaginable change in the Church he loved. The leaders of the nation gathered for the funeral of this former Archbishop of Sydney - the 'people's pastor'.
The festering Syrian civil war has resulted in ISIS spilling into Iraq. Mosul, the Biblical city of Nineveh, long a place of religious diversity, now finds its multifaith holy places being systematically destroyed. National Geographic asks why.
Catholics in asylum revolt, Papal appeal to UN
14-Aug-2014
Adelaide to host second Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Sr Jan Barnett rsj in protest, abortion, international news, Ukraine, South Sudan on the brink, Buddhist radicals oppose papal visit, Libya, Ebola crisis.
Abandon hope all ye who want to dislike Dante
14-Aug-2014
If you've ever had a devil of a time attempting to make head or tail of the works of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri because of his obscure language and historical themes, this book will set you back on the right path.
The exotic appeal of mission work has a timeless attraction for many. But when Jesus Youth volunteer Sid Jose, an accountant, was selected to travel to a PNG mission, at first he had his doubts.
The blind leading the blind
14-Aug-2014
Matthew 15:10-28: There are a number of lessons from today’s reading. The first is that there is a need for total trust and confidence that Jesus really does care for us.
The Pope of surprises flies East
14-Aug-2014
It a quarter of a century since a Pope visited the Korean peninsula. Pope Francis' five-day visit creates a chance to preach reconciliation between North and South Korea, as well a rare opportunity for dialogue with China, writes AP.
Marvellous marbles of early Christian tombs
13-Aug-2014
A visit to the Museum Paleocristiano of the Vatican Museums includes a collection of marble coffins and inscriptions of the early Christians. The collection is considered the world's largest of its type, as this video from EWTN reveals.
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