May 31
U.S. priest receives HK award HK Red Cross - RTHK
 Fr Thomas Peyton M.M. one of  five to receieve "Humanity Award"
John W attended this function last Saturday - very beautiful

"Normal" families are happier Andrea Tornielli (VI)
World Meeting of Families - Milan -  background article

"The butler did it": A test, not a tragedy - Pope Background: Bertone's overreach Sandro Magister (Cath Exchange) Vat  energy struggle Malaysian Insider ("energy" should read "power"!)

Mother Teresa's example of love points way to forestall persecution
Archbishop Henry D'Souza
CRIB, India

Vatican vs USA nuns: Former LCRW leader's comments Joshua McElwee (NCR) All about fear Fran Ferder (NCR)

Israel doesn't deserve  unconditional loyalty Michael Brull (ABC)
"Sudanese a cancer in our body"?

Clerical sex abuse: context & causes A.W. Richard Sipe (Catholica)

Yves Congar and the golden mean between extreme postions  of liberals and conservatives 
Dr Andrew Kania (Catholica)

c.f V2catholic  May 24 article by Chris McDonnell:  The Notes of Yves Congar 
(soon to be published)

"Viri probati" ("proven men") can be a great enrichment (EAPI)
Bp. Fritz Lobinger, South Africa
Classic article from 2000...this is what we should be discussing: 
the ordination of married men.
Note the idea of a team of men for each location, not just one man.
Maybe team can be men & women? This article is teaming 
with much food for thought (Thank you Hazel for sending this art)

Pentecost message to Benedict: Clean up Vatican mess
(Enlightened Catholicism)

Indonesia: 
UCANEWS report re Fr Charlie Burrows receiving Islamic award
c.f. This website's report last Tues

A good news story!
Germany: solar power world record (Guardian) May other nations follow G's lead!

May 29

Silencing priests weaken chuch authority  (ACP)
Sean O'Conaill
This article provides an interesting angle on the recent silencing and disciplining of priests by the Vatican.
Sean is suggesting that, rather than strengthening Vatican authority, these actions are actually weakening it.

Don't tell the cathedral Will Day (The Age)

China: The way of Bishop Jin SJ Gianni Valente (VI)

Theology of Pentecost  - goalposts need shifting? Daniel O’Leary (Tablet)

Pope's butler did it? John Allen (NCR)

A reflection on good & bad religion Michael Whelan SM (Aquinas Academy)

Pope's butler: Who is he? (ABC) "This affair has spun out of control"

US Catholics lead fight against capital punishment  Mauro Pianta (VI)

US bishops  all aboard ? Bishop Blair issues clarification Kevin Clarke (America)

Vat trying to close Boston churches G. Macdonald (Wash. Post)

Vatican Curia (Chiesa) Spot the non-Italians

May 27

Pope is provoking disobedience Fr Hans Küng (Tablet)
c.f. Hans Kung's letter to bishops

Bishop Bill Morris issue:
Why not write to Chaput? Brian Coyne (Catholica)
c.f. Menu for May 26 re Bp M

What the Church is for Abp Rowan Williams (ACP)

All Hell breaks lose in Holy See John Allen (NCR)
Basic problem: your man is too old?

All aboad? E.J. Dionne (Commonweal)
Disagreement among US bishops

Why are parishioners in pain? (ACP) This topic is a very sensitive one. It needs to be approached  with great compassion and care.  But truth requires an honest facing of  the physiological facts of homosexuality. See: Brian Lewis: Same sex marriage Petition by 150 doctors( .f/note 3..) Health hazard issue Are the above health concerns real or imaginary?  A compassionate approach

May 26

More info re case of Bp Bill Morris Fr Frank Brennan SJ (Eureka Street)
That quote from Archbishop Chaput plus Enda's comment (Catholica)

Nigeria: everyone, not just Christians, living in state of uncertainty
Alessandro Speciale (VI)

Another cappa picture Bp Slattery in Wash. DC (NCR)

Is Church downsizing into a sect? Jamie Manson (NCR)
- see comment by John W

Vatican vs USA nuns:
Cardinal Levada's visionary approach Eugene Kennedy (NCR)
A classic piece of writing!

