The Record Newspaper 06 January 2005

Not evil: Guy Crouchback reflects on the meaning of pain Page 10

Western Australia’s Award-winning Catholic newspaper

For their Lord: 17 missionaries were killed in 2004 Page 12

Perth,

Miracles:

Vailankanni "Miracle

2000 people attending Mass in Indian shrine on beach were not killed by tsunami waves

■ By Anto Akkara

In a December 29 statement, officials of India's most popular Marian shrine noted that about 2,000 pilgrims attending Mass were "miraculously saved" when the surging waves created by the Boxing Day Asian earthquake stopped at the gates of the shrine compound.

However some other pilgrims not in the Church were swept away.

The waves - which rose as high as 40 feet - hit hotels and houses on the same elevation just 330 feet from the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni. The seaside shrine in southern India, which draws 20 million pilgrims annually, remained untouched.

More than 1,000 people, including hundreds of pilgrims, perished within a one-kilometre radius of the basilica on December 26 when the Asian tsunamis hit the coast.

Continued on page 2

Tsunami appeal Parishes pitch in for victims

■ By Jamie O’Brien

Perth Archdiocesan Caritas Director Ann Fairhead said she is delighted with the generosity of Perth parishes that raised money for the victims of the Caritas tsunami appeal.

Bateman parish led the way, with a total of $23,336 collected last weekend, according to assistant parish priest Fr Dat Vuong.

Other parishes such as Subiaco, have collected $6000, Ballajura $3000 and Embleton $2000.

On Tuesday, the day before The Record went to press, the Perth Archdiocesan figure stood at a total of $102,000, and the Caritas national figure at $2 million.

Mrs Fairhead also said there are parish funds yet to be processed.

“We understand most parishes have had some form of collection,” Mrs Fairhead said.

Continued on page 5

Let us thank God for the goodness of all who responded

Archbishop's Perspective

The response from the Parishes to the Caritas Appeal for the tsunami tragedy was truly marvelous. One parish reported a collection of over $20,000.

Even the smallest parishes gave what for them was an extraordinarily generous amount. I would

like to congratulate all the parishes that responded so well to the emergency.

Our Catholic Agency is, as we know, Caritas Australia. The Church can be very proud of Caritas.

All through the year Caritas Australia funds projects for the poor in many countries of the Third World.

With local people involved its administrative costs are kept to a minimum.

When a crisis occurs as with the tsunami, Caritas makes funds immediately available and invites the people of the Church to contribute generously so that the

Three US priests are spreading a little humour - and light - amid the darkness via the Internet.

money reaches its target quickly with the minimum of delay.

A non-Catholic woman gave me a large cheque for Caritas precisely because very little is kept back for administration.

I commend Fr Brian Morrison too for his personal involvement in sending food and other supplies so quickly to those affected by the tragedy.

The media was interested to know that numbers at last Sunday's Masses in Parishes were generally higher than usual. Priests often expect fewer numbers just after Christmas because many parishioners are away on holidays.

This year was an exception. The

Cathedral saw its numbers up by 10% last week, and other parishes have reported a similar phenomenon.

Why should this be?

It is usually true that in times of tragedy and anxiety people turn to God and want to pray with others. They feel a solidarity with others, and take comfort from their common belief in the love of God.

Occasionally one hears the taunt that a God of love would not permit such tragedies. God does not interfere with the laws of nature, unless it is to work a miracle, but is present in the joys and sorrows of the people as a loving Father.

I am sure that in many parishes

people would have exchanged personal experiences of the tsunami disaster. Last Sunday a woman asked me to mention at Mass the need to thank God for the extraordinary survival of two of her close relatives who were caught up in the tidal wave.

Let us then commend to God the souls of those thousands of people who lost their lives in this tragedy, pray for their grieving relatives and friends and give thanks to God for the almost miraculous tales of survival that we read about.

Let us also thank God for the goodness of our people as they respond to the calls for help with great generosity and love.

Europe's Malaise

A statue of Our Lady of Good Health is seen on December 28 inside the Basilica named for her in Vailankanni, India, following the December 26 tsunami on the beach in front of the Basilica.

Photo: CNS

Vailankanni’s tsunami miracle

Continued from page 1

Diocese of Thanjavur Bishop Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss, who spent several days at the basilica to oversee post-tsunami relief efforts noted that the local bus stop on the same elevation as the basilica was farther from the beach, but it was inundated.

"The worst is over. We are gradually recovering from the shock," Bishop Mariadoss said on December 30.

"It was a miracle that the water did not enter the church," reiterated Sebastian Kannappilly, a businessman from neighbouring Kerala state, who had come to Vailankanni with his wife and daughter. Although his family was at Mass and was spared, his driver perished in the disaster.

"How can we go back without his body?" Kannappilly asked two days after the tragedy, as he and the driver's relatives continued the search.

Father P. Xavier, shrine rector, praised the efforts of several hundred volunteers who rushed to the shrine on December 26; he said government officials left the entire relief and rescue work around the

basilica to the church. "We cannot even keep these rotting bodies for identification," said Father Xavier. Volunteers photographed each of the bodies, then buried them in common graves. The photos were pasted on a notice board for relatives to identify victims.

The stench of rotting bodies was so strong that even on the basilica grounds dozens of priests wore surgical masks in their rooms while coordinating relief work and responding to anxious relatives of pilgrims missing in the tragedy. Basilica staffers, like others, functioned without electricity or running water.

"This is an experience I will never forget in my life," said Jesuit scholastic John Michael, who with a dozen others traveled more than 100 miles from Madurai to join the lay youth volunteers from Thanjavur Diocese.

"We have picked up 15 bodies this morning (December 28)," said a man identified only as Brother Michael, who wore a surgical mask and gloves.

Later, another batch of church volunteers collected the rotting bodies in trucks for burial in a distant field where mass graves

were dug with excavators.

By the evening of December 29, the church volunteers had picked up 800 bodies; government sanitary workers equipped with a halfdozen earthmovers helped. It was the final day of the search for missing persons.

"The search for the bodies is over. But, we are glad that it has ended in joy instead of despair," Father Joseph Lionel, Thanjavur diocesan chancellor, said on December 30.

On December 29, church volunteers picked up a 35-year-old mother, unconscious and clutching the decaying body of her child. The mother was taken to a hospital for treatment.

"The Holy Mother has worked wonders despite the tragedy here," said Father Lionel. With dozens rushing to Vailankanni in search of missing family members, Church officials said they felt helpless.

"I saw many people being washed away by the waves. We may never get to see these bodies again," said Father Xavier.

Barefoot volunteers, with faces covered by surgical masks or even handkerchiefs, removed rotting bodies from mountains of debris: houses, shops, remains of thatched sheds, boats and animal carcasses strewn around the scenic beach in front of the Basilica.

- CNS

Martyrology lists 7,000 blesseds

The second edition of the Roman Martyrology was presented in Rome at the beginning of December. The new Martyrology is an updated list; not, as the name might suggest, of martyrs, but of all the saints and blesseds venerated by the Church.

The latest edition of the Martyrology was presented during an event promoted by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to commemorate the conciliar constitution on liturgical reform "Sacrosanctum Concilium", promulgated on December 4, 1963.

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The new edition contains certain differences with respect to the earlier edition, which was published in 2001 and was the first since Vatican Council II. A number of typographical errors have been corrected and the 117 people canonised or beatified between 2001 and 2004 have been added. Moreover, many saints, mostly Italian-Greek monks, whose names have not thus far been listed in the Martyrology but who are effectively much-venerated, especially in southern Italy, have also been included.

The updated Martyrology contains 7,000 saints and blesseds currently venerated by the

The Roman Martyrology lists two early martyrs named Valentine on February 14. One was a priest, likely of Rome, who is said to have died under the persecution of Claudius. The other Valentine, depicted here in a mosaic from the Church of the Dormition in Jerusalem, is said to have been bishop of Terni, Italy. The late medieval custom of exchanging love notes on St Valentine’s Day has little to do with the saints and is thought to have developed from the belief that the day marked the start of the mating season of birds.

Church, and whose cult is officially recognised and proposed to the faithful as models worthy of imitation. - VIS

Church workers associated with Our Lady of Vailankanni Shrine in southern India remove the decomposing corpse of a victim of the tidal waves that hit on December 26. The shrine - and 2000 worshippers - were spared.

Photo: CNS

OBITUARY

Father James McSweeney came to Australia from Country Kilkenny, Ireland in 1950. He had been ordained the year before in St John’s Cathedral, Waterford. He died peacefully at home on August 20, 2004.

Father McSweeny spent only one year in Perth before going to the Bunbury Diocese. He spent time in Collie and Nannup and then was Administrator of the Cathedral at Bunbury for a number of years before going to the Wagin and Waroona. His brother, Father Nicholas McSweeney, followed him to Western Australia in 1957 and worked in the Archdiocese of Perth until his death in 1991. Father Jim’s parents joined him in WA after their retirement. His three sisters stayed in Ireland and he is survived by two of them.

Fr Jim faced a difficult period in his life when he took time out to deal with some personal issues. When they were eventually resolved he returned to active ministry as Chaplain to Mercy Hospital in Mt Lawley.

His Requiem Mass was concelebrated in St Jude’s Church, Langford on Friday August 27 with the parish Priest, Fr Terry Raj the main celebrant. Archbishop Hickey presided. Bishops Sproxton, Quinn and McKeon concelebrated with a number of priests from the Perth and Bunbury dioceses.

The Homily was given by Fr Eugene McGrath, who said “The presence of my sister as Principal in St Brigids, Collie, was to be the way the Lord chose for me to come into Fr Jim’s life - to receive such great welcome and kindness was to be the very heart of a bond that remained through all changing circumstances of our lives”.

Fr Eugene also said that it was his firm conviction that the greatest moment of grace in Fr Jim’s life was when, some years ago, he was reincardinated back into the Diocese of Perth by Archbishop Hickey. Fr Eugene also said he and Fr Jim spent many a Monday afternoon sharing precious hours of prayer and spiritual reading. He also appreciated the opportunity to be taken on visits to sick priest friends and communities of Sisters with whom he had worked over the years. Priests, religious and people from Perth and the South West mourn the passing of this kind and gifted prieSt He is sadly missed by family and friends. May Perpetual Light shine upon him and may his soul rest in peace.

Perth girl’s song chosen

■ By Michelle Jones

Young Perth musician AnneMarie Mousley knows what it is to sing a new song to the Lord. In August, Anne-Marie left friends and family in Perth to enter into a unique year-long experience of Christian living in a small town south of Florence, Italy, named Loppiano. There, she shares a life of prayer and community service with around forty other young women from around the world who, like Anne-Marie, are members of the Focolare movement. Founded by Chiara Lubich in 1943, Focolare is a movement which works to promote the ideals of unity and universal communion and is the spiritual ‘home’ of many Christians from a variety of walks of life, throughout the world.

While such a way of life may seem an impediment to the development of Anne-Marie’s musical

career, living within the international community at Loppiano has in fact wrought a radical transformation in the con servatorium-student’s approach to music. ‘Before, music was really about self-aggrandizement,’ Anne-Marie

explains, ‘but now I understand that these gifts are from God, and are a way that I can bring Jesus to the world.’

