Author: John Buggy
-
Reflection on spirituality
“Religion is a person sitting in church thinking about kayaking. Spirituality is a person in a kayak thinking about God.” This observation, used by some religious writers, is often attributed to Roger Caras, an American writer who is also a wildlife photographer. It creates a contrast between a structure with tradition (religion) and a more
-
New Windows for Religious Belief and Practice
The human species is in its infancy, not in maturity, as it deals with scientific understanding of its place in the universe and how it should (and must) develop. The windows used for centuries to understand our place in the universe and to shape religious faith have been upended and can no longer be relied
-
Exploring Faith and Reason
Dr. Peter Vardy outlined the development of Christian doctrine in the early centuries and the later centrality of St. Thomas Aquinas in establishing the link between Philosophy and Theology.This led on to the tension between science and faith in the modern world, including Darwin’s theory of natural selection, and alternative approaches culminating in the contrasting
-
The Need for a Theological Reformation
Church doctrines which are reliant on understandings of the universe that are longer believable are increasingly irrelevant. Only a reformed understanding of “God”, revelation, Jesus and liturgy can bring the changes so many people are longing to see. Renowned scholar and author, Michael Morwood, discussed how we can re-discover the teachings of Jesus by looking through a contemporary
-
ARC Member Bishop Tim Norton meets with members
ARC members participated in a stimulating and informative Zoom meeting with Bishop Tim Norton on 24 August 2023. Bishop Tim shared thoughts about Church reform and responded to questions from members. The session was recorded and the video can be accessed on YouTube using the button below.
-
Radical inclusivity
The Parramatta Diocesan Pastoral Council has prepared this wonderful statement on inclusivity. It was released on the 30th of July 2022.
-
Submission to the Synod on Synodality
Responding to the invitation of Pope Francis, an ARC group of women met and then prepared a submission to the Synod on Synodality. They sent their document directly to Sister Nathalie Becquart, the Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. Their submission can be read here.
-
Plenary Council submission
Catholics across Australia were asked to make submissions by the 6th of March 2019. A special workshop, in conjunction with the 2018 AGM, was held in the Dover Heights Parish Community Centre on Saturday October 6th 2018. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare a submission to be presented to the Plenary Council 2020/21
-
The Sacraments, Relationships and Meaning
The Secretariat of Australian Reforming Catholics is astounded at some of the responses to the controversy concerning the words used during Baptism at the Catholic Church at South Brisbane. By all accounts, it appears that the priests at this Church have been endeavouring to provide the sacraments and liturgical celebrations in a manner that engages their people
-
Understanding disaffected Catholics
Since I was asked to present the reasons why so many Catholics are disaffected with the Church from the perspective of the members of Australian Reforming Catholics and those who are affiliated with or support them, I have entitled my presentation as “Understanding the Disaffected”. The term “disconnected” has been used here today and, while