Author: Peter Albion
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Are we misinterpreting the parable of the wedding feast?
The pairing of the Gospel reading for this Sunday with the passage from Isaiah about the feast to be provided by God naturally leads us to think of the king in Matthew’s parable as representing God. A commentary by Tobias Winright on the Catholic Moral Theology site cites one source that makes the alignment explicit:…
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Changing emphases in papal visits
This commentary from the Global Catholic website contrasts the different emphases that can be seen in the itineraries of Pope Leo’s travels. It can be seen as a consistent core message directed toward different audiences. In the Middle East and Africa he spoke to encourage the faithful in loving Christians lives in societies that sometimes…
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Would a different question yield a different answer on the ordination of women?
This piece, Ordination of women: the Church is asking the wrong question, on the Global Catholic site is interesting reading. Essentially the argument is that when we ask “Can the Church ordain women?” we put the Church at the centre of discernment and immediately narrow the investigation. It goes on to suggest that a better,…
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Living with AI
Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, continues to provoke reflective commentary from multiple perspectives. A recent article, Magnifica Humanitas: Beyond the “Planet of the Apes” syndrome, by Joseph Borg on the Global Catholic website concludes that “Magnifica Humanitas is therefore not a lament but a summons. It calls humanity to engage AI without fear or naïveté,…
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Synodality v Clericalism: Unfinished business
I was unaware of the existence of Global Catholic prior to reading a post by Peter Johnstone in the Australian Catholics Facebook group. The site claims to offer “insightful commentaries and diligent analyses of global events through a Catholic lens, from a distinguished team of writers.” Articles on the site appear to span news from…
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When the blind lead…
Maps and modes of transport are useless if we don’t know where we want to go. Our Church needs a shared vision of what we seek to become. Only then can we move forward together.
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Women in Church history
To most Catholics the actions of Popes Francis and Leo in appointing women to curial positions with significant authority appears as progress toward the recognition of women in the Church. It is not a serious breach in the wall of male clericalism and falls far short of the true equality that progressive Catholics would want.…
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NAIDOC reflection
As I take my morning walks I typically listen to a podcast. On Sundays that is Soul Search from ABC Radio National. The content varies substantially from week to week but is mostly interesting and sometimes inspiring. Occasionally I will feel a need to follow up and learn more about a topic. This is NAIDOC…
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Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
A post by Julie Rubio on the Catholic Moral Theology blog picks up on Pope Leo’s discussion of the principles of Catholic social teaching in Magnifica Humanitas. The post notes that different sources offer different lists of principles but that the Pope has presented a structure in which “human dignity and rights are now understood…
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Another view on Just War Theory
This piece by Michael Wee makes a strong case for moving beyond just war theory. Modern warfare uses technologies that deliver devastating force at distance making it difficult or impossible to limit the effects to combatants. Civilian populations and the environment suffer damage that may have effects for generations and it is difficult to see…