Showing posts with label Catholicism. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 December 2015

The 35th Anniversary of Dorothy Day, Servant of God

This weekend marked 35 years since Dorothy Day left us, but her generous spirit and her legacy of fighting for justice live on.

Posted by Interfaith Worker Justice on Monday, 30 November 2015

The anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day occurred on 29 November.
Dorothy Day - Wikipedia
What's new toward Dorothy Day's canonization
The Dorothy Day Guild

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Green Left Weekly Activist Calender - 14-08-27

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar

	August 27, 2014

Rally: March in August

Sunday, August 31, 1pm. The people united for better government. State Library, Swanston St, City.Followed by march to parliament. Facebook event

Socialist Alliance Victorian conference: Building the fighting alternative

Saturday, September 6, 12.30-5pm. Also launch of Socialist Alliance Victorian election campaign. Panels on: Fighting back against Napthine and Abbott; Campaigning against the East-West Link. Workshops on the housing crisis, the Victorian police state, the fight against coal seam gas. $10/$5. Electrical Trades Union, 200 Arden St, North Melbourne.. For more info ph 9639 8622. Facebook event

Film screening: 'Radical Wollongong' Melbourne premiere

Friday, September 26, 6:30pm. Documentary tale of miners battling deadly working conditions, women fighting Australia's biggest company, activists jailed for resisting the Vietnam draft, and today's movement to stop coal seam gas. From strikes to community rallies, from work-ins to parliament occupation, it features activist participants from Wollongong's unemployed unions, communists forced to set up an underground organisation, the battle against 'Pig Iron Bob', and struggles for Aboriginal justice in the Illawarra. This is the action-packed, people-powered story of Radical Wollongong. New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, 2 Lygon St, Carlton South. Tickets at the door. $20 solidarity, $15 full, $8 conc. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Thanks to Victorian Trades Hall Council for its support of the event. A fundraiser for 3CR Community Radio & Green Left Weekly.

This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong.

Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe toGreen Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206.

You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900.

New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne.

Thursday, August 28

Rally: Protest the Liberals' big business fundraising dinner. The Napthine Liberal government is using the East-West Link and other major road projects to leverage donations from their big business mates in the lead up to the November state election. Scrap the East-West Link; Invest in public transport; Rip up the contracts. 6pm. Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St, City. Facebook event

Friday, August 29

Public meeting: Media Makers: Freedom Fighters. Mexico’s fearless campaigner against corruption Lydia Cacho, and Australian foreign correspondent Jill Jolliffe are true freedom fighters. These two extraordinary activists discuss their personal pursuits of truth and justice in this Fifth Estate event hosted by award-winning anthropologist and broadcaster Sally Warhaft. 1pm. Deakin Edge, cnr Flinders & Swanston Sts, City. To book visithttp://www.mwf.com.au/session/media-makers-freedom-fighters.

Fundraiser: The Eighth Annual John Cummins Memorial Dinner. Come join us for our annual dinner, which raises money for the wellbeing of cancer patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, and scholarships for promising secondary students who are in need of financial support. MC: Danny McGinlay; Archie Roach & Band performing live! 7pm. Moonee Valley Racing Club, McPherson St, Moonee Ponds. Tickets $135. Bookings: online at Cummo; email Jo Little, ph Di Cummins 0411 614 519.

Sunday, August 31

Protest: March Australia: the people united for better government. 1pm. State Library, Swanston St, City. Followed by march to parliament. Facebook event

Fundraiser: Peace of art. Join Melbourne’s top emerging artists, musicians and designers for an evening of visual and performance art to raise money for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. 5-8pm. Brightspace, 8 Martin St, St Kilda.

Wednesday, September 3

Fundraiser: Tarkine Tango! Save the Tarkine seriously needs $10,000 by the middle of September to pay for their appeal against the new Tarkine mine at Riley creek. Come and Tango in Northcote and we can help end the mining madness! 6:30pm. Francesca's Bar, 222 High St, Northcote. Entry by donation.