Indeed, a song written by AnneMarie has been chosen as the theme song of the International

Focolare Youth Congress held in Rome in December. En route to the Congress, which was attended by several thousand young people, Anne-Marie had an opportunity to perform her song – which focuses on the themes of global peace and unity - during a reunion with her former pastor, Fr Charles Waddell, in Rome. Previously parish priest at St Dominic’s in Innaloo, Fr Charles is now studying at the Angelicum in Rome. He celebrated Mass for Anne-Marie and her companions in the chapel of his home – Casa Santa Maria – thus providing Anne-Marie with a most welcome taste of ‘home’ in the Eternal City. Commenting on Anne-Marie’s music, Fr Charles said ‘I can see that Anne-Marie’s participation in the musical life of St Dominic’s Antioch group really gave her roots and wings. She is flourishing in Loppiano and will be a real gift to Perth when she returns.’

When you're next in Rome...

Coffee bar on roof of St Peter’s Basilica is above the competition

■ By Cindy Wooden

The neighbourhood around St Peter’s Square is filled with coffee bars, but the bar at St Peter’s Basilica is above the competition.

Tourists in need of coffee, water, soft drinks or ice cream can enjoy their refreshments on the roof of St Peter’s Basilica, high above the square, at prices somewhat lower than those charged in Rome’s tourist-filled neighbourhoods.

However, unlike the typical Italian coffee bar, the new refreshment point does not sell beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages.

“Especially in the summer, it is very hot up there, and people who have climbed 349 steps up

to the top of the dome and 349 steps back down to the roof need something to drink,” said Pier Carlo Visconti, director of administration for the basilica.

“We wanted to offer refresh-

ments, but it did not seem right to sell alcoholic beverages,” he told Catholic News Service on January 4.

Although the existence of the coffee bar first hit Italian newspa-

pers in mid-December, Visconti said it opened for Easter 2004; the Vatican rents the space to a private caterer.

The bar is located in the same building as the souvenir shop operated by the Disciples of the Divine Master. The sisters have sold rosaries, postcards and religious gifts on the rooftop for more than 50 years.

The space occupied by the refreshment stand was an office until 1999; it was vacated when engineers and technicians cleaning and restoring the facade of St Peter’s completed their work.

The sisters’ shop was remodeled in the late 1990s, and the Vatican added restrooms to the roof for the convenience of the thousands of tourists who stop there to enjoy the view and continue to the top of Michelangelo’s famed dome. “So far, we have not had a problem with the garbage,” Visconti said. - CNS

Anne-Marie with Perth Priest Fr Charles Waddell, in the Vatican in Rome.

A Nativity scene, modeled after the dome of St Peter’s Basilica, is seen on Dec 20 inside a coffee bar on the rooftop of St Peter’s Basilica. Photo: CNS

Maureen's long road home

■

By Jamie O’Brien

Maureeen Togher says she drifted away from the Catholic Church for many reasons, and travelled a long road home.

After leaving high school after Year 10, she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and was left with a permanent disability and chronic pain.

As the years went by, a yearning for acceptance increased.

“I never felt satisfied with myself and was constantly searching for my identity,” Maureen said.

“Being single I was free to go and do as I pleased.”

With that freedom, Maureen believes her choices often followed a path of self-destruction.

Her relationships with family and friends suffered.

“I would not take responsibility for the choices I made.”

Having suffered physical and emotional abuse as a teenager, Maureen developed a “tough woman” image in an attempt to cope with and escape from the anguish and pain she was experiencing.

She says it has taken her a lifetime to come to terms with the abuse. “Only now am I able to talk about it openly, as in the past I could be very sensitive and reacted in anger when challenged or threatened,” she said.

It wasn’t until Maureen was in her early thirties that she begun to realise that she needed to change her environment.

After 20 years of living and working in hotels and TAB’s, she could feel the destruction of her soul. “I was in an environment I didn’t want to be in. It was one of

the lowest points in my life.” Sex, drugs and rock and roll were high priorities and Maureen says she was easily influenced.

Having suffered physical and emotional abuse as a teenager, Maureen developed a “tough woman” image in an attempt to cope with and escape the anguish and pain she was experiencing.

Ashamed of her past and the guilt than went with it, Maureen realises now that God allows everything to happen for a reason. She had started to understand a need in her life for something spiritual.

What it was and in what direction it would take her, Maureen had no idea, but she knew she needed Christian fellowship and direction.

With much courage and determination she left the pub scene and went back to study and graduated in 1998 as a Social Worker.

In 1999, she began working as a public servant in the Police Department and then later for Family & Children’s Services.

“Six months into my contract my father had a stroke and was diagnosed with cancer and Mum needed a knee replacement.

“I couldn’t understand why God was doing this just when I thought I was getting my life back on track,” says Maureen.

“However I realised this was the turning point in my life and I had recognised that

US, Canadian and British Catholic aid agencies said support for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis surpasses the response to previous disasters. Catholic Relief Services, the US bishops' agency for overseas aid and development, raised US $17 million in the first nine days after launching its appeal to help victims of tsunamis that hit 12 countries in Asia and Africa. The money is being applied to the US $25 million that CRS pledged to provide to countries most

News Briefs The Parish. The Nation. The World.

affected by the disaster. The agency said it has raised more than US $9 million through its Web site, www.catholicrelief.org.

"Normally we raise a little under $1 million in a year through our Web site," said Karen Moul, spokeswoman. Nearly 66,000 individuals have made or pledged donations to tsunami relief, Moul said. "We have been averaging $100,000 an hour in donations”, she said.

- CNS

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God was calling me to a vocation as a carer.”

With no experience in looking after sick people, Maureen believes God intervened and this is how was she was able to learn so quickly.

She remembers the numerous prayers in which she asked for the strength to adapt and learn new skills and the courage to continue.

This new outlook brought about a transformation of character.

The situation forced her to become less self-centred, but she was disappointed when she encountered a profound emptiness, and sensed again she was lacking something spiritual.

By the time her Dad’s health took a turn for the worse she began ‘wanting and needing’ God to be part of her life.

“I vividly remember coming home one night crying and praying to the Lord Why Now?” pleading with him to not let Dad suffer,” she said.

It wasn’t long before Maureen found herself begging God for forgiveness and praying fervently for reconciliation with her Dad.

Nursing him at home provided the quality time she needed for this to happen and he passed away on September 26, 2002. “I will always cherish those last few months with my Dad,” she said.

She continued looking after her Mum and in October 2003, was introduced to a young woman named Lisa.

Lisa explained how she had found Christ by becoming a born again Christian, and inspired Maureen to join the Riverview Church.

“I found the music modern and the charismatic style exciting and bible study was new to me,” she said.

But it wasn’t enough.

After watching The Passion of the Christ, Maureen began to rediscover the beauty of the Catholic Church and felt it was finally time to come back.

“I arranged to see a priest for reconciliation and remember being so excited to get all the guilt off my chest,”

“After carrying 25 years of emotional baggage I was about to be forgiven.”

That was seven months ago and Maureen couldn’t be happier

Maureen says she was ecstatic to be able to come home to the Church where she had been baptised and confirmed.

“The more I practise what Jesus preaches in the Gospels the more I thirst for his love.”

Maureen says that one of the most important lessons she has learnt through her experience has been that when she carries her cross daily she is able to imitate what Jesus teaches.

“God created me and knows me better than I know myself, he knows what I need to become holy.”

Maureen Togher, left with her Mum, Norma. Maureen recognised that God was calling her to a life, as a carer.

Parishes dig deep for victims

Continued from page 1

“Caritas is able to provide parishes with volunteers to assist with counting of the money,” she said.

Prayers are also important Mrs Fairhead said.

“For those who are not able to donate we would very much appreciate prayers for the victims and volunteers.”

Global Adviser from Caritas Australia for the Perth Archdiocese Janeen Murphy said money is the best form of help a person can give at the moment.

“Tinned food is not very beneficial for cultural and nutritional value,” Mrs Murphy said. “Clothing is also a huge necessity.”

The Record also spoke to Caritas India Director Fr Maria Joseph and Deputy Director Fr Varghese in India about the events that have unfolded since December 26.

Fr Joseph said most of the devastation occurred during the first tsunami, which occurred at about 9.30am.

“There was a lot of panic and everyone was trying to escape,” he said.

Fr Joseph is in Vailankanni, and at the time of talking was organising more supplies for the area.

Fr Varghese is in Tamil Nadu. He says the situation is more or less what the newspapers have reported.

One of the main tasks being undertaken at the moment is the cleaning of the dead bodies, many of which are decomposing very quickly.

“The Church is making all possible efforts to help with cleaning up the bodies,” Fr Joseph said.

According to Fr Joseph, hundreds of areas are covered in mud and dirt, which is making the proc-

ess even more difficult. He continued by saying that authorities are not expecting another tsunami to hit the region in the immediate future.

“For the moment medical and food supplies are being managed as well as clothing,” he said.

“Doctors are coming from Bangalore to help as well,” Fr Joseph was especially grateful to the help by religious sisters of different congregations, all of whom are doing good work,

“Diocesan priests and many religious are all here co-operating in distributing food, clothing and medical supplies,” he said.

Fr Joseph said more than 1100

have been said to be dead in the area. He estimates it will take months for life to become stable for the people of Vailankanni.

“We are using whatever facilities we can to work and find out how many more bodies there are,” he said.

Caritas India has also promised to help, Fr Joseph said.

Last week, Caritas Australia said an estimated 50,000 families are living in welfare centres and refugee style camps.

Clothing and basic cooking utensils are still urgently required.

Fr Varghese said is was estimated there were more than 14, 000 people killed in India by

the tsunami.“Many bodies are still out at sea and organisers are waiting for them to come to shore,” he said.

Fr Varghese also said there are more than 1000 volunteers in the area helping with the cleanup, with many doctors and people of medical profession offering assistance. Local priests and religious sisters have also been of much assistance. “It will take at least up to two years for the area to be rebuilt to a good standard,” Fr Varghese said.

The local number for Caritas Australia to donate is 9223 1311.

The hotline for people interested in assisting with volunteer work is 1800 057 111.

Volunteers help Caritas take the calls

■ By Mark Reidy

The overwhelming response in Perth to Caritas’ Special Appeal for earthquake and tsunami victims has meant that volunteers have had to spill into the neighbouring offices of the Natural Fertility Services agency, Perth Caritas director Anne Fairhead told The Record on New Year’s Eve.

Volunteers who usually come in on a weekly basis have been coming in each day to cope with the telephone donations as well as preparing envelopes, which went last weekend to all parishes in Perth.

Caritas’ national goal is to raise 3 million dollars. Anyone who cannot get through on 1800 024 413 should ring the Perth number (08) 9223 1311.

Caritas has one of the lowest administrative costs of any aid agency with 92 cents in every dollar directly reaching those in need.

Sheen can still draw a crowd

Interest in Sheen's cause, and his work, still runs high

Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been gone for a quarter of a century, but certainly not forgotten.

Early in December, family, friends and admirers of the Archbishop gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York for a Mass marking the 25th anniversary of his death. Archbishop Sheen is buried in the crypt of the cathedral.

The Archbishop, who died in 1979 at age 84, was a pioneer in using television to educate, inspire and convert. His cause for canonisation is under way.

The vice postulator for Sheen’s cause, Father Andrew Apostoli, told ZENIT that the Archbishop’s message is still as relevant today - and that includes his reflections on the Christmas season.

