Preface

I remember reading, for the first time, a translation of St. John Chrysostom’s commentary on Ephesians. Only months after our wedding, my wife and I were encountering our first real conflict in married life. A foolish desire to find some saint who would take my side in our trivial dispute had me eagerly turning to the saint’s commentary on the great analogy, that of Christ the bridegroom and his bride, the Church. I do not know how long I read and re-read those passages (my wife tells me it can be measured in days) but I emerged with a sense of shame at my own selfishness, awe at the magnitude of Christ’s love for his bride, the Church, and a profound wonder that I should be called to imitate and participate in that love.

I subscribe to The Pillar. A small Catholic news source set up by two investigative reporters who remain mostly impartial and determined to analyse and report the truth. 

This excellent piece was sent to subscribers of the Pillar on July 4th this year. It is really about the death of modern democracy, why it is failing, and what we can do. I will link to the Pillar's subscription page at the bottom. Now, over to Ed.

After much planning, a lot of hard work and the support of bishops in Sydney, I am happy to say that we are launching a new weekly podcast, beginning this week. "The Catholic Thing is a show about Ordinary Catholics having a relaxed, informal, and genuinely searching conversation about current issues, the challenges and hardships of life and what light “the Catholic thing” brings to these things.

I was recently asked if I would be posting a reflection on the candidates for the coming Federal election. To be honest, I was trying to avoid doing so. Not because there is nothing to say, but because