Thursday, September 4

Public meeting: Apartheid university: Does your school profit from Israeli war crimes? Does your university promote genocide?'Whether it's taking blood-money from the corporations who sell bombs and bullets to Israel, touring academics who justify and promote apartheid, or providing PR for the 'enlightened' State of Israel, many Australian universities are complicit in the ongoing ethnic cleansing and occupation in Palestine. 6:30pm. RMIT University, 330 Swanston St, City. Organised by Students for Palestine.

Thursday, September 4-Friday, September 12

Film screening: Environmental Film Festival. Using the power of film, music and debate to unite filmmakers, environmentalists, politicians, scientists, experts, and the broader public in their desire to actively engage in issues that affect all of our futures. Kino Cimena, Collins Place, Collins St, City. Full programme at http://www.effm.org.au/

Saturday, September 6

Socialist Alliance Victorian conference: Building the fighting alternative. Launch of Socialist Alliance Victorian election campaign. Panels on: Fighting back against Napthine and Abbott; Campaigning against the East-West Link. Workshops on the housing crisis, the Victorian police state, the fight against coal seam gas. $10/$5. 12.30-5pm. Electrical Trades Union, 200 Arden St, North Melbourne. For more info ph 9639 8622 Facebook event

Public meeting: Uniting Ireland. Australian speaking tour by leading Sinn Féin representatives Mary Lou McDonald TD and Francie Molloy MP. 7:30pm. The Celtic Club, 316-320 Queen St, City.

Thursday, September 11

Film screening: Gasland II. Coal may be the single greatest threat to mankind but now we have a new contender. In this explosive follow-up to Gasland, filmmaker Josh Fox uses his trademark dark humour to take a deeper look at the dangers of fracking, the powers that are driving this invasive industry and the realities we face if unconventional gas takes over as the next big energy resource. You won’t believe the corruption and the greed driving this industry or the reckless nature of the people in power. Hear from residents including Australian farmers who are living with the devastating impacts of unconventional gas mining. Films followed by panel discussion with Quit Coal. 6:30pm. Kino Cinemas, Collins Place, 45 Collins St, City. To book visit http://www.effm.org.au/gaslands-ii/

Tafanduhi: Ukeleles for West Papua. Relentless ukuleles for West Papua! Featuring: Black Orchid String Band (West Papua), Joe Geia, the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective, Rose Turtle Ertler, Helen Begley, the Ukulele Ladies, Cathouse and more. All money raised goes towards the ongoing campaign for West Papuan politcial prisoners. Five were recently released, but over 70 rermain in jail. 8pm. Bar 303, 303 High St, Northcote.

Wednesday, September 17-Tuesday, September 30

Exhibition: The art of silent protest. How do you protest without creating a disturbance? In view of new government legislation due to take effect in Victoria this year, a collective of Australian creatives respond to this question. Taking the form of the simple placard and exploring notions of social and ecological change, The Art of Silent Protest examines the visual impact of the art of activism. 11am-4pm (opening night: 6pm, September 17). The Snug, 447 High St, Northcote. Entry free.

Friday, September 19-Sunday, September 21

BRISBANE Conference: Australian Climate Action Summit. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. To book visit Climate Summit.

Tuesday, September 23

Comedy: Political Asylum at the Fringe Club. Featuring a fantastic lineup of smart and acerbic standup comics, this is the night for Abbott denialism, Labor lamentations and Palmer Party prophesising, all wrapped up in a flaming bundle of hilarity. Featuring: Rod Quantock; Stella Young; Toby Halligan; Nelly Thomas; Scott Abbot; Gerard McCulloch; Mick Neven. 9:30pm. North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. Entry free!