“Firstly, in his beautiful book, ‘Life of Christ,’ the Archbishop starts by setting Jesus apart from all other religious leaders by saying that he was the only person in all of history ever pre-announced ... prepared for and awaited,” Father Apostoli said.

The priest, who was ordained by Sheen, remembered that the

Archbishop linked Christ’s birth directly to the Eucharist.

“As he said, Mary was the first tabernacle who carried Christ within her and gave birth to the One who would say, ‘I am the living bread come down from heaven,’” the vice postulator said.

“In order to be our food and drink, Jesus had to become flesh and blood, and it was our Blessed Mother who provided this for him,” Father Apostoli said. “So he saw the incarnation as the basis of the Lord’s Eucharistic presence.”

The priest thinks that Archbishop Sheen would have been delighted over this Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by John Paul II.

“He truly loved and promoted the Eucharist and used to say that all his inspiration for his preaching and writing sprang directly from what he described as his daily ‘hour of power’ - an hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament per day, despite his very heavy schedule,” Father Apostoli said.

Known for his ability to keep television and radio audiences captivated by his dynamic presentation, Sheen had been told by his teachers that there was no hope for him as a public speaker.

“When people used to praise him for his abilities, he would answer that he had absolutely no talent as a speaker,” Father Apostoli explained. “He’d say: ‘All my insight and power of words come from the Blessed Sacrament.’ And it was before the holy Eucharist where he would faithfully prepare his talks.”

There’s a great revival of interest in Sheen’s books and tapes today, even for those who were not alive when he was broadcasting.

Father Apostoli said that that is because “Sheen drew his inspiration from Jesus in the Sacrament; and as we know, what comes from Jesus has a perennial power to attr act.” - Zenit

Ed: more information is available at www.archbishopsheencause.org.

Perth Caritas director Anne Fairhead answers calls at her office in Victoria Square on On New Year's Day.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, as millions of viewers would remember him.

Europe’s fate is not far away

George Weigel’s analysis of the decline of Europe’s population, its culture and its principles (see Pages 8-9) is an ominous warning of the future. Weigel’s analysis reminds us that we are already a long way down the same paths?

We know only too well that we have already abandoned our belief in the sanctity of human life by legalising and funding abortion, by licensing the destruction of embryos for medical research (something we would have regarded as a Nazi atrocity 30 years ago), and by our narrow escape (to date) from legalising and justifying euthanasia.

We have also abandoned a serious defence of the family (which means a serious defence of the welfare of children) by legally facilitating and financing family breakdown. Couples who stay together in this country subsidise those who don’t by about $5 billion a year.

These are the most serious problems, but there are many others. Weigel points out that Europe is binding itself ever tighter in the cords of bureaucracy, and that bureaucracy that is based on atheistic humanism will inevitably end up inhuman and unable to sustain a true democracy. Sadly, we have been doing the same for many years, and the results are becoming increasingly more obvious.

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A serious example is the tendency to pass subjective laws – laws that do not define their terms, or even their offences adequately, and which are administered through entirely subjective decisions by bureaucrats and tribunals. Heritage laws and Equal Opportunity laws are good examples, and they regularly provide straightforward cases of injustice to ordinary citizens. No doubt they have some uses, but the fact remains that nobody knows what our ‘heritage’ is or what it means to us, or what its removal would mean to us.

The pre-Christmas fiascos about dilapidated buildings in Highgate illustrate the problem. Nobody could ever define how their loss could be a loss, but then nobody has to. It need only be said that they have ‘heritage value or significance’ and all normal democratic rights over property are cancelled. It is not that these were just particularly bad examples; they are two among many. The problem is that we are all bound by laws that have no objective meaning. An assault is an assault, but ‘heritage value’ depends on how attached you are to the past, or how frightened you are of the challenge of building the future.

Likewise, there are innumerable situations where the meaning or the measurement of ‘equal opportunity’ depends on the mood of a commission or tribunal at any particular time. A subjective decision about the employment or promotion of one person can be subjectively declared an injustice by another.

Occupational Health and Safety laws and even the Criminal Code are going the same way. It is only a few years ago that a farmer faced prosecution and probable jail because his daughter died in an accident on the farm (read workplace). As well as losing their sister, the other children would have lost their father as well. If the farm had been a partnership, perhaps they would have lost both parents simultaneously. It took months for the utter disbelief and disgust of the population to sink in to the bureaucratic mind – but the law remains.

Just over two months ago, a woman was convicted and sentenced to 100 hours community work for leaving two children in a car for a few minutes while she ducked into a shop. Someone stole the car, but abandoned it 500 metres down the road when he realised he had passengers. Almost everyone has had that experience (minus the theft of the car), almost none of us has ever thought it was wrong, and most of us will go on doing it.

There are many other cases, including bureaucratic police prosecutions, but we don’t have room for them here.

The problem with all of them is that society is treating its people without proper respect. Seriously corrupt philosophies like Fascism, Nazism and Communism treat their citizens with total inhumanity.

Less overtly corrupt philosophies simply creep towards the collapse of the fundamental democratic principle of respect for the human dignity of every person. We are further down that path than most of us realise.

letters to the editor

GKC’s legacy lives on

Congratulations on publishing in last week’s edition Professor Dermot Quinn’s appreciation of G. K. Chesterton on the occasion of the 30th birthday of the journal, The Chesterton Review. It is to be regretted that this splendid quarterly is not as widely known throughout Australia as it surely deserves to be in spite of its success in other parts of the world.

I feel somewhat like the eager student at the back of the class jumping up and down, trying to attract attention, saying, “Please Sir, Please Sir, you haven’t mentioned...” In this case (doubtless because of space) you haven’t mentioned the work of the Australian Chesterton Society which supports the Review and recently celebrated its own tenth birthday. Originally formed in Western Australia, the Society has expanded to become a national body whose patron is Cardinal Pell. At the risk of sounding superior, the Society – together with Chesterton Societies around the world - has been steadfastly thumping the table and shouting the importance of Chesterton’s wisdom and common sense which are more urgently needed and relevant now than when he was alive 60 years ago.

The Australian Chesterton Society can be contacted locally by telephoning (08) 9339 1403.

Tony Evans

President, Australian Chesterton Society. East Fremantle

The hope of life

When a tragedy occurs in this world we often find in the secular press that atheists do not understand God's power over death and cannot comprehend the Resurrection, nor do they understand that God will resurrect those who are in a state of grace.

Nor do they understand that their souls belong to God, and despite anything will return to God. God is love and will not desert those of us who aspire to reach heaven.

PS. We just received our sixth great grandchild (a girl) to join our 42 grandchildren (22 girls and 20 boys). Glory be to the Father Almighty. Two children, one grandchild and one great grandchild have gone back to God.

Arthur Olsen Maddington

A suggestion

Firstly, thanks for "Kids Views on Relationships" (Record, December 23), which was very much appreciated by all ages (10 - 80yrs) and copies were inserted into Christmas stock-

God's wrath? Think again

The Tsumani tragedy is of Biblical proportions - so says the media. I hope that people also realise that this is not a man-made nor is it a God-made tragedy.

It is an act of nature, forcing its way up through the sea bed earth in all its quaking and trembling.

Some folk believe this is a further warning sign of our God ‘letting it happen’. Wrong - no one should use God’s name in vain, especially at this time of world tragedy.

Our God is of the New Testament - a God of Love and Mercy and Charity.

All peoples of all faiths are on this earth to be respected and we stand side by side with NO whispering warnings.

Caritas should be foremost in our conversations and actions, especially in our parishes. Not just a piece of paper handed out as we leave the church. Actions speak louder than words and THAT’S good evangelisation.

Sally Palmer Address supplied

ings. Regarding the Tsunami tragedy, my suggestion is: donation of proceeds from next week's Second Collection to kicks off a separate 'retiring collection'.

I feel that, if all parishes across Australia dedicated one such Sunday, Caritas Australia would have little difficulty in reaching the target of $3 million.

And, while I'm at it, has the Record ever considered an unemployment sector? Perhaps a REAL JOBS advertisements page (two pages) could be offered free of charge to responsible accredited employers (good Catholic and others). From where I sit it appears Real Jobs are not available to up to 40% of the Australian work force - thus causing misery and deep social unrest.

Peter Tilley Trigg Island

The Labyrinth

Several years ago I had occasion to “walk the labyrinth” and wondered why on earth I was doing it. Was I crazy? Some days (weeks) later it dawned on me that the labyrinth is a powerful symbol of our life’s pilgrimage.

For a start, there is only one entry point. Jesus is the gate (John 10:8). Then there is one only path which leads to the centre. Should we deviate from that path we lose our way and become confused and disoriented. We may fall on this path, but if we keep to it, we will arrive. Rather like taking a trip to Albany. We know we shall get there if we stick to Albany Highway, despite breakdowns or stops along the way. The labyrinth is so designed that at times one has one’s back to the centre and it would seem we are regressing in the spiritual life, but we are actually maturing during these times. Christ told us He is the Way, the only way to the Father, but He also accompanies us on this way. If we resolutely follow Him with confidence we shall arrive at the end.

Perhaps the peasants of Chartres in the Middle Ages had this in mind when they went around their labyrinth on their knees, and in doing so might well have come to a deeper understanding of the Christian life

than their more affluent brothers who were in a position to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Many generations made this symbolic pilgrimage until during the French Revolution, Chartres Cathedral, which had been dedicated to Our Lady, was re-dedicated to the “Goddess Reason”. Happily the labyrinth, which is such a well-known feature of that beautiful Cathedral, survived.

Dom Laurence Freeman OSB once wrote “In many ancient labyrinths it was a monster that was found at the centre, a thing of fear and a threat to life. The Christian labyrinths positioned Christ at the centre of all the twists and turns of life. In Christ we find not fear but the dissolving of fear in the final and primal certainty of love”.

As Janet Kovesi Watt rightly points out, (The Record, December 30) the labyrinth is not a mandorla but rather a spiritual mandala, and given the similarity, (The Record, November 25) can be forgiven for getting the spelling wrong.

Rosemary Chandler Palmyra

Not really gay

A study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry (2004) 185: 479-485) has found that of 1285 homosexual men and women, 43% suffered from a mental disorder. Their problems include panic attacks, depression, compulsive behaviour and obsessive thoughts. Of those surveyed, 31% had attempted suicide. Suicide attempts were found to be linked to 'discrimination'', such as recent physical attack.

The study did not find a link between discrimination and mental disorder itself in this grouop.

Which suggests that we should continue teaching children not to bully or victimise anyone, homosexual or otherwise.

And it also suggests that we should not teach them that homosexuality is just another healthy lifestyle option, just as "normal" as ordinary male-female relationships.

Arnold Jago Mildura

by George Weigel

Europe's blank - and deadly - new face

Europe is busy contracepting itself out of existence and just as busily rejecting the very idea of society founded on morality, let alone that continent’s Christian heritage and culture. Papal biographer George Weigel takes a look at Europe’s malaise and the implications for the world’s most powerful and influential society

■ By George Weigel

At the far western end of the axis that traverses Paris from the Louvre down the Champs Elysées and through the Arc de Triomphe is the Great Arch of La Défense. Designed by a sternly modernist Danish architect, the Great Arch is a colossal open cube: almost 40 stories tall, faced in glass and 2.47 acres of white Carrara marble. Its rooftop terrace offers an unparalleled view of the French capital, past the Tuilleries to the Ile de la Cité, Sainte Chapelle, and Notre-Dame.

