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Regulars
Friday, 20 November 2009
We must consider the impact legalising euthanasia would have on institutional, governmental and societal levels. We need to explore not only the practical realities, such as the possibilities for abuse, that allowing euthanasia would open up, but also, the effect that doing so would have on important values and symbols that make up the intangible fabric that constitutes our society. - Margaret Somerville, MercatorNet
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Regulars
Thursday, 19 November 2009
We live today in a highly polarised world and within highly polarised churches. The bitterness, mean spirit and lack of respect that characterises much of our political, ecclesial, and moral discourse today is not normal and is far from healthy. We shouldn't delude ourselves in thinking that it is healthy or, worse yet, in the name of truth or justice or God, try to rationalise our lack of respect for those who think differently than we do. We aren't holy warriors, just angry people with a highly selective compassion. - Fr Ron Rolheiser, ronrolheiser.com
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Regulars
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
A prophet is someone who listens attentively to the word of God, a contemplative, a mystic who hears God and takes God at God's word, and then goes into the world to tell the world God's message. So a prophet speaks fearlessly, publicly God's message, without compromise, despite the times, whether fair or foul. - Fr John Dear, National Catholic Reporter
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Regulars
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Rudd offered his apology via a carefully crafted speech in the presence of hundreds of former residents of these institutions, some euphoric and some distressed, in the Great Hall of Parliament House. He accepted that this was "an ugly story" and that "its ugliness must be told without fear or favour." - John Honner, Eureka Street
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Regulars
Monday, 16 November 2009
We naturally want to engage with and seek to understand people of other faiths in order to ensure that our relationships with them are harmonious and peaceful and that their human right to freedom of belief is respected, just as we wish our rights to be respected. At the same time, we also always keep in mind that we have been commissioned to give constant witness to our faith in Jesus Christ as the true and unique revelation of God. - Archbishop Denis Hart, Kairos Catholic Journal
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Regulars
Friday, 13 November 2009
It has been an open secret that powerful forces in the Church's leadership have strongly opposed the reforms set in motion by the Second Vatican Council and have worked quietly yet assiduously during the past 40 years to roll back what has been accomplished. The regression is usually couched in Orwellian churchspeak, which lavishes praise on the Council even as its intentions are reversed. - National Catholic Reporter
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Regulars
Thursday, 12 November 2009
One thing you can give our media Chattering Classes, they are utterly consistent. After Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire on a roomful of defenceless people in Fort Hood, it was absolutely assured that we would immediately be told that this outrage had nothing to do with his Islamic faith and that it was not an act of terror. - Mark P. Shea, Inside Catholic
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Regulars
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
The very changes needed to strengthen the education system and raise standards are not happening under Kevin Rudd's education revolution. Instead of supporting competition and choice and giving all schools the resources, autonomy and freedom to get on with the job, in the ALP's so-called revolution all roads lead to Canberra. It is highly centralised, bureaucratic and statist in nature and scores a three out of 10. - Dr Kevin Donnelly, The Age
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Regulars
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
With representatives of the world's nations due to jet into Copenhagen this December to discuss ways of saving the planet from inevitable incineration due to the human race's increasing carbon dioxide emissions, many in key sectors of the Christian churches have already joined the bandwagon, along with most of the mass media, politicians and educators. - John Morrissey, AD2000
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Regulars
Monday, 09 November 2009
In the end it all comes down to tolerance and fairness. Mostly imbued with Christian values, Australians are tolerant and very fair. Christianity hasn't always been tolerant, but church leaders of the 20th century have at least moved beyond calling for the execution of newspaper editors who published irreverent cartoons. - Alan Howe, Herald Sun
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