Tuesday, September 23-Saturday, October 4

Comedy: Rod Quantock: Invitation to a revolution. For 45 years Rod Quantock has been hurling Molotov Cocktails of Mirth at the deserving, cutting through bullshit with his Hatchet of Humour and now, because 'everyone has the right to be a bigot', he is saying things about Tony Abbott that would make a misogynist blush! But enough is enough, says Rod. There's still time for the Revolution. So rise up, get organised, buy a ticket and bring it on. There’s still time! Viva el Rod! (Special Offer: Bring Jo Hockey to the show and you pay for his ticket too.) 8.15pm (Sun 7.15pm). 60 mins. Main Theatre, Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne. $28/$22. To book visit Invitation to a revolution

Thursday, September 25- Sunday, September 28

FR!SK: Lucky Country. We have nothing to fear; we are the lucky country. We are entitled to equal opportunity and privilege is what we deserve. The only threat to our way of life is posed by the boats on our borders. It’s not our problem, yet we are accomplices in the denial of human rights. Lucky Countryexplores the struggle for human rights from the perspectives of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as their advocates and opposers. Thurs 6pm, Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 6pm, Sun 4pm & 8pm. Space 28, 28 Dodds St, Southbank. $19/$16. To book visit MFF14.

FR!SK: The Adventures of Ophelia Sol (The Bride). In an audacious crusade against the world’s hostility towards same-sex marriage, one soul augments our love for people, not gender. The one, and only, fabulously flamboyant, Ophelia Sol invites you on a spectacular journey about love, identity and self-expression. Thurs, Fri: 6.30pm-10pm (30min); Sat, Sun: 2.30-9pm (30min). Space 28, 28 Dodds St, Southbank. Entry free.

Friday, September 26

Film screening: 'Radical Wollongong' Melbourne premiere. Documentary tale of miners battling deadly working conditions, women fighting Australia's biggest company, activists jailed for resisting the Vietnam draft, and today's movement to stop coal seam gas. From strikes to community rallies, from work-ins to parliament occupation, it features activist participants from Wollongong's unemployed unions, communists forced to set up an underground organisation, the battle against 'Pig Iron Bob', and struggles for Aboriginal justice in the Illawarra. This is the action-packed, people-powered story of Radical Wollongong. 6:30pm. New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, 2 Lygon St, Carlton South. Tickets at the door. $20 solidarity, $15 full, $8 conc. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Thanks to Victorian Trades Hall Council for its support of the event. A fundraiser for 3CR Community Radio & Green Left Weekly.

Sunday, September 28

Public meeting: Righteous rights at the round table 2014. Youth driven forum providing a creative space for culturally diverse youth expression and celebration. Hot topics for discussion this year include racial profiling, intergenerational relationships, gender relationships and intercultural relationships. For full program visit www.multiculturalarts.com.au. 12-5pm. North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. Free entry.

Saturday, October 11

Rally: Protest the first anniversary of 'Operation Sovereign Borders'. No tow-backs! No offshore or onshore detention! Process asylum claims for permanent visas! Scrap 'Operation Sovereign Borders'! Organised by the Refugee Action Collective. (NOTE THE NEW DATE.)

December 2 - 13, 2014

2014 Australian solidarity tour to Venezuela will be a unique an opportunity to observe first-hand, learn about and be inspired by a grassroots movement that is transforming not only Venezuela, but all of Latin America, and is challenging the greed and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. The registration deadline is October 3, 2014. For more info visit Venezuela Solidarity.

Saturday, August 30

March in Geelong: Oppose Abbott's vicious budget. 2pm. Johnstone Park. Facebook event

Saturday, September 13

SALE Film screening: Gasland II. Coal may be the single greatest threat to mankind but now we have a new contender. In this explosive follow-up to Gasland, filmmaker Josh Fox uses his trademark dark humour to take a deeper look at the dangers of fracking, the powers that are driving this invasive industry and the realities we face if unconventional gas takes over as the next big energy resource. You won’t believe the corruption and the greed driving this industry or the reckless nature of the people in power. Hear from residents including Australian farmers who are living with the devastating impacts of unconventional gas mining. Prepare to be inspired to revolt.
6.30pm. Cinema, 50, Cunninghame St, Sale.