The arch’s three-story high roof also houses the International Foundation for Human Rights.

For President François Mitterrand planned the Great Arch as a human rights monument, something suitably gigantic to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Thus, in one guidebook, the Great Arch was dubbed “Fraternity Arch.”

That same guidebook, like every other one I consulted, emphasised that the entire Cathedral of NotreDame would fit comfortably inside the Great Arch.

All of which raised some questions, as I walked along that terrace in 1997. Which culture would better protect human rights and secure the moral foundations of democracy? The culture that built this rational, geometrically precise, but essentially featureless cube?

Or the culture that produced the gargoyles and flying buttresses, the asymmetries and holy “unsameness” of Notre-Dame and the other great Gothic cathedrals of Europe?

Those questions have come back to me, if in different forms, as I’ve tried to understand Europe in recent years. How, for example, should one understand the fierce argument in Europe over whether a new constitutional treaty for the European Union should include a reference to the Christian sources of European civilisation? Why did so many European intellectuals and political leaders deem any reference to the Christian sources of contemporary Europe’s civilisation a threat to human rights and democracy?

Was there some connection between this internal European debate over Europe’s constitution-making and the portrait in the European press of Americans (and especially an American president) as religious fanatics intent on shooting up the world? Was there a further connection between this debate and the fate of Rocco Buttiglione’s candidacy for the post of Commissioner of Justice on the European Commission?

Understanding these phenomena requires something more than a conventional political analysis. Nor can political answers explain the reasons behind perhaps the most urgent issue confronting Europe today - the fact that Western Europe is committing demographic suicide, its far-below-replacementlevel birthrates creating enormous pressures on the European welfare state and a demographic vacuum into which Islamic immigrants are

flowing in increasing numbers, often becoming radicalised in the process.

My proposal is that Europe is experiencing a crisis of cultural and civilisational morale whose roots are also taking hold in some parts of American society and culture.

Understanding and addressing this crisis means confronting the question posed sharply, if unintentionally, by those guidebooks that boast about the alleged superiority of the Great Arch to Notre-Dame: the question of the cube and the cathedral, and their relationship to both the meaning of freedom and the future of democracy.

To suggest that Europe is living through a “crisis of civilisational morale” is a very broad description. Let me raise some specific issues that point toward that conclusion - and to the necessity of a cultural, indeed theological, analysis of Europe’s situation today.

● Why, in the aftermath of 1989, did Europeans fail to condemn communism as a moral and political monstrosity? Why was the only politically acceptable judgment on communism the rather banal observation that it “didn’t work”?

● Why, as historian John Keegan puts it, do Europeans often espouse “a philosophy of international action that actually rejected action and took refuge in the belief that all conflicts of interest were to be settled by consultation, conciliation, and the intervention of international agencies”?

● What accounts for disturbing currents of irrationality in contemporary European politics? Why did one of every five Germans (and one-third of those under 30) believe that the United States was responsible for 9/11, while some 300,000 French men and women made a best seller out of “L’Effroyable Imposture” [The Appalling Fraud], in which the author, Thierry Meyssan, argued that the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were destroyed by the US military, using remote-controlled airliners?

● Why did the voters of Spain give a de facto victory to appeasement in their March 2004 elections, held days after Al-Qaeda operatives killed hundreds and wounded thousands by bombing a Madrid train station?

● Why is Europe retreating from democracy and binding itself ever tighter in the cords of bureaucracy? Why do European states find it virtually impossible to make hard domestic political decisions - as on the length of the workweek or the funding of pensions? Why is Europe on the way to what French political philosopher Pierre Manent calls “depoliticisation?” Why does Manent have “the impression today that the greatest ambition of Europeans is to become the inspectors of American prisons”?

● Why are so many European public intellectuals “Christophobic,” as international legal scholar J.H.H. Weiler (himself an observant Jew) puts it? Why is European high culture so contemptuous of both religious and secular tradition, as French philosopher Rémi Brague has pointed out?

● Why do certain parts of

Europe exhibit a curious, even bizarre, approach to death? Why did so many of the French prefer to continue their summer vacations during the European heat wave of 2003, leaving their parents unburied and warehoused in refrigerated lockers? Why is death increasingly anonymous in Germany, with no death notice in the newspapers, no church funeral ceremony, no secular memorial service “as though,” as Richard John Neuhaus observed, “the deceased did not exist”?

● Above all, why is Europe committing demographic suicide, systematically depopulating itself in what British historian Niall Ferguson calls the greatest “sustained reduction in European population since the Black Death of the 14th century”?

● Why do 18 European countries report “negative natural increase” (i.e., more deaths than births)?

● Why does no Western European country have a replacement-level birthrate?

● Why is Germany likely to lose the equivalent of the population of the former East Germany in the first half of the 21st century?

● Why will Spain’s population decline from 40 million to 31 million by 2050?

● Why will 42% of Italians be over 60 by 2050 - at which point, on present trends, almost 60% of the Italian people will have no brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, or uncles?

● What is happening when an entire continent, wealthier and healthier than ever before, declines to create the human future in the most elemental sense, by creating a next generation? …

Probing to the deeper roots of Europe’s crisis of civilisational morale is important for understanding Europe today and for discerning whatever promising paths of European renewal there may be.

Getting at the roots of “Europe’s problem” is also important for understanding a set of problems Americans may face in the not-toodistant future. And that means that both Europeans and Americans must learn to think in new ways about the dynamics of history.

During 13 years of research and teaching in east central Europe, I’ve been impressed by what might be called the Slavic view of history. You can find it in a great thinker who lived in the borderland between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, Vladimir Soloviev, who challenged the fashionable nihilism and materialism of the late 19th century.

You can find it in 19th-century Polish novelists, poets and playwrights, who, breaking with the Jacobin conviction that “revolution” meant a complete rupture with the past, insisted that genuine “revolution” meant the recovery of lost spiritual and moral values. You can find it in such intellectual leaders of the anti-communist resistance in east central Europe as Karol Wojtyla, Václav Havel and Václav Benda, who all argued that “living in the truth” could change what seemed unchangeable in history.

The common thread among these disparate thinkers is the con-

viction that the deepest currents of “history” are spiritual and cultural, rather than political and economic.

“History” is not simply the byproduct of the contest for power in the world - although power plays an important role in history. And “history” is certainly not the exhaust fumes produced by the means of production, as the Marxists taught.

Rather, “history” is driven by culture - by what men and women honour, cherish, and worship; by what societies deem to be true and good and noble; by the expressions they give to those convictions in language, literature and the arts; by what individuals and societies are willing to stake their lives on.

Poland is one embodiment of this way of thinking, which Poles believe has been vindicated empirically by their own modern history. For 123 years, from 1795 to 1918, the Polish state was erased from Europe. Yet during that century and a quarter the Polish nation survived with such vigour that it could give birth to a new Polish state in 1918. And despite the fact that the revived Polish state was then beset for 50 years by the plagues of Nazism and Communism, the Polish nation proved strong enough to give a new birth of freedom to east central Europe in the Revolution of 1989.

about history, whose roots can be traced back at least as far as St Augustine and “The City of God.” Yet, it is the Slavs who have been, in our time, the most powerful exponents of this “culture-first” understanding of the dynamics of the world’s story.…

How did this happen? Poland survived - better, Poland prevailed

into the meaning of the Great War reinforces the intuition that we should look to the realm of culture for a deeper explanation of the currents of history. So let us take a first step in reading history the oldfashioned way St Augustine’s way through lenses ground by the tools of theology. And that brings us to another Christian analyst of modern European history.

Henri de Lubac was one of 20th-century Catholicism’s most distinguished theologians.

Like other Europeans who had witnessed the Continent’s travail during the first four and a half decades of the century, Father de Lubac was haunted by the question, “What happened?” Or, perhaps more to the point, “Why had what happened, happened?”

gods nor the passive victims of Fate.

Because they could have access to the one true God through prayer and worship, those who believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus could bend history in a humane direction. History was thus an arena of responsibility and purpose.

Yet what biblical man had perceived as liberation, the proponents of atheistic humanism perceived as bondage. Human freedom could not co-exist with the God of Jews and Christians. Human greatness required rejecting the biblical God, according to atheistic humanism.

This, Father de Lubac argued, was something new. This was not the atheism of sceptical individuals. This was atheistic humanism - atheism with a developed ideology and a program for remaking the world. As a historian of ideas, de Lubac knew that bad ideas can have lethal consequences. At the heart of the darkness inside the great mid-20th century tyrannies [of] communism, fascism, Nazism, Father de Lubac discerned the lethal effects of the marriage between modern technology and the ideas borne by atheistic humanism.

ists”: people who were “a-theos,” people who had abandoned the gods of Rome and who were thus a threat to public life and public order. To be a-theos was to stand outside and over-against the political community.

The “Christophobia” of contemporary European high culture turns this indictment inside out and upside down: Christianity cannot be acknowledged as a source of European democracy because the only public space safe for pluralism, tolerance, civility, and democracy is a public space that is thoroughly a-theos.

It is all very strange. For the truth of the matter is that European Christians can likely give a more compelling account of their commitment to democratic values than their fellow Europeans who are a-theos - who believe that “neutrality toward worldviews” must characterise democratic Europe. A postmodern or neo-Kantian “neutrality toward worldviews” cannot be truly tolerant; it can only be indifferent.

George Weigel

confession: an acknowledgment of sin and a plea for divine mercy that recommitted the Church to living the truth it professed about the freedom of the human person. A community capable of such acts the community of the cathedral, if you will - is a community capable of learning from the past, capable of a reformed life. A community capable of such acts of public repentance is a community that can give a compelling account of its commitments to freedom. Can others? Can those who are a-theos - can the people of the cube - grapple with the dark passages in European history caused by radically secularist understandings of the human person, human community, and human destiny: the Reign of Terror, Nazism, and Communism?

Father de Lubac was fascinated by the history of ideas, which he knew to be fraught with “real world” consequences. Thus, during the early 1940s, he turned his attention to some of the most influential intellectual figures in pre-20th century European culture. The result was a book, “The Drama of Atheistic Humanism” [“Le Drame de l’humanisme athée”], which argued that the civilisational crisis in which Europe found itself during World War II was the product of a deliberate rejection of the God of the Bible in the name of authentic human liberation.

He summed up the results of this misbegotten union in these terms: “It is not true, as is sometimes said, that man cannot organise the world without God. What is true is that, without God, he can only organise it against man.”

That is what the tyrannies of the mid-20th century had proven ultramundane humanism is inevitably inhuman humanism. And inhuman humanism can neither sustain nor defend the democratic project. It can only undermine it or attack it.…

Absent convictions, and there is no tolerance; there is only indifference. Absent some compelling notion of the truth that requires us to be tolerant of those who have a different understanding of the truth, and there is only scepticism and relativism. And scepticism and relativism are very weak foundations on which to build and sustain a pluralistic democracy, for neither scepticism nor relativism, by their own logic, can “give an account” of why we should be tolerant and civil.

