Sugar Coated homophobia

Sugar-Coated Homophobia
Pastor Joel Osteen is one of the most popular preachers in the country, and the author of several best-selling books that help people achieve "their best life now." Gay Rights blogger Michael Jones writes that while Pastor Osteen has made a name for himself selling a friendlier version of religion, there's still a sour dose of homophobia that lies at the core of his sugar-coated message. It reared its ugly head this week, when Pastor Osteen boldly claimed that "homosexuality is not God's best." On the contrary, we humbly suggest to Pastor Osteen that homophobic preachers are not likely to be a loving God's best. (Read more)

Making an ass of human rights

Editorial 

The Tablet 7 November 2009

Making an ass of human rights

What is a crucifix? It is not a symbol of the almighty power of the Catholic Church, but a representation of one innocent man’s agonising death at the hands of the state, after torture and a sham trial – in other words, a gross human-rights violation. Catholics believe that that innocent man is also the Son of God, but the depiction is realistic, not metaphysical. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights to order the removal of crucifixes from the walls of state schools in Italy is therefore one of the worst examples of human-rights legislation bringing the wrong result for the wrong reasons. The real damage is to the cause of human rights itself: the decision makes not only the law look an ass but also the court and the convention it is supposed to uphold. To Catholics, moreover, Christ’s suffering on the Cross is a sign of his human and divine solidarity with all who suffer cruelty and injustice, an example that has comforted and encouraged countless victims of torture and oppression down the centuries. Read fulll text here

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Call for Catholic Men to Apologise to Women of the Church

This is  "An Invitation to Catholic Men to apologise to the Women of the Church". It arises from an initiative of  a small group of Australians concerned with the Church's attitude to women, which they see as a matter of justice, of basic human rights.

They suggest it is time to correct the glaring injustice of women being confined to secondary status in the Body of Christ, especially in their exclusion from leadership roles.

I have signed this petition and ask if you would consider joining in the promotion of this cause.

“Are we on the Bus?”

A look at the situation of Indigenous Australians place in Church and Society through the eyes of one who is
still standing at the Bus Stop.
Speech delivered to the United Faculty of Theology
1 – October 1st 2009
Graeme Mundine
Executive Secretary - NATSIEC

Holy Hit of the Week

Breaking News:Church can reject gays, single mums

Gay rights advocates have criticised slated changes to Victoria's equal opportunity laws that will continue to allow religious organisations to discriminate against gays and single parents.

State Attorney-General Rob Hulls says a new Equal Opportunity Bill will be introduced into parliament next year.
Under the changes, religious groups will no longer be able to discriminate on the grounds of race, disability, age, physical features, political belief or breastfeeding
Read Full Story from Nine MSN News here 
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From Detroit to Rome 'Wrong Call Papa!!!

Hierarchs and lower-archs in the church
by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Sep. 24, 2009 The Peace Pulpit

Once again Thomas Gumbleton, Retired Bishop of Detroit has provided some solid theology and a mild rebuke to the emerging culture of "reform' coming from the Vatican. His

In recent weeks, Pope Benedict XVI -- every Wednesday he gives a talk to thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square every Sunday from his window in the Vatican Palace; he blesses the crowd down in the square and speaks briefly -- in one of those talks recently, because he has made this what he calls the “Year of Priests,” he told the crowd that Mary, the Blessed Mother, had (and these are his words) “a special affection for priests as her sons because they are more similar to Jesus.” In other words, the ordained priest, just by being ordained, has a status that puts him apart from, and obviously above, others in the church.

Now that isn’t the way of Jesus. At the Last Supper, what did he do? He got down and washed the disciples’ feet, but he was celebrating what we think of as the first Eucharist. He wasn’t presiding, overseeing; he was acting as a servant. He had given up power; he didn’t need power like that, the world’s power. And here were are, now they’re talking about putting the altar rail back so there’s a barrier between the priest and the people, make sure the priest is above and better, holier. Not true!0