Sunday, September 28- Friday, September 3

QUEENSCLIFF Protest: Swan Island Peace Convergence 2014. For the fifth year in a row, peace activists are returning to the Swan Island Military Base in Queenscliff, Victoria for a week of non-violently resisting the SAS's role in dirty wars, through peaceful direct action. Swan Island Military base is a key training facility for the SAS who continue to fight and kill in Afghanistan in Australia’s name. The SAS are a key plank in our contribution to US imperialism through the ANZUS alliance. Swan Island is also a key facility for ASIS, Australia’s oversea’s intelligence body. Many of us feel powerless in the face of an unjust war, but this is our chance to get alongside our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, and learn how we can help and raise our voices. For more info visit http://swanislandpeace.org/

Friends of the Earth's Anti-Nuclear & Clean Energy (ACE) collective. Meets every second Tuesday. FoE office, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For meeting times & more info email Zin.

Indigenous Social Justice Association. The Indigenous Social Justice Association was established in January 2005 campaigns to permanently stop Aboriginal deaths in custody. During 2013, ISJA will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more info visit ISJA.

Quit Coal: No New Coal Power for Victoria. A Melbourne-based collective which campaigns against expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. We believe this is important because building new coal infrastructure locks in decades of dirty, old technology, when we should be moving towards clean, renewable energy. Quit Coal meets each Wednesday at 6pm, at FOE, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For more info visit Quit Coal or email us.

Refugee Action Collective. Established in 2000, RAC is a democratic, grassroots activist collective, representing a broad cross section of the community. It aims to mobilise opposition to Australia's inhuman refugee policies. For more info ph 0413 377 978 or visit RAC.

Stop the East-West Link:

Moreland Campaign Against the East-West Tunnel (MCAT) meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at the Temple Park Senior Citizens Centre, Hodgson St, Brunswick. For information contact Sue Bolton 0413 377 978; Michael Petit 0417 354 169; Riki Lane 0400 877 819 or go to Facebook.
Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport (YCAT). For information on the campaign against the East-West Tunnel (pickets, meetings, info) visit YCAT.

Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763.

Christianity, Islam and Atheism: Reflections on religion, society and politics

Indian-born and Catholic-educated, author Michael Cooke migrated to Australia in his teens. He moved away from religion and towards the political left. In this stimulating new work he focuses on issues where religion intersects with the secular society. He engages variously with the Catholic George Pell and the Muslim Waleed Aly. He also takes issue with Richard Dawkins and the so-called ‘New Atheists’. 124pp, $15.

Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City or online from Resistance Books.

Sunday, 29 December 2013

Pope Francis, Catholicism, The Vatican, The United Nations, Empire and Women & Children

I have been asked by a few people what are my thoughts on Pope Francis. I warm to what I see but I do reserve judgment. I don't believe that one man can turn around the culture of the insular Vatican or the wide Catholic diaspora.

I believe there are inhibiting and evil cultures at work within the Vatican and within Catholicism at large. One of them is the culture of almost two thousand years of Roman style administration - the administration of Empire. The Catholic Church has been ruling a physical empire - not just a spiritual one. This flies in the face of Jesus who said his kingdom was not of this world. Central to the continuity through changing times and controversies has been the exercise of power across the world through an administration both Roman and Catholic.

This power has as one of its foundations exclusion. This exclusion is seen most clearly in the church's attitude to women and children. Children are powerless still. Women do have power and agency in this day and age ... but, with only rare exceptions, this is a product of the 20th century.

I don't applaud Pope Frank for having some of the better dressed poor to breakfast. That is not a world first. I will know things are on their way when the Vatican is handed back to the Italian Government and the Lateran Treaty is null and void; when the Catholic Church becomes a stateless entity with no representation at the United Nations.

One other thing is needed from top to bottom and that is a policy of inclusion as opposed to the current policy of preferment. Excluded women and children have to be welcomed into the centrality of the Church. A clear sign that this is happening will be the abolition of required celibacy within the Church. I know there is a long queue of women, particularly in religious orders, awaiting ordination to the priesthood. However, a reformed church will take into itself people from the pews IRRESPECTIVE of age, gender, ethnicity, educational qualifications.