These concerns are not, let me repeat, the products of American Euro-phobia, nor are they the result of the sharp division between much of Europe and the US over the Iraq War. Indeed, there is nothing very original in my reading of Europe’s current condition: You can find the same points of concern in John Paul II’s 2003 apostolic exhortation, “Ecclesia in Europa.” There, the Pope suggests that, within Europe itself, there is an intuition that a “Europe” of political, legal and economic structures alone is insufficient. Like John Paul II, thoughtful Europeans are asking whether a “Europe” that represents the continent-wide triumph of bureaucratic regulation is all that might be hoped for.

anism and the Great Depression; then by World War II itself; and then by the Cold War. It was only after 1991, when the 77-year-long political-military crisis that began in 1914 had ended, that the longterm effects of Europe’s “rage of self-mutilation” could come to the surface of history and be seen for what they were - and for what

“It is not true, as is sometimes said, that man cannot organise the world without God. What is true is that, without God, he can only organise it against man.” That is what the tyrannies of the mid-20th century had proven - ultramundane humanism is inevitably inhuman humanism. And inhuman humanism can neither sustain nor defend the democratic project. It can only undermine it or attack it. …

- because of culture: a culture formed by a distinctive language, by a unique literature, and by an intense Catholic faith (which, in its noblest and deepest expressions, was ecumenical and tolerant, not xenophobic, as so many stereotypes have it). Poles know in their bones that culture is what drives history over the long haul.

This “Slavic view of history” is really a classically Christian way of

World War I, the Great War, was the product of a crisis of civilisational morality, a failure of moral reason in a culture that had given the world the very concept of “moral reason.” That crisis of moral reason led to a crisis of civilisational morale that is much with us today. This latter crisis has only become visible since the end of the Cold War. Its effects were first masked by the illusory peace between World War I and World War II; then by the rise of totalitari-

they are. The damage done to the fabric of European culture and civilisation in the Great War could only been seen clearly when the Great War’s political effects had been cleared from the board in 1991. Recognising that damage for what it is brings into sharper focus the contemporary European cultural and political situation and its lessons for the United States.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s insight

This, de Lubac suggested, was a great reversal. In the classical world, the gods, or Fate, played games with men and women, often with lethal consequences. In the face of these experiences, the revelation of the God of the Bible - the self-disclosure in history of the one God who was neither a willful tyrant (to be avoided) nor a carnivorous predator (to be appeased) nor a remote abstraction (to be safely ignored) was perceived as a great liberation. Human beings were neither the playthings of the

The argument over acknowledging any Christian contribution to the democratic civilisation of the 21st century may have clarified the understandings of “democracy” and “human rights” that shape contemporary European high culture and the political elite in the BrusselsParis-Berlin axis, but it also raised serious questions about Europe’s capacity to defend its democracy, morally and philosophically. If democratic institutions and procedures are the expressions of a distinctive way of life based on specific moral commitments, then democratic citizenship must be more than a matter of following the procedures and abiding by the laws and regulations agreed upon by the institutions. A democratic citizen is someone who can give an account of his or her commitment to human rights, to the rule of law and equality before the law, to decision-making by the majority and protection of the rights of minorities. Democratic citizenship means being able to tell why one affirms “the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, democracy, equality, freedom and the rule of law,” to cite the preamble to the European constitution. Who can give such an account? Here is one of the richest ironies involved in the question of the cube and the cathedral. The original charge against Christians in the Roman empire was that they were “athe-

In contrast to this thin account of tolerance - we should be tolerant because it works better - there is the argument for tolerance given by Pope John Paul II in his 1989 encyclical letter on Christian mission, “Redemptoris Missio” [The Mission of the Redeemer]. There the Pope taught that “The Church proposes; she imposes nothing.”

The Catholic Church respects the “other” as an “other” who is also a seeker of truth and goodness; the Church only asks that the believer and the “other” enter into a dialogue that leads to mutual enrichment rather than to a deeper scepticism about the possibility of grasping the truth of things.

The Catholic Church believes it to be the will of God that Christians be tolerant of those who have a different view of God’s will, or no view of God’s will. Thus Catholics (and other Christians who share this conviction) can “give an account” of their defence of the “other’s” freedom, even if the “other,” sceptical and relativist, finds it hard to “give an account” of the freedom of the Christian. That the Church did not always behave according to these convictions is obvious from history.

The point today is that the Church recognises, publicly, that acts of coercion undertaken in its name were offences against its own true doctrine. That is why, on March 12, 2000, Pope John Paul II led a “Day of Pardon” at St Peter’s Basilica. This was not an exercise in Catholic political correctness, nor was this pandering to approved victim groups. This was

The debate over the “invocatio Dei” in the new European constitution was also about the present and the future, not just the past. Those who insisted that there be no overt recognition that Christianity played a decisive role in the formation of European civilisation did not do so in the name of “tolerance,” despite their claims to the contrary. They did so because they are committed to the proposition that there can be politics-without-God: that a Europe free, tolerant, civil, and pluralistic can only be built as a public space from which the God of the Bible has been excluded.

That this position is shared by more than a few American political, judicial, intellectual, and cultural leaders is obvious, and suggests that what has been unfolding in Europe in recent decades indeed, over the past two centuries - could well be replicated in the United States (as it is already being replicated in Canada). To repeat, that is why “Europe’s problem” is, from an American point of view, “our” problem, too. - Zenit

This article is an edited version of an address given by George Weigel at the Gregorian University in Rome in December. Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Centre in Washington, and best known for his biography of Pope John Paul II, Witness to Hope, which was based on extensive personal interviews with John Paul II.

Vista OPINION REFLECTION

i say, i say

With Mark Reidy

Have you ever wondered why those around Jesus only ever saw the prostitute or adulterer when all He could see was the hurting person within? It’s something I’ve often pondered, and recently some light was shed on my understanding when I came across a simple Old Testament quote: “God does not see as man sees; they look at appearances, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7)

Unfortunately for our society one of the many pitfalls of secularization is that when we reject God we inadvertently reject His innate gift of being able to see beyond the

The weak will be history’s litmus test

dimension before us. The ramifications of this shallow perception are broad and far reaching. For without God we are incapable of the fullness of compassion that He desires of us.

In His absence we are left to resort to our own limited sensitivities and our responses instinctively become self-motivated rather than other-motivated.

As individuals this understanding can give us an awareness as to why we can so easily walk past a beggar on the street and can also explain how we can watch images of dying children on our televisions without any thought of selling our luxuries and sending money to feed them.

However my main concern today is how corporately this lack of insight has penetrated our communal psyche.

Earlier this year a leading politician responded to a tragic accident involving a car driven by and filled with children, with the

words, ”They should have been in school!” It is not that he was wrong in his observation; after all children shouldn’t be stealing cars and being pursued in high-speed chases.

However his instinctive retort was an example of the knee-jerk responses that appear to motivate our lawmakers.

Yes, of course we must immediately deal with the problem at hand, but so often it seems that society is too easily appeased with expedient governing and doesn’t demand a more comprehensive exploration of the causes.

Our political arena has been saturated with this type of cosmetic mentality.

We have laws now which have ensured that having an abortion is as accessible as ordering a pizza. It’s right there in the Yellow Pages… ”To terminate an unwanted pregnancy call us on 1800…” Yet the convenience, it seems, has only contributed to an escalation of

the epidemic and has in no way addressed the underlying causes.

Similarly the loosening of laws regarding prostitution appears to be tarnished with the same impetuosity. Rather than deal with the motives of why women would become involved in such an ignominious lifestyle, our society has simply accepted politicians’ band aiding of the problem.

The same can be said of the hundreds of thousands of dollars pumped into the area of drug rehabilitation. The response of lawmakers has been to pour money into the consequence of escalating drug use at the expense of preventive intervention.

It doesn’t seem to occur to politicians that pruning the branches of a tree that produces bad fruit will only, in the long term, accelerate the disease.

But such responses are not surprising in a society that has chosen to ignore God-given values in their political arena. In such a spiritual

vacuum it is inevitable that our instinctive urges of self-preservation will dictate our responses to the surroundings. We will innately choose the option that will best suit ourselves. So it should therefore be expected that a governing body in such an environment would choose the most expedient and less challenging course of action.

Unfortunately the consequence of such a self-centred philosophy is that we then become synonymous with all other animal species and are prone to their “survival of the fittest “ instincts. Our choices are made primarily on what is most advantageous to us, irrespective of the consequences for those who aren’t as adept at fending for themselves.

My father once told me that history would judge a society on how it protected its most vulnerable.

But even without the benefit of hindsight I have no doubt ours will be reviewed with great sadness and shame.

Does tsunami carnage mean God doesn't care?

comment

■ By Guy Crouchback

Writing on recent disasters, a contributor to the London Daily Telegraph said some people could use such things to argue against the existence of God: the evil done by human beings could be seen as the misuse of free will, but natural disasters had no such explanation. They seemed to suggest a blind, meaningless universe.

The writer of the Telegraph article (as might be expected, a far cruder version of the argument appeared in the Guardian) did not endorse this position. She pointed out that we see constructive as well as destructive acts in Nature all the time.

Indeed this could be taken further: the Creation points to a Creator, and life exists on Earth only through a series of miracles (The moon is unusually big but were it a little bigger its gravitational pull would skim off Earth's atmosphere. If it were a little smaller Earth's atmosphere would be too dense for life, as with moonless Venus. That is only one for a start).

God, Einstein said, does not play dice with the universe, and many theoretical physicists and astronomers who see a principle of design behind the universe are devout.

GK Chesterton in The Ballad of the White Horse has his hero, King Alfred the Great, say to the maurading, nihilistic Vikings: Our Lord has blessed Creation, Calling it good. I know

his hand,

But by God's Death the stars still stand, And the small apples grow. However, I think in this particu-

lar context this argument is not the whole point. We must separate tragedy and evil. A disaster where hundreds of thousands die is not an evil, any more than is the birth of a handicapped child or a single natural death that leaves bereavement (I am not denying, but not considering here the argument that an evil principle entered the Creation and sent it partly wrong a very long time ago).

A disaster or tragedy, great or small, is an opportunity for courage, kindness, devotion and the things which raise Mankind above the

natural creation. It reminds

humans that they

were

created as spiritual beings.

A disaster or tragedy, great or small, is an opportunity for courage, kindness, devotion and the things which raise Mankind above the natural creation. It reminds humans that they were created as spiritual beings. To live in a world without such a challenge would be to live in a Limbo-like state where our courage and charity were never tested or schooled, and where we would be unable to advance as spiritual beingsinto the sort of creatures which, Christians believe, God wants us to become. The fact the Russian town of Beslan, scene of last year's ter-

rorist massacre of school-children, has raised $45,000 to help the Asian tsunami victims, is evidence that humans are not random collections of atoms but are created beings with spiritual natures.

In The Screwtape Letters CS Lewis had the cunning old demon Screwtape advise a naive junior devil not to rejoice too much in the misery, pain and terror which disasters and wars caused to humans. Such things, he said regretfully, could work against Evil and for Good at least as much as the other way around, for they let humans show their finest and most heroic and generous qualities, reminded them that they were spiritual, not wholly material, beings, and showed nobility, courage and generosity as so obviously lovely and valuable that the tricks of Hell to make vice appear attractive and virtue appear contemptible evaporated.

Screwtape did not see the deathtolls of disasters as being spiritually very important: humans were partly spirits with the potential to live forever as children of God.

The fact that they were all going to die sometime, he said, he already knew. What mattered was the state of mind in which they died and entered into eternal life.

When, at the end of the book, the young air-raid warden on whose damnation Screwtape and his pupil were working died bravely doing his duty, Hell was dismayed and Heaven received his soul.

Guy Crouchback writes a regular I Say, I Say column for The Record.

