Is religion wasted on the young?

Dear Friends,

I'm not sure where this leaves our younger readers but today's lead commentary by Ian Elmer is definitely tailored for those who've "seen a bit of life". It's a commentary for "the oldies"!. Based on my own personal experience of life I tend to agree with Ian, and the colleague he quotes that "Christianity is a religion for the second half of life". I think there is a paradox in this though. In the first half of life one needs to have read all the scriptures, or at least listened to them, and one needs to have become at least familiar with all the rules otherwise when one enters "the second half of life" one is less likely to have access to the "raw materials" out of which Jesus Christ begins to make real sense. If one hasn't learned what the rules are one can hardly be accused of having the capacity to break any of them. I'm not sure if Dr Elmer would agree with me on this but I think the big insight of the second half of life is that life is largely all about "breaking all the rules" rather than a game of running around trying to prove that you know all the rules and you would never break any of them. Whether Ian agrees with me or not, he has certainly provided rich material for reflection and conversation today. <Link to Ian's commentary>

ST MARY'S, SOUTH BRISBANE UPDATE: You are probably aware of efforts by the thought police elements in the Church to cause further trouble by filing complaints with Rome about the community at St Mary's South Brisbane. The matter has been generating some headlines in recent days. I have just published on the Catholica forum a copy of a letter Archbishop Bathersby has written to the Administrator of St Mary's in recent days. You'll find a link to the letter and our own response on this issue at the following link on our forum. <Forum discussion on St Mary's>

Trinity as Model for Marriage… In this essay contributed as part of his university studies, Daniel Gullotta examines some of the Christian thinking on the Sacrament of Marriage. While the union of Adam and Eve might serve as the most rudimentary model of marriage, Daniel argues the more theologically complete model is to view the Holy Trinity as the model for marriage. <more>

Embracing the incertitudes and mystery of life with confidence… Today's editorial is partly sparked by the events currently unfolding in the Archdiocese of Brisbane concerning the parish community at St Mary's South Brisbane. The editorial ends by addressing that particular situation. Before that though the editorial seeks to raise some wider issues concerning the role of our institution and its leaders. Are our churches primarily a means of replacing the intrinsic uncertainties of life with man-made dogmas, certitudes and fundamentalism? Or are they primarily a means of providing comfort and companionship as we, the community at large, negotiate the uncertainties of life? <more>

Powerful US lay group calls for resignation of leading Cardinal… In a significant escalation of the clergy sexual abuse scandal in the United States the lay movement formed in the wake of the Abuse scandal, Voice of the Faithful, has published a media release today calling for the Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference, Cardinal Francis George, to resign. <more>

The Christian duty to be involved in politics… Dr Kania prompted us to bring this commentary forward a few days ago in the wake of the escalating political tensions between Georgia and Russia but it probably has wider significance than that. His essay is an examination of the imperative, relationship and tension that should exist between our religious outlook and our political outlook. He argues, contrary to the popularly accepted maxim, that it is "impossible to keep religion out of politics". Now that certainly opens up much scope for discussion — and we hope it does. While his arguments are chiefly directed at our civic responsibility to involve ourselves in secular politics it could be equally argued given all the "politics" involved in religion these days that we might also have a greater responsibility to be involved in the governance of our Church as well. Dr Kania calls on some pretty weighty intellects to support his arguments. <more>

7.1: The Mother Church moves from Jerusalem to Rome… We present Part 7 of Tom Lee's manuscript which explores the shift of the Mother Church from Jerusalem to Rome in two segments. Today's segment looks at the emergence of the early structure and leadership and leads into an exploration of the place of women in the early Church — a subject which Tom expands on in the second segment next week. <more>

Last rites and today's celebration of life… Tom McMahon's "Polar Express" is a "train of thought" or perhaps a "stream of consciosness". Today he let's rip with a challenging examination of our ideas concerning death and the Sacrament of the Last Rites. What is the meaning of death in our Technological Age? <more>

Best wishes for a great day wherever you happen to be ... in life or in our world!

Brian Coyne
Editor and Publisher