May 25

Vatican vs USA sisters: It's all about money Phyllis Zagano (NCR)

Knights of Columbus: time to worry Tom Roberts (NCR)

May 2 Toowoomba Mass to remember Bishop Bill Morris A bit late to post this, but good to read "lest we forget" Background re Toowoomba Diocesan Leadership Group c.f. many articles re Bp Morris at right side of this page,  under "Calendar"

Pope: Christianity about trust not fear Alessandro Speciale (VI)
Comment from reader:  "In his own words!"

Vatileaks: Who stole Pope's letters? Andrea Tornielli (VI)
Reader: "Dan Brown's next book?"

NATO not working. Replace it John Dear SJ (NCR)

May 24 

Women in the Church since Vat II Sr Mary Luke Tobin S.L.
 one of 15 women auditors at Vat II (American Magazine, Archive)
Note story re Rosemary Goldie, auditor from Australia

Cup or chalice? John Donahue s.j. (Commonweal) Chalice has many implications

USA: new church designs Michael Desanctis (AM) New buildings going backwards?

Benedict's uncomfortable message Andrea Tornielli (AM)

Vatican rules on apparitions Andrés  Alvarez (VI) What about vision of Vatican II?

May 23 

Bangladesh:  the best example of inter-religious harmony in the world
Gerard O'Connell (VI) A piece of good news!

Kung misses Vat II celebration (Tablet) See cartoon & links here

Pope: good vs evil  Alessandro Speciale (VI) Banquet of  prize fighters?

London Paralympics: learn from Beijing & Sydney (Guardian)
Best gold medal: more care and concern for disabled people

June 22-24:  Hong Kong's first tattoo with bands from China, Australia, Russia, Turkey, UK, USA
Music mini-Olympics...good news

New missal an obstacle to prayer Fr Michael Ryan (America Mag). - see John W's comment (no. 34) 
Michael was the one who organized "What if we said 'wait'?" petition when he wrote this historic article

May 9 Sydney address  Clifford Longley (CfR) Inaugural Rosmary Goldie Lecture

Million for Milan Mass - update Andrea Tornielli (VI)

More Vatileaks Alessandro Speciale (VI)
Lese majeste & papal firewall  or whispers in secret shouted from the roof tops?!

Only 20 out of 150 Armagh priests attend pro-Brady gathering (BBC)

USA priest's  response  to Irish priest's statement (ACP)

The development of my faith Jo O'Sullivan (ACP)

May 20

Communication in the Church Pope John Paul II (ACP) - consult everyone!

Three tensions in Vatican dispute John Allen (NCR)

Pope praises USA nuns Alessandro Speciale (VI)
Subtexts in these reports very interesting re Church-State-Secular society.
Deep down, B 16 would love  Holy Roman Empire back & running?

The sorrowful mystery of Mary Kennedy (NCR) Eugene Kennedy 
- see comment by John W

What is the meaning of "Liturgy"? Elizabeth Harrington 
(Catholic Leader)

May 19

Bp Morris victim of grave injustice Clifford Longley (Tablet/Catholica)

Radio interview: Clifford Longley (ABC)

Re-balancing authority in abusive Church (Eureka Street) Brian Lennon SJ Re May 7 Dublin gathering

Catholic family, we have a problem Robert McClory (NCR)

Catholic morality is way to happiness Cardinal Schönborn (VI)
A very important, nuanced and pastorally responsible position on hot topics

Listening to Africa Davide Demichelis (VI)

Suffering world needs prophetic Church Tony Magliano (NCR)

History of celibacy in Church Thomas O'Loughlin (ACP) Historical reasons for celibacy

Girl Scouts: law not working Joan Chittester (NCR) Note new info re Pius XII & Hitler

Vatican- SSPX soap opera: update Andrea Tornielli (Vatican Insider)

Doctors for the Family New website under construction to support old institution under attack

May 17

Ricci center opens  in Zhaoqing! (ucanews)
Lots & lots of background info  re this center here!
(Zhaoqing is where JW lived for 7 years!)

