Backgrounder

Creative conservatives - a new generation of bishops

Published: 10 Feb 12

'Creative Conservative' is a term coined in the United States. They are a new generation of bishops, termed conservative because they are loyal to the doctrine of the Church, but at the same time creative and capable of inserting this doctrine in modernity without treachery, without backing down, reports Vatican Insider.

Digest - International

Indians politicise Last Supper, US army hobbles chaplains

Published: 10 Feb 12

The Pope is to visit Lebanon, Indian communists are criticised for politicising the Last Supper, anti-Christian graffiti is daubed on a Jerusalem monastery and the US army stops chaplains (pictured) from reading a bishop's pastoral letter.

Digest - National

Seminarians in Brisbane, Archbishop Hart's pastoral letter

Published: 10 Feb 12

The National Council of Priests will hold its annual convention in Warrnambool, Archbishop Hart's pastoral letter for Lent, Australian scientists investigate using DNA from three parents to minimise genetic problems and a group of Brisbane seminarians (pictured) is cast out into the deep.

Feature

Manila archbishop: we don't want to repeat US, Irish mistakes

Published: 10 Feb 12

Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila in the Philippines, who spoke at the Vatican summit on sex abuse, gave an exclusive interview to NCR's John Allen about how his church’s response to the crisis is different from Western trajectories.

Living Catholic

An apostle-sized brood

Published: 10 Feb 12

Imagine awaiting the birth of an eleventh sibling and twelfth child. That's the blessed reality for Fiona and Paul Webb of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, and their almost apostle-sized brood, reports The Catholic Leader.

Obituary

A missionary of God's love

Published: 10 Feb 12

Dr John Jude Eddy was, as are all God’s creatures, unique. But this historian, homilist, pastor, music and art lover was truly egregious. His talent for friendship, his gregarious nature, and his faith, set him apart, and made him a beacon of hospitality and conversation in Canberra circles for decades.

And up until his death at Xavier House – which he founded for the Jesuits in Yarralumla in 1972 – he remained a vibrant member of his community. In his final days, as Fr Frank Brennan related in his homily (see link below) after Dr Eddy’s death, he was still on the ball during a Mass that Fr Brennan was celebrating...’John promptly took over — because that's what he usually did. John, on oxygen and morphine, rallied to offer us a 15 minute homily and life reflection — Dr Eddy's apologia pro vita sua.’