The Catholic Church has long called itself The Universal Church. This is a lie. It is not The Universal Church as long as there are people excluded from its ranks simply on the basis of who they are rather than what they have to contribute.

So dear Pope Frank, I do give you ten out of ten for style. But more than style is required. Substance is of the essence and that must be, as far as contemporary humans are able, enduring. You will have to upset whole tribes of Vatican huggers and preferred prelates ... but I do believe that if you do it well - and you are capable of doing it well - there will be loud applause from the pews and beyond. You might even find many who have moved from the Church finding their ways back to inclusion.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/20/does-pope-francis-have-a-woman-problem.html

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Religion and Empire : Jesus and Catholicism - Pell and Hart

George Cardinal Pell gave evidence at the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry Into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations. This followed close on the heels of the appearance last week before the Inquiry of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart. Denis Hart's evidence and his demeanour were less than inspiring.

At one point Hart raised the ire of the gallery with a sort of sneering reference to what the church is now doing as being "better late than never:" However, I don't think Hart is worthy of consideration. Aside from the sexual abuse controversy, based on what makes the newspapers about Hart I don't think he's much of an Archbishop. Archbishops are meant to act as shepherds protecting the sheep, their flock. Clearly, Pell and his Melbourne successor, Hart do not meet Jesus's qualifications for shepherds.

What I want to open for consideration concerns George Pell. If you watched the performance of George Pell at the Inquiry yesterday, what or whom did you see? As I watched, I did not see someone who was a Jesus follower or imitator. I saw a corporate CEO or Business Manager. I did not see someone who became Christ every time he said mass. You see, the Catholic Church refuses to ordain women - based on the sacramental doctrines underlying the priesthood and the eucharist. Well, the macho interpretation of them!

The teachings of Jesus are seldom brought up in regard to the sexual abuse of children - whether in reference to Catholicism or any other Christian organisations.

Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 18 verse 6

But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. - New living translation

I take this to mean not that the children fall into sin. Instead, it refers to the gravity, the depth of depravity, when those old enough to reason morally draw children into their own web of sin.

Does that refer specifically to paedophilia? I think not. There are all sorts of moral depravity by which adults might draw the young into their web. Violence, corruption - and, the current cause of concern, gambling - are just a few of the categories that spring to mind by which adults might corrupt the young.

While there are adults who draw children into the world of paedophilia in a direct manner, should we go on to consider those who provide the fertile soil in which paedophilia operates, grows, networks? I think so.

Watching Pell the CEO, the Business Manager before the parliamentary inquiry, Australians could see on display the self-satisfaction, the self-serving nature of the social milieu in which Catholic clerics - particularly those at higher levels of the Catholic hierarchy - are immersed.

To take the point further, I would suggest that one cannot ignore the history of Christianity and its continuing relationship, over the last 1700 years, with Empire.

Jesus pointed out that His kingdom was not a kingdom of this world and neither was it akin to a worldly empire. There might have been a reformation and a split from the Roman form of Christianity but the role and power of Empire was displayed in a similar manner within the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of England, and the Lutheran Church. Such a relationship of Christianity to empire is seen in contemporary USA politics via the Tea Party.

A factor in perverse sexuality which damages other human beings is dominance: dominance of the paedophiliac over a child; dominance of male over female; exploitation of of one person by another simply because one is able to control and dominate another. Religion can play a dominating and power role in the lives of individuals and, in this manner, has the capacity to become a transmitter of exploitative, harmful, and soul-destroying desires.

In short, I am saying that Pell and Co are not only at fault in their response to the victims of paedophiliacs. They are part of a self-perpetuating social milieu which enables paedophiliacs to perpetrate and enforce their desires.

Not all Christian faith communities are associated with or cosy-ing up to Empire. There are faith communities who are aloof from Empire ... and, even within their communities, paedophiliacs may be discovered. However, having said this, it would seem that in those communities paedophiliacs are fewer in number that those in the faith communities associated with Empire.