US bishops & same-sex marriage Eugene Kennedy (NCR)  - see John W's comment Statement by  150 Australian doctors See especially footnote 3

Clarification re ACP Brendan Hoban

Vatican vs USA nuns:
Reform is not "Armageddon" Cindy Wooden (Pilot Catholic News)

Kenya: Do not abandon us Devide Demichelis (Vatican Insider)

What is the meaning of "Liturgy"? Elizabeth Harrington  (Catholic Leader)

For Chinese readers: Oxfam's 25 years in China

May 16

Pontifical Academy row (VI)

Vat-SSPX soap opera (VI)

Media reporting of abuse Pádraig McCarthy (ACP)

Warning to UK: she's coming (The Age) Black Caviar!

May 15

Scottish view of Ireland's ACP (ACP)

Diplomat priest: Matteo Ricci Camilla Russell (Eureka Street)
  - see John W's comment

Anglican Ordinariate for Australia Australian Bishop' Conference Background Peter Wilkinson USA Ordinariate teething pains

Two million new readers each month Alexandra Topping (Guardian)
New website helps people bring about change. Can change Church??

USA lay ministry assocation
(NCR) The future of the Church depends on the laity. 
Let's  support & promote anything to do with laity!

Nice review of "Joshua" (Catholica)
One of my favorite authors. Cannot recommend his books highly enough

May 14

Kabul's secret Christians Marco Tosatti (VI) House churches in Afghanistan!

Melinda Gates & women's health (howmany.org)

A relationship in need of repair Tablet Editorial 

Vatican's fundamental problem Dr Eddie Molloy  (ACP) (an Irish Peter Johnstone!)

Reflection on May 7 gathering Brendan Hoban (ACP) (Don't let Vat II flame go out!)

Paul's Eucharistic Challenge Wilfred Harrington o.p. (ACP) See last two sections!.....
....House Churches...the way to go. Anyone like to write about this?
c.f. Lay people will rescue Church Dr Andrew Kania (Catholica)

Vatican vs USA nuns Richard Rohr (ACP) (In a nutshell!)

SOS children's village, Vietnam (ucanews)

Abuse inquiry for Legion (BBC)

Vatican reining in Caritas Duncan MacLaren (Tablet) This article will make you feel uneasy

SSPX: The internal battle Andrea Tornielli (Vatican Insider)

Answer to vocation crisis: diaconate Giacomo Galeazzi (Vatican Insider)

US bishops' next investigation target: the Girl Scouts (Washington Post)

China-Philippines row: Tourism & banana bullets (RTHK)

Philippines:  3 journalists killed in 3 weeks (ucanews)

May 11

Some really good news for Church Christine Hogan (CathBlog)
See espy 2nd half of article figures

Thank you, Sisters James Martin s.j. (America Magazine - YouTube)

India: Church exit plan unpopular Shailendra Boora (ucanews)

Senerenity Prayer's fascinating history Gina Ryder (ucanews)

Reflection on Cardinal Brady case Brian Fahy (ACP)

US bishops' toxic tussle  with Obamacare Frank Brennan (Eureka Street)
("the best article on this topic")

May 10

South Korea: peace movement John Dear (NCR) 80 Catholic nuns arrested on 1 day!

China  Fate of blind activist unclear Patrick Poon (ucanews) Media praise Shanghai's 1st Catholic (ucanews)

The lost papers of Vatican II Sandro Magister (Chiesa)

Vatican & transparency (VI)

PNG bishops to priests:  stay out of politics   (VI)

Koch: Don't exploit Council (VI)

May 9

Adjusting to the new Missal is no easy ride Letters Extra (The Tablet)

India: Jesuit Good Samaritan Julian Das (ucanews)

Hierarchy's inability to mourn thwarts healing in church Mary Frawley-O'Dea (NCR)

A letter from the Pope in 2020 Karl Rhaner (Catholica)
c.f. Letter from Pope John Paul III

Distraction of "Radical feminism" Fr William Grimm (ucanews)

Catholic University in Hong Kong? Gabrielle McMullen (CathBlog)

Cardinal Sean Brady Martin Mallon (Tuesday blogger)

Cardinal Brady should resign Vincent Twomey (Tablet)

Praise for the sisters Editorial, American Magazine

Red Cross: ban nuclear weapons John W has signed the petition

Another cappa magna Cardinal Burke in Sydney - see yesterday's menu for article re cappa magna

Female Legionaries seeking leader Andrés  Álvarez (Vatican Insider)

Vat playing hide & seek with SSPX Andrea Tornielli (Vatican Insider) - while Rome burns...

