A mainstream English broadsheet newspaper recently reported on the Amazon Synod. The feature recalled one of the indigenous peoples as having commented: "Eden is here and we are destroying it..." More recently, NCR has presented coverage on the recommendations made by the Synod; including the ordination of married men to the priesthood and the admission of women to ordained ministry. The latter reports Pope Francis as having provided an assurance to re-activate his recent c

Whilst the secular domestic media is dominated by the "Brexit" saga, the "Catholic" press is awash with theories concerning the funding and motivation of the Amazon Synod. As the saying goes: "every picture tells a story". One image which acquired prominence was that of a sculpture of a heavily pregnant woman. Observers had mistakenly presumed that this figure - given a great deal of coverage in the media- was an indigenous representation of the our Blessed Mother. They were

In two days time, Blessed John Henry Newman will join the ranks of those recognised by the Church as having attained sanctity. If it has not already started, the deluge of freshly printed copies of his works, and those of Newman Scholars, is imminent. There will also be documentaries and mini-series with presentations of Newman, the man, the academic, the scholar, the theologian. But does the inevitable dissemination of information obscure the man? Is there a risk that we lo

Since the Council of Trent, the Church has formulated, asserted and affirmed the fundamental concept of the ecclesiastical office. Whilst the notion of 'benefice' has long since been abandoned, the understanding of 'ecclesiastical office' as an appointment which is inseparable from 'obedience' has not. Obedience (obseqium) requires a particular mindset. Contrary to the view of detractors inside and outside the Church, it does not constitute blind acceptance. Rather, true obed

The parable of the Good Samaritan is well known; a steady and reliable component in any form of catechesis or bible instruction. As set in the narrative of Luke, the scene is familiar enough. A lawyer seeking to ensnare Jesus with a question which demanded not only a deep knowledge of scripture but also wisdom as to its interpretation. The response which Jesus provides would be as alien to his listeners as could possibly have been imagined. Surely, they would recognise the ne