The spirit with which you blindly band Has blessed destruction with

An Indian man and woman mourn the death of their 8-year-old son who was killed when a tsunami hit Cuddalore, India, on December 26. Photo: CNS

■

Great Holiday reading!

De-coding

Da Vinci

The facts behind the fiction of The Da Vinci Code

■ By

Amy Welborn

Available from The Record $23.40 inc postage

Custodians of churches and other sites in Europe are being driven crazy by American tourists wandering through the middle of church services and other occasions talking loudly and snapping everything with their digital cameras that they think proves the Da Vinci Code is true. Here, Amy Welborn (an American who doesn’t talk loudly) provides the answers you’ve been looking for, the ones your family, friends and co-workers have been asking you about. Great reading!

Open Embrace

A Protestant couple re-thinks contraception.

■ By

Sam and Bethany Torode

■

■

Available from The Record $20 inc postage

Great reading about the BIG subject so many Catholics and non-Catholics assume – without thinking too much –the Catholic Church is wrong about.

In this beautiful and sensitively-written book a young Protestant couple find that it’s really everyone else that needs to re-assess their assumptions – not the Church. Excellent gift for young couples preparing for marriage.

A

of Sir Hal P Colebatch

■ By Hal Colebatch

Available from The Record $36 inc postage

Foreword by Geoffrey Blainey

Our political system does not encourage those who have minds of their own to express opinions.

I have therefore sometimes wondered whether it is possible for a politician who allows his intellect to rule his advocacy, and who is not constantly for any faction, including the party which endorses him, to get to the top… Sir Hal Colebatch was such a man.

THE WORLD

17 die in 2004 for Christ

2004’s Martyrs for the Faith - Vatican lists 15 Missionaries who suffered violent deaths

Seventeen missionaries -- priests, religious and laity -- lost their lives in 2004 at the hands of robbers or assassins.

The Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples published statistics about the missionaries and ecclesiastical personnel who were killed or who sacrificed their lives last year, aware of the dangers they faced in carrying out their apostolates and witness to the faith.

Africa registered the greatest number of deaths: five priests, and a man and woman religious. In the Americas (in Mexico, Guatemala and Chile) at least three priests died, in addition to a priest slain in Colombia.

Asia “seems to live in a special way fundamentalist tensions,” the Vatican dicastery said. It said that three Catholic Pakistani youths were beaten to death under false accusations or under pressure to make them renounce the faith.

In India, a priest was found dead after suffering threats for visiting Hindu families, where he had been well-received, the congregation said.

The victims paid “a heavy price of blood … for the growth of the Church in the world, a price that rarely made it into the news, said Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Vatican congregation.

“We don’t know all the motives that caused their death,” the cardinal added. But “among some of them the causes for the faith were clear, which determined their witness.”

“Nor can we forget the long list of slain Catholics in Iraq or the many ‘unknown soldiers of the faith’ in all corners of the world, of those who perhaps will never make news,” the dicastery said through the Fides agency. This was the list of slain missionaries:

■ 63-year-old Brother Ignacio García Alonso, headmaster of the College of the Brothers of Christian Schools, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, was killed with a machete in his office Feb. 6.

■ Father César Darío Peña Garcia, 43, a parish priest at Raudal in Valdivia, Colombia, was kidnapped March 16 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On July 30 the diocesan vicar of Santa Rosa de Osos affirmed that the local Church was certain that the priest had been killed while in captivity.

■ Comboni Father Luciano Fulvi, 76, was found dead with a stab wound on March 31 in his room at the Catholic Mission of

Layibi, in the outskirts of Gulu, Uganda

■ Javed Anjum, a 19-year-old Catholic Pakistani student from Quetta, died on May 2 in a hospital from 26 stab wounds inflicted by a Muslim teacher and group of students from the Jamia Hassan bin Almurtaza School of Islam near Islamabad. They had tried to force him to convert to Islam.

■ Samuel Masih, a Catholic Pakistani youth arrested and accused of blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed in August 2003, died in hospital on May 28 from injuries suffered in prison at the hands of Islamic fundamentalist prison guards.

■ Father Ramon Navarrete Islas, a 56-year-old Mexican priest, was found dead in the house next to the parish church where he was serving at Ciudad Juarez. His body was found on July 6 with numerous stab wounds in the chest.

■ Servite Father Faustino Gazziero, 69, was stabbed to death on July 24 at the end of evening Mass in the cathedral of Santiago, Chile. The Italian-born priest was attacked and stabbed by a young man as the priest was returning to the sacristy.

■ Father Eusebio Manuel Sazo Urbina, 45, parish priest at the Divine Saviour of the

World Church in the suburbs of Guatemala City, was killed July 31.

■ Nasir Masih, Pakistani Catholic aged 26, was abducted from his home on August 16 in the district of Baldia Siekhupoura, 45 kilometres from Lahore, by a group of fundamentalist Muslims who accused him of stealing. A few hours later the police informed the family that Masih was under arrest. Three days later the police said he had died in prison. His body showed numerous wounds and bruises.

■ Father Job Chittilappilly, 71, was found dead with numerous stab wounds on August 28 in his home next to the parish church of Our Lady of Grace in the village of Thuruthiparambu, Kerala, India.

■ Father Gerard Fitzsimons, 63, was found dead on October 2 at his home next to the Church of St. Mary and St. Joseph in Colesberg, South Africa.

■ Father Macrino Nájera Cisneros, a 42-year-old parish priest at Jilotlan, Mexico, was slain Oct. 18 during a reception following a first-Communion Mass.

■ Father Gerard Nzeyimana, 65, episcopal vicar of the Diocese of Bururi, in Burundi, was killed on October 19 while traveling with other people in a car from Bururi to Bujumbura.

Book to answer questions

The U.S. bishops’ Committee on Liturgy has issued a resource booklet encouraging and explaining adoration of the Eucharist outside Mass. Titled “Thirty-One Questions on Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,” the 41-page booklet highlights the importance of eucharistic adoration and its relation to the Mass. It explains the difference between adoration of the Eucharist in the tabernacle and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Appendixes include the texts of church regulations on worship of the Eucharist outside Mass, the reservation and exposition of the Eucharist, eucharistic processions and eucharistic congresses. “Eucharistic adoration extends holy Communion in a lasting way and prepares us to participate more fully in the celebration of the eucharistic mystery,” the booklet says. “Pope John Paul II calls worship of the most holy Eucharist outside Mass ‘an important daily practice (that) becomes an inexhaustible source of holiness,’” the booklet adds.

Political change for Palestinians

■ Father John Hannon, 65, a Missionary of the Society of African Missions, was found dead on November 25 at St. Barnaba Parish at Matasia, in the Diocese of Ngong, near Nairobi, Kenya.

According to the police a gang of men entered the parish complex around midnight after tying up the watchman. The intruders probably aimed to steal and ended up attacking and murdering the Irish-born priest, police said.

■ Father Kazimir Viseticki, 66, was killed during the night of November 17. His body was found the next day bound and covered in blood in the house next to the parish where he was parish priest.

■ Father Javier Francisco Montoya, 45, from the Diocese of Istmina-Tado, was taken hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on December 8 while on his way to the town of Novita. On December 24 the bishop of the diocese was told the priest had been executed and buried.

■ Sister Christiane Philippon, 58, regional superior of the Congregation of Notre Dame des Apôtres, was killed early on December 26 in Chad, on the road from Ba Hilli to N’Djamena.

Palestinians are hopeful that the January 9 presidential election will bring about a change in the political and social spheres, said a Bethlehem University political science professor. “After the death of (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat, the people are realising that maybe Arafat was an impediment for the Israelis and the United States, and they are hopeful that there is a chance to see a normalisation of their living conditions,” said the professor, Manuel Hassassian, an Armenian Catholic. With the leading candidate for the presidency, Mahmoud Abbas, acceptable to the United States and Israel, there is a “mood of optimism” among Palestinians who believe his less militaristic public stance will have a favorable effect on their lives, he said. “We are at a crossroads, testing the waters. It is important to see both now and after (the election) how things fall into place,” said Hassassian. “We want free and open elections.”

More body bags

The Indonesian Catholic centre has received a request for more body bags. The request came despite the great need for food, water and medicines. The request was made by volunteers in the stricken Aceh province. “People in Aceh have asked us to send more body bags because many of the bodies have not been evacuated yet,” Father Ignatius Ismartono, chairman of the centre, told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

Consolata Father Giuseppe Giovanetti, centre, visits students at a Catholic school in Bati Bora, Ethiopia. The Italian missionary increased enrollment by promising to decrease monthly tuition payments if enough students arrived.

Photo: CNS

Miracles needed to make a saint

Vatican official: Church always needed proof of saint’s intercession

■ By Cindy Wooden

From the earliest days, the Catholic Church would declare someone a saint only when there was a widespread reputation of holiness and some evidence that favours were granted through the person’s intercession, a Vatican official said.

Msgr Robert J Sarno of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, said, “Graces, favours and miracles were always part of the process,” although the number and type of favours and the process for verifying them has changed throughout the centuries.

“Whether a miracle should be required for beatification and canonization has been a matter of continuing theological discussion,” he said on January 3, adding that he knows of no recent

Prayers published

Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal who was injured in a nearfatal accident earlier this year, recently completed a compilation of devotional prayers called “Praying to Our Lord Jesus Christ: Prayers and Meditations

Through the Centuries.”

The 156-page book, published by Ignatius Press, is illustrated with images of classic art and includes prayers from early church fathers, medieval theologians and modern-day saints.

Father Groeschel, in the book’s introduction, said the collection of prayers was “written under rather difficult circumstances” due to his hospitalisation. But he added that he wanted to “bring out a small book of prayers to Christ in order to encourage every Catholic, every Christian, to pray devoutly and fervently every day to Christ.”

He said the prayers are not simply meant to be read, but intended for meditation and personal prayer

The 71-year-old priest who is internationally known for his retreat work and appearances on Mother Angelica’s EWTN cable network, has kept up with writing, by dictation, and has edited several books during his recovery. He was severely injured after he was hit by a car while walking across a Florida intersection Jan. 11, 2004.

Some of his other books include “The Rosary: Chain of Hope,” “Arise From Darkness,” “A Still Small Voice” and “The Reform of Renewal.” - CNS

formal proposals to change the current practice. While the current requirements of one miracle for beatification and another for canonization are matters of church

law, which can change, the church always has insisted that its formally proclaimed saints “are worthy of imitation and have interceded” with God to answer the prayers of

the faithful, he said. The church, he said, needs “some indication of divine confirmation that the person is in heaven.”

The question of the miracle requirement was raised after Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa, the former secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said that years ago his former boss, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, discussed the possibility of removing the requirement of a miracle for beatification and for canonization.

“Cardinal Ratzinger told me that in the canonical processes he had proposed that the Pope abolish the need for recognition of a miracle,” Cardinal Bertone was reported as saying on December 17 during a conference marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Father Giuseppe Frassinetti. "If the proposal had gone forward, Cardinal Bertone said, “it is certain that a priest like Giuseppe Frassinetti would be a saint already.” The

beatification of Father Frassinetti, a Genoa pastor and confessor, has been delayed because no miracle attributed to his intercession has been approved.

In the December 26 edition of its weekly newspaper, the Archdiocese of Genoa said Cardinal Bertone had emphasized that Cardinal Ratzinger’s suggestion was “a hypothesis,” not a formal proposal.