Brazil Bishops: Indians genocide? Giacomo Galeazzi (Vatican Insider)

Fired US priest: let me stay as janitor Robert McClory (NCR)

Is cappa magna making comeback? Declan Kelly (ACP)
Photo of a cappa magna
YouTube cappa magna

Open letter to CDF Des Kelly (ACP)  

Beautiful double rainbow Yesterday in Australia

May 6

150,000 Christians killed each year John Allen (NCR) Beatify Shahbaz Bhatti, & do it now

NCR report: "for many" - "for all" c.f. menu of Ap 30 for earlier arts

Leadership as discipleship in action Dr Anne Benjamin (Broken Bay Institute)

Intuition and the discovery of truth Matt Ryan (Broken Bay Institute)

Archbishop Denis Hart elected president of Aust  Bishops' Conf

May 5

Congar: ALL humankind Dr Andrew Kania (Catholica)

Silencing women  (NCR)  Joan Chittester   70,000  raped during Congo war

Newcastle: overseas priests review 

Leaders to Cardinal Brady: "resign" Gerard O'Connell (Vatican Insider)

Scandal can be the cost of truth Fr William Grim (UCA News)

Austria:  adults boycott Communion  Christa Pongratz-Lippitt( NCR)

Wisconsin enforcer bishop Eugene Kennedy (NCR)

B16's equivocal view of social justice Andrew Hamilton (Eureka Street) 

Bethlehem nuns battle Yolande Knell (BBC)

May 4

Vatican: new rules for Caritas John Allen (NCR)

Ireland: Card Brady's dilemma Malachi O'Doherty (Association of Catholic Priests) Leaks and porkies James (Catholica) Card Brady: I won't resign RTÉ News

Why people left Church Tim Reidy (America Magazine)

Abusive church authority Thomas Fox (NCR)

Beijing blind dissident ABC 

This website's statistics April 2012 report

May 3

George Weigel & the  "Christian conquest" of China Nicholas Clifford (USA)
A new blogger. Welcome Nicholas!

Ireland: Vatican loud on liberals Fintan O'Toole Association of Catholic Priests A moving article Church needs new direction Fr Brendan Hoban (Irish Times)

Empowerment of women in Church & in society Sr Inigo Joachim 
(who has been leading OMI annual HK retreat this week)

Wisconsin bishop defends conservative priests (Herald Times Reporter)
This is going to be a growing issue  in many parts of world...) 

Vatican vs USA nuns: A very public rebuke Phyllis Zagano (Tablet) Overwhelming support for nuns Margaret Thomspsn (Tablet) See comments

Handbook for Catholic environmentalist Korean bishops' conference

Vatican move re bishops in China Gerard O'Connell (Vatican Insider)

Amazing year of grace Fr John Ryan (CathBlog)

Lose canon re annulments John Allen (NCR)

Million for Milan Masses Andrea Tornielli (Vatican Insider)

Wikipedia founder praises  letter of John XXIII CNA

Austria update (Vatican Insider) Christa Pongratz-Lippitt

Anglican bun fight Giorgio Bernardelli (Vatican Insider)

Assisi in Sarejevo Giacomo Galeazzi (Vatican Insider)

USA: Tutu invitation row Rowan Philp (Times Live)

May 1

Chinese Joseph the Worker

Vatican abuse of power? Martin Mallon (Ireland) A new blogger. Welcome Martin! Report on Ap 29 vigil Seán McCárthaigh Irish Examiner US bishops 1995 discussion topics Des O'Donnell o.m.i. Association of Catholic Priests Censoring of Brian Darcy Jimmy McPhillips Association of  Catholic Priests Dialogue in Church Malcolm Reville Association of Catholic Priests Possible future Church Jo O'Sullivan Association of Catholic Priests Ireland: Program for May 7 gathering Association of Catholic Priests

Interviews with Bishop Geoffrey Robinson Catholica

Has "real" Ratzinger"  come out to play? (NCR) John Allen

Vat vs USA nuns: How to spank a nun  Mark Morford San Francisco Gate NY Times 2 features NCR