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A US Coast Guard officer who refused to be injected with a vaccine derived from the remains of an aborted child has won an exemption from the required vaccination.
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Pope thanks "wifes of Christ"
Pope Benedict yesterday thanked consecrated virgins for their "total gift" to Christ encouraging them to "always irradiate the dignity of being the wife of Christ."
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Mail and penny drop for WYD
Preparations for World Youth Day have stepped up a notch with a letter drop to half a million Sydney homes and the release of a commemorative colour coin of the Pope.
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Priest in supermarket trolley protest
Melbourne parish priest, Fr Noel Brady, has launched a protest against unsightly supermarket trolleys left abandond in streets for up to three months.
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Call to follow WA and reject cloning
Sydney archdiocese policy officer, Dr Brigid McKenna, has welcomed a decision by the Western Australian Legislative Council to reject cloning as a victory for "commonsense science and morality."
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US churches offer mortgage help
With US lenders threatening to repossess 650,000 homes in the first quarter of 2008, Catholic parishes are mobilising to offer assistance to mortgage distressed homeowners.
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Feature - A new dawn for Sorry Day
It is time for this country to build new relationships and to be open to future possibilities, we commit ourselves to deep, on-going dialogue with our indigenous sisters and brothers on further ways of moving forward. - Fr Mark Raper, Pathways
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Featured Website - Ron Rolheiser
This is the website of one of the best known Catholic priests in the western world. Fr Rolheiser is best known through his writings and lecturing on spirituality and prising open the Word in such a clear, beautiful and heart-inspiring style.
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Film Review - Shutter
Based on a 2004 Thai film of the same name, Shutter is an American/Japanese production. If you can take the shocks and violence of this genre, this film is worth the admission price for the cinematography alone. - Fr Richard Leonard, Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting
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Opinion - Middle class creep in Irish Church
During the transformation of Irish society from a largely rural and agricultural economy to an industrialised one there occurred a failure of imagination in the Irish Church. - Fr Oliver Rafferty, The Catholic Herald
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OPINION
Beyond knowledge to wisdomI believe this is one of the crisis points for contemporary Christianity. Put bluntly, its representatives do not seem wise. Yes, those representatives can give you any amount of information, some of them can even speak knowledgeably of Christian teachings. Wisdom is another thing altogether. - Fr Michael Whelan [More] - Aquinas Academy
FEATURE
Connected across bordersIt is time for leaders of nations to see their national interests as connected with the interests of people on the other side of the globe. We have reached the point where human existence is at stake and our destiny is inextricably linked. If we are to overcome this crisis of climate change we need to think beyond the confines of national states. - Just Comment [More] - Edmund Rice Centre
FEATURED CATHOLIC WEBSITE
Catholic Education Diocese of ParramattaReturning to our education theme, we shine the spotlight on arguably the most innovative Catholic education website in the country. In addition to all the standard features of any CEO site, Parramatta's includes some interactive opinion polls and a competition for students to attempt to ''Become the Executive Director for the day''. The site is also well regarded for its RE and curriculum resources.
- www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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Queensland religious join IR resistance
The Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in Queensland has launched a campaign that includes a briefing paper summing up the Howard Government's industrial relations changes as an attempt to put money ahead of humanity.
"As we engage in the activities of the National Anti-Poverty Week we are acutely aware of the risk of increasing the level of disadvantage to many Australians if the proposed changes to the Industrial Relations legislation go through," said Sr Annette Arnold, Director of the Conference's Social Action Office (SAO).
The Courier-Mail reports today that SAO is seeking to target senators, including Nationals member Barnaby Joyce, to defeat the plans.
SAO's campaign was launched yesterday, as the Salvation Army added its weight to forces opposing the changes.
SAO is asking people to read the campaign materials and discuss the changes so as to engage some public debate around the issues. Several lobbying strategies are suggested as well including an online petition to the Senate and postcards to Senators.
The SAO is very concerned that the proposed changes will impact heavily on the rights of the most vulnerable workers and their families - especially those on low-incomes, those who work part-time and casual hours. The SAO expresses particular concern regarding the vulnerable situation outworkers may find themselves in. The dignity and rights of every worker must be protected.
"People in our society have the right to have access to all they need to fully participate in life and grow to their full potential – this is what the Common Good is about and we have a serious obligation to bring about a situation where this can happen – not further alienate and disempower people," said Sr Annette.
"Political leaders have a particular and serious obligation to work for the Common Good but in so many ways today we do not see this happening. We must raise our voices on behalf of those with few choices so that life can be better for them. The level of disadvantage in Australia is outrageous and we must not stand voiceless and do nothing," she said.
SOURCE
Religious groups resist IR changes (The Courier Mail 19/10/05)
Changes to Industrial Relations Regime – Money Over Humanity (Social Action Office, Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, Queensland 18/10/05)
LINKS (not necessarily endorsed by Church Resources)
Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in Queensland - Social Action Office | Industrial Relations Campaign 2005 | Briefing Paper - Money over Humanity - Changes to Industrial Relations in Australia
ARCHIVE
Archbishop warns priests warned not to become pawns (CathNews 14/10/05)
Papal twist in Parliament work debate (CathNews 12/10/05)
Govt IR detail fails to ease Commission's concern (CathNews 11/10/05)
Church body open to national industrial relations system (CathNews 12/9/05)
Church body slams IR policy proposals (CathNews 9/9/05)
Bishop urges Govt to tread softly on IR (CathNews 2/9/05)
Minister says full employment is Catholic "first principle" (CathNews 19/8/05)
Remote area voice sees PM ´off target´ on IR (CathNews 12/8/05)
Commission answers PM´s denial of existence of Catholic position (CathNews 10/8/05)
PM dismisses voice of Church (CathNews 8/8/05)
Melbourne Archbishop coordinating IR response (CathNews 3/8/05)
Minister tells churches to stay out of IR fight (CathNews 11/7/05)
Pell voices wages concerns (CathNews 4/7/05)
Canberra bishop speaks out on job insecurity fears (CathNews 1/7/04)
Church leaders worried about Howard IR changes (CathNews 29/6/05)
Bishop hits back at Minister´s claims on IR reforms 1/6/05)
Catholic body seeks meeting with Minister over workplace laws (CathNews 30/5/05)
MORE STORIES
Salvos concerned over IR proposals (ABC Radio AM 18/10/05)
More criticism on the industrial relations front (Online Cathoilcs 19/10/05)
Work reforms lack fairness (Catholic Leader 16/10/05)
Priests warned not to become pawns (The Age 14/10/05)
Faith and duty call (The Australian 14/10/05)
Anglican, Catholic clergy echo concerns for low-paid workers (Canberra Times 12/10/05)
19 Oct 2005