Some newspapers, the archdiocese said, “gave the impression that the hypothesis would be realized,” when, in fact, it was never formally proposed. In a September 2003 interview, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, said miracles are important, especially because a canonization involves a papal declaration that the candidate is with God in heaven.

“Miracles serve as a confirmation from on high that the human judgment of the holiness of a servant of God is not wrong,” he said. - CNS

Instruction used to save lives found

‘46 instruction says baptized Jewish youths needed Catholic education

■ By Cindy Wooden

A 1946 instruction, apparently approved by Pope Pius XII, said Jewish children who had been baptized to save them from the Nazis were to be entrusted only to families or institutions that would guarantee their continuing education in the faith.

The French-language instruction was found recently in Catholic Church archives in France, and an Italian translation was published on December 28 by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The translation accompanied an article by Alberto Melloni, a noted church historian, whose Bologna, Italy-based Institute for Religious Sciences is in the process of publishing the diaries of Archbishop Angelo Roncalli, the Vatican ambassador to France after the war, who became Pope John XXIII.

The instruction was dated as October 20, 1946, and ends with a statement that “this decision of the Congregation of the Holy Office (the predecessor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) was approved by the Holy Father,” Pope Pius XII.

“As regards Jewish children who, during the German occupation, were entrusted to Catholic institutions and families and are now being reclaimed by Jewish institutions,” the note begins, “the children who were baptized cannot be entrusted to institutions unable to ensure their Christian education.”

“If the children were entrusted (to the church) by their parents

and if the parents now reclaim them, they can be returned, as long as the children have not received baptism,” the document said.

Melloni wrote in Corriere della Sera that although the future Pope John certainly saw the note he made no mention of the note or its consequences in his diaries.

Just three months before the Holy Office statement was written, Melloni said, then-Archbishop Roncalli wrote a letter to the chief rabbi of Palestine, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, authorizing him to use the archbishop’s name in the campaign to identify Jewish children sheltered by Catholics and to reunite them with family members or take them to Israel.

Jesuit Father Pierre Blet, a historian and expert on the Vatican during World War II, told the Italian

Catholic newspaper Avvenire that the document was not anti-Jewish, but rather a defence of church teaching in force at the time.

“On the basis of the canon law of that period, it was obligatory to provide a Catholic education to a person who had been baptized,” Father Blet said. While canon law also forbade people from baptizing children against the will of the children’s parents, if someone was baptized according to the proper formula, they were considered Catholic, he added.

However, Father Blet said, the Vatican’s reaffirmation of church law did not mean the Vatican did not understand the massive confusion in Europe at the time, nor was it insensitive to Jewish feelings about children who had been hidden.

Often, he said, “canon law was not applied because, considering the fate of the parents, it would have appeared to be profiting from a drama. But there were not many of these kinds of cases.”

Father Blet, Melloni and other historians writing about the Vatican note in late December said the usual practice was not to baptize the children, but rather to issue false baptismal certificates for them.

Father Blet said the December 26 publication of the note was the work of forces “who do not want the beatification of Pius XII.”

Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, postulator of the Pope’s cause, agreed.

Father Gumpel also said the note did not appear to come from the Vatican, although it may have been an incomplete summary of the Vatican’s position.

St Gianna Beretta Molla, a modern-day working mother and wife, was canonized by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on May 16, 2004. Photo: CNS

A monument by Nandor Glid evokes the millions of Jews who perished in death camps under the Nazi regime. The sculpture is located between the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and the Hall of Remembrance in Jerusalem. Pope John Paul II is to visit the museum on his tour of the Holy Land March 20-26. Photo: CNS

Tharp, Hamilton and Co.

of meaning on the “-edict” part of the name!

- posted by Fr Hamilton

Readers of The Record

may be interested to read the following excerpts, recently lifted from the Internet. The following column will, however, probably be mainly of interest to those readers of The Record who happen to be (a) connected to the Internet and (b) ordained

Eggs Tharp-edict

It’s eggs Benedict with a Fr Tharp twist. You see, it is rarely good enough for Fr Tharp to simply make a well-known recipe as it is known or to follow convention in cooking, rather he likes to add a twist or introduce a variation into popular food dishes. For example, the dessert at the dinner before his Penance Rite was a variation of German Chocolate Cake. Rather than frosting the cake as normal, he made a caramel, toasted coconut, and toasted almond sauce (thick like a frosting) which he drizzled on moist chocolate cake. Well, the following morning, before I departed Alva to return to my pastoral field, Fr Tharp made a variation on Eggs Benedict. I had never had Eggs Benedict before (and I guess I technically still haven’t, given the variation on the theme). Rather than use Canadian bacon (which I really don’t care for anyway), Fr Tharp used regular bacon together with the toasted English muffin, poached eggs (cooked with taragon), and bearnaise sauce. It was delicious. I came up with the name Eggs Tharp-edict. Now that name is appropriate for at least two reasons: (1) It is Fr Tharp’s variation on the theme and so his name is a natural to use; and, (2) Fr Tharp’s dogmatic nature and tendency to make definitive statements reveals another layer

Finding Neverland

Beautifully crafted and affecting - if occasionally somber - fictionalised story about the fondness of playwright JM Barrie (Johnny Depp) for a widow (Kate Winslet) and her four young sons who inspire him to write his greatest success, “Peter Pan.” Marc Forster deftly captures the 1903 period ambience, and has drawn fine performances from Depp (in one

A bit of original humour

With Fr Hamilton’s computer on the fritz, this is the perfect opportunity to tell everyone about the shenanigans here at Sacred Heart that took place after the Advent Penance Rite on Monday, December 6.

I was lying on the couch talking to Fr H when I mentioned that I had heard a couple of new “knockknock” jokes. I started with the one from Cursillo:

Fr Shane Tharp: Knock, knock.

Fr Stephen Hamilton: Who’s there?

Fr Shane Tharp: Obsessive-compulsive control freak... okay, okay, now you have to say ‘Obsessivecompulsive control freak WHO?’ Okay?

Then there was one my niece loved:

Fr Shane Tharp: Knock, knock.

Fr Stephen Hamilton: Who’s there?

Fr Shane Tharp: Rude, interrupting cow.

Fr Stephen Hamilton: Rude, interrupting…

Fr Shane Tharp: MOO!

Once his defences were down, I moved in for the kill:

Fr T: Knock, knock...

Fr H: Who’s there?

Fr T: Pious fraud.

Fr H: Pious fraud who?

Fr T: Fr Hamilton.

I knew I was safe from reprisal, as Fr H couldn’t stop laughing and gasping for breath for several seconds. - posted by Fr Shane Tharp

Yes, dear readers, as you can see from the above, Fathers Shane Tharp, Stephen Hamilton and J.C. Garrett are not your average blokes. The are, in fact, bloggers, that peculiar brand of individual who muses publicly, free of charge, to an international audience. Furthermore,

they have come up with the entirely original name for their blogsite ‘Catholic Ragemonkey.” Don’t ask me what it means or what the injoke is as I haven’t got the faintest idea. But you really should pay it some attention.

I am not going to spend a lot of time telling you what you can find on this website except to say that some of it is quite funny, but much of it is spiritual and informative in matters of faith. It is also quite uplifting for another reason: woven in between the anecdotes are the entirely normal thoughts, speculations, musings and opinions of three young priests, men whose entire vocation is portrayed with suspicion and innuendo almost everywhere you look in the media these days. But read entries such as ‘Why I like being a Priest’ (which can be tracked down in this site’s archives) and you find the truth: that priesthood really is for normal men who have been given a unique vocation by God. And there’s no doubt that, reading these entries, you discover that these men are entirely normal, and also very special.

Once again, like previous blogger Julie, who I got enthusiastic about a fortnight or so ago, when one spends some time browsing these Catholic blogsites, one discovers that there is a very large and interesting variety of Catholic bloggers out there all trying to use the Internet to spread a little light in a medium that is, by all accounts, used mainly for nasty things like pornography.

Another thing I like is that these bloggers - lay, religious and clerical - are not lying down, overwhelmed by the way that the entire developed world appears to be bent on self-annihilation.

Another interesting aspect of what they are doing, although I’m not sure that this was specifically their intention, is that when orders such as the Dominicans first started out they went out into the highways and byways, the markets and the pubs and places like these to preach the Gospel of Jesus. Today I wonder where are we, as Catholics, doing this? A place called Almost Precious Nowhere, is my guess. But one possible answer is the Internet; it is in many ways, the marketplace of ideas for the 21st century.

of his finest roles),

Their blogsite, should you be interested, can be found on the Internet at http://ragemonkey.blogspot.com

I’ll leave it at that, and let Fr Tharp do the talking:

You are not going to believe this...

One of my great parishioners is married to a great guy from the Lutheran Church in town. He attends our Catechism class with his wife and it is a really cordial arrangement.

Well, one Sunday after discussing why the Catholic Church practices closed communion, he brought me a copy of the bulletin from his congregation. You can guess how shocked I was to see the following announcement:

“In Christian Love and as intended by Christ and practised by the one, holy, Christian, and apostolic Church throughout her history, “Closed Communion” is observed inthisCongregation.Inaccordance with the word of God (Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 10:17; I Corinthians 11:27-30; Romans 16:17) the Lord’s supper is distributed only to those who:

(a) Have been baptized

(b) Have been instructed in the truth of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and now confess these doctrines.

(c) Believe Christ’s real body and real blood are truly present, distributed, and orally received for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

(d) Who sincerely repent of all their sins, and desire to receive God’s forgiveness in this holy meal.

Guests are asked to affirm these facts with our Pastor (I Corinthians 4:1) or an Elder prior to receiving the sacrament. If you are looking for a church home and would like to know more about the Christian Faith please contact our Pastor about our membership classes.”

A few days after reading this, I bumped into the Lutheran pastor at the local Wal-Mart. I stopped and said to him, “I saw what you wrote in your bulletin concerning Holy Communion and I wanted to commend you for that. Thank

and some mildly coarse language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II - adults and adolescents.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Wacky animated comedy-adventure about a yellow sea sponge (voiced by Tom Kenny) who, along with his starfish best friend (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) must recover King Neptune’s crown in order to save their underwater home

you for acting like Holy Eucharist matters and is more than a bare symbol. Thank you on behalf of the Catholic Church.” The pastor looked like I could have knocked him down with a feather.

Contrary to what some of you might be thinking, this is a positive step for the Lutheran community, if this guy is emblematic of the up and coming pastorate. Granted the statement has some interesting weak points, e.g. what does he understand “apostolic” to mean, it still shows necessary growth toward unity.

So, what’s next to do? I plan to have him and his lovely wife over for dinner. After that, I will have to play by ear. Personally, I have this fantasy where I convert him and his entire congregation to the Catholic Faith. Then I could call the bishop and say, “Would you mind coming up here and assisting me with the Easter Vigil. Why? Well, I am going to be initiating the ENTIRE Lutheran congregation in Alva into the Church and without the assistance of someone else to confirm, I am going to be here all night!”

What do you guys think? What hurdles do you anticipate he will have to overcome? And remember him and his congregation in your prayers.

- posted by Fr S.T.

Identifying the moment when one becomes a grown-up

Lots of folks have lots of standards by which they measure maturity. Mine’s really simple.