If all that is not convincing, I would simply draw attention to the second part of the two commandments given by Jesus. As for the Catholic Church's response to legal action, its prelates seem to have forgotten completely the words of Jesus on how to respond when being sued.

Addendum:
It seemed to make things worse: Pell sorry over meeting

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Time for accounting and accountability. Should the Catholic Church share the cost?

Cardinal George Pell

in the pulpit of St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

from here

In the wake of the announcement that a Royal Commission will be held into the abuse of children in Australia, one has to ask:

How deep are the nation's pockets?

Some years ago I was invited to a small gathering at a small private hotel just down the road from St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. This multi-story building was home to some of the priests attached to the Cathedral. However, it was explained to me that the main purpose of the building was so that wealthy business people could be schmoozed for donations. At the time, much restoration work was being undertaken at St Mary's which was quite expensive. The hotel, I was led to understand, was known in the Catholic community as Clancy's folly.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to sell this property and donate the proceeds to the Australian Government to alleviate the costs of the Royal Commission into abuse - a great deal of which took place within the responsibility of the Catholic Church. Alternatively, the Catholic Church could be billed for its share of the Royal Commission costs and it could go about schmoozing the wealthy businessmen once again in the private hotel for the money to pay the bill.

Friday, 6 July 2012

Child sex abuse & the Catholic Church: powerfulness & powerlessness. Do Australians boycott the institution in terms of money & attendance?

For the past 24 hours or more, my friend Denis off The Nature of Robertson has been thinking about, preparing, writing a blog post.relating to child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and the increasing crescendo of calls for a Royal Commission. Denis has not sullied the beautiful blog that is The Nature... but posted on his blog of political matters, The Body Politic.

Picture from here

I support what Denis has to say as I am sure many Networkers will. I, like Denis, cannot deny my Catholic upbringing and would fit into the definition in vogue these days of "a cultural Catholic". I am still - and have been all my life - a committed Christian. I am, these days, an Anglican and a Quaker. Anglicans have had their moments in the ugly spotlight ... but, it seems to me, they don't hold a candle or a scandal to Catholicism around the world. Quakers themselves have had an occasional cause for concern but the Quaker demographic is a very small blip on the Christian whole.

I am particularly concerned about how lay non-institutional Catholics in the pews are re-acting to what pours out in the Australian media. Are the pews emptying? Are parishes rallying behind the abused and their families? Are they still supporting their clergy? Are they happy for all this to be hushed up and kept out of the media?

Pope Benedict is reported as saying that the Irish sex abuse is a mystery to him. One reason with two subheadings, Your Popefulness! Power - powerfulness and powerlessness. I have not heard mention (although I don't delve too deep in the literature) of the role that the power of the Catholic Church, as an institution, has played in the abuse. The powerlessness of the victims is there for all to see and hear. My view is that the abusers could do what they did because they knew that, if caught, the Catholic Church would do everything to protect itself and hush matters up. Which is exactly what happened with priests shifted from parish to parish to exploit fresh cohorts of powerless children.

The Vatican was fearful (and I suspect still is) of the fall-out of sexual abuse in the USA and Ireland. Mass attendance dropped and so did giving. In particular, the fall in giving in the wealthy USA was of grave concern. If money and attendance drops, it impacts Vatican power. Do Australians boycott the institution in terms of money and attendance?

I ask again what are Australian Catholics doing? The evidence is there for all to see. The response in America and Ireland was visible and much discussed. How visible is the adverse reaction of Australian Catholics? Are there fewer people at mass on Sundays because of the sex abuse scandals? Have Australians withdrawn their financial support from their parishes? I would like to hear this discussed.

And if investigation shows no marked decline in mass attendance and giving, then Australian Catholics should be asked why they continue support in their parishes for the institutional Catholic Church? If the Irish and Americans have made their views known through visible impact on the pillars of Vatican power, why have Australian not done so as well?

Further reading:

Abuse Tracker

Renegade Catholic Blog: surviving the fall of the Catholic Church