If you receive a catalogue of office supplies, and you have to fight back the urge to curl up with it like it were War and Peace, or worse a copy of the Toys R Us Christmas Toy Book, then you officially are a grown-up.

I should know. I did the exact thing when the 2005 Big Book of Business Supplies arrived.

- posted by Fr S.T.

from the diabolical plans of an evil amoeba. Based on the hugely popular TV cartoon and directed by “SpongeBob” creator Stephen Hillenburg, the whimsical featurelength film plays like an extended episode of the television show, staying true to the series’ kidfriendly tone and imparting a positive believe-in-yourself message that celebrates childhood innocence. A few scenes of menace and some mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-Igeneral patronage. - CNS

Winslet, Julie Christie and Freddie Highmore as the boy who became the inspi-

ration for Peter Pan. Some thematic material - marital discord and the mother’s tragic illness -

Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore in a scene from the movie Finding Neverland.

Photo: CNS

movie brief

classifieds

6 January, 2005, The Record

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14/15 Disciples of Jesus Summer Camp - Archbishop Hickey

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OFFICIAL DIARY

15 Commissioning Mass and Closing Dinner of Australian FertilityCare Education Program, NDA - Fr Brian O’Loughlin VG

HUMOUR: I'M MY OWN GRANDPA

Many many years ago when I was twenty three, I got married to a widow who was pretty as could be.

This widow had a grown-up daughter Who had hair of red. My father fell in love with her, And soon the two were wed.

This made my dad my son-in-law And changed my very life. My daughter was my mother, For she was my father’s wife.

To complicate the matters worse, Although it brought me joy, I soon became the father Of a bouncing baby boy.

My little baby then became A brother-in-law to dad. And so became my uncle, Though it made me very sad.

For if he was my uncle, Then that also made him brother To the widow’s grown-up daughter Who, of course, was my step-mother.

Father’s wife then had a son, Who kept them on the run. And he became my grandson, For he was my daughter’s son.

My wife is now my mother’s mother And it makes me blue. Because, although she is my wife, She’s my grandmother, too.

If my wife is my grandmother, Then I am her grandchild. And every time I think of it, It simply drives me wild.

For now I have become The strangest case you ever saw. As the husband of my grandmother, I am my own grandpa!

15/16 Edmund Rice Camp for Kids - Archbishop Hickey

16 Mass for Feast of Santo Nino, St Joachim’s Victoria Park - Bishop Sproxton

20 Presentation of Youth Books at Year 12s Mater Dei College Executive Camp, St Thomas More College - Archbishop Hickey

PANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese

Sunday January 9

ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK

1 - 2 pm on Access 31: Faith Journey of JeanFrancois Thibeault, former Hare Krishna with Marcus Grodi (Journey Home: Canada).Evil flourishes when good people do nothing. The media is often used to marginalise belief in God and family values. We have a right and a responsibility to use it for good. Please support the New Evangelisation by your prayers, promotion, and financial help to keep programs on Access 31. The Rosary Christian Tutorial Association, PO Box 1270, Booragoon 6954. enq: 9330 1170. Web site: http://www.cathworld.org/worlds/org/media/

Sunday January 9

GATE OF HEAVEN

Please join us this Sunday at 7.30pm on 107.9 FM, Radio Fremantle, for more Global Catholic Radio. This week we will feature: (1) The Late Archbishop Fulton J Sheen; How to Lead a Double Life. (2) Fr John Corapi; Christian Prayer Part I. Donations toward the program may be sent to Gate of Heaven, PO Box 845, Claremont, WA 6910. Programs subject to change without notice.

Monday January 10

NORTHERN SUBURBS MENTAL HEALTH

SUPPORT GROUP

The Northern Suburbs Mental Health Support Group provides support and understanding for those living with or caring for someone with a mental illness. The next meeting for the Nollamara group is at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Centre, 28

New head

Pope John Paul II has named Italian Bishop Elio Sgreccia, the founding director of a Rome university bioethics centre, as the new president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Bishop Sgreccia, 76, had served as vice president of the academy since Pope John Paul established the body in 1994 to

Marda Way, Nollamara from 7.30-9pm. For further details, please contact Pat 9275 2809 or Barbara 9328 8113.

Monday January 10

LEEDERVILLE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP

Coffee, Chat & Christmas Cake at 10am. Parish Centre, 40 Franklin St, Leederville. Everybody welcome. Enq: Harry Mithen 9444 4626.

Wednesday January 19

ANNUAL MASS AND REUNION

SIC New Norcia/Marist, Newman College, Empire Ave, Churchlands. Mass will be celebrated by Marist old boy Priests at 4pm in the Newman College Chapel. All interested are welcome. The annual reunion will follow adjoining the chapel. BYO everything. Enq: John Monkhouse 9409 8529 or 0419 914 340.

Sunday January 16

SAINT NINO FIESTA

Damayang Filipino Inc and the Filipino community in Perth will celebrate the feast of St Nino, honouring the Holy Infant Jesus with a solemn Mass at 11.30am at St Joachim’s Catholic Church at 122 Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Bishop Don Sproxton and another priest will concelebrate the Holy Mass. All welcome. Entrance to the Church carpark is at the back.

Sunday January 23

QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS

Bible Forum of Religious Studies presentation of

promote scientific studies related to the promotion and defence of human life from conception to natural death.

The Italian bishop succeeds Dr Juan Vial Correa, a physician, biologist and rector of the Catholic University of Santiago, Chile, who presided over the academy for 10 years. Bishop Sgreccia’s appointment was announced on January 3 at the Vatican.

First part of Four Part Series at All Saints Chapel, 77 Allendale Square St George’s Terrace, Perth. Program topics: Bible Focus 3pm; Church History 4pm; True Devotion to Mary 5.30pm; 6.15pm Rosary and Benediction. Remaining series: 20 Feb, 20 Mar and 17 Apr at the same times.

Sunday January 23

FUNDRAISER

Cross Roads Community Portuguese Sardine Festival is being held at St Jerome’s in Spearwood at 1pm. Please ring CRC on 9319 8344 for information.

Wednesday January 26

BULLSBROOK SHRINE

Sunday Pilgrimage Program. Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. 1.30pm Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. 2pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Rosary, 2.30pm Holy Mass. Anointing of the sick is administered during Holy Mass every second Sunday of the month. The side entrance to the Church is open daily between 9am and 5pm for private prayer. Enq: SACRI 9447 3292.

FRANCISCANS OF THE IMMACULATE

Munster Building Project Car Raffle Results: 1st: 12555, 2nd: 51719, 3rd: 25691. All winners have been notified. The Franciscans of the Immaculate thank all of you for your generous support.

DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOURS

The Divine Mercy Apostolate invites you all to come

THE WORLD IN BRIEF

Movements

Four decades after the Second Vatican Council, the lay movements that have thrived from its focus on the active participation and responsibility of every Catholic seem to be reaching a level of maturity. Many of the movements are viewed with suspicion by some members of the church, and some move-

and join us by rolling out the red carpet for Jesus in the following churches; St Mary’s Cathedral each first Sunday of the month 1.30pm-3.15pm with a different priest each month. St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St East Perth each Saturday 2.30pm-3.30pm. There are approximately 20 Divine Mercy Holy Hours held each week throughout the Archdiocese of Perth. Enq: John 9457 7771.

THE LIVING PRESENCE

Video is available for viewing in each parish in the Archdiocese of Perth at the request of the Parish Priest at a time suitable for their parish. Sponsored by The Divine Mercy Apostolate. Enq: John 9457 7771 or 0412 185 209.

SEPERATED, DIVORCED, WIDOWED

The Beginning Experience is running Coping programs to assist people in learning to close the door gently on a relationship that has ended in order to get on with living. The next courses will commence on January 8 & 15 in Busselton and January 22 & 29 in Perth. Enq: Bev 9315 9303 (Perth) or Audrey 9752 4139 (Busselton).

2005 JOSEPHITE CALENDARS

With Mary MacKillop’s word – inspirations from her writings matched with attractive colour photos. Major church feasts and Sundays of the Liturgical year, and many other features. Suitable for home, office, classroom, waiting room, staffroom etc. $5.50 each. Enq: Sister Maree 9334 0933.

ments still exhibit defensiveness, but the overwhelming support of Pope John Paul II and supervision by the Pontifical Council for the Laity are bringing balance to the situation. Belonging to a lay movement, Bible study or prayer group may help someone be a better Catholic, but the groups have not replaced parishes as the structure through which Catholics belong to the church, Vatican officials said.

“You become a Catholic thanks to baptism, you are part of the church thanks to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and you grow in the faith nourished by the Eucharist,” said Guzman Carriquiry, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Catholics should find all those ingredients for living their faith in their parish, but many have been helped by lay movements and associations, he said. - CNS

attractions will include

The Last Word

Re-igniting our belief in the Eucharist

Catholic Apologist and founder of St Gabriel Communications

Raymond de Souza believes attending the Flame Ministries International Eucharistic Congress this month is important for a number of reasons.

“So much concern and teaching effort surely indicates a very serious situation to safeguard the Faith of millions!” he said.

With Pope John Paul having announced 2004-2005 as Year of the Eucharist, Flame Ministries International have organised a number of keynote speakers for the 15th Annual Flame Congress, from January 28 to 30 and titled Bread from Heaven.

Cathedral Choir Director Fr Timothy Deeter and FMI Director, author and Catholic Evangelist Eddie Russell will also speak.

Mr de Souza went on to say Flame’s congress is important because, slowly but surely, more and more Catholics view the Eucharist as nothing more than an item in a liturgical service; a “pious symbol”, if you will; or a “sacred thing,” at best.

“But no longer the Real Presence of Jesus Christ among us in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity,” he said.

Mr de Souza said it is important to pay attention to what the Church is providing us through the Holy Father who wrote the Encyclical letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia and

declared the 2004-2005 Year of the Eucharist. “The Australian Bishops’ Conference also published a collective Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist to which we should pay much attention.”

Mr de Souza mentioned that statistics in Australia today show that only 15% of Catholics go to Mass regularly.

“Worse still, at most only 5% of teenagers who leave our Catholic school system still go to Mass.”

“Flame’s congress will make a powerful contribution to help redress the situation,” he said.

“It will call on all participants to make a commitment to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady and the Holy Father.

Mr Russell added that healing related to the Eucharist is an aspect little understood.

“St Paul connects proclaiming the death of Christ and discerning the body and blood with physical health and life,”

“When understood we can expect this to take effect in some manner at Holy Communion, so we will also have prayer ministry for the sick during the Congress.”

Bishop Sproxton, who will conduct the opening session, has been a speaker at previous FMI Congress events for the past three years.

“In the Year of the Rosary, his talk on “The Institution of the Eucharist” was a powerful insight into its history from the Old Testament to its

institution at the Last Supper,” Mr Russell said.

“At the Receiving the Mercy of God Congress in 2004, he spoke of Divine Mercy in the Mass,”

“Now, in the Year of the Eucharist Bishop Sproxton will explain why

the Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith which now makes a powerful trilogy that sets the pace for the other speakers and subjects at this Congress,” he said.

The Congress will be held at the All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square

commencing at 7.30pm on Friday, January 28 with music by Flame Music Ministry.

Enquiries can be made to Flame Ministries International on 9382 3668 and by email, fmi@flameministries. org. Web: www.flameministries.org.

Flame Music Ministry

Bishop Don Sproxton

Raymond de Souza

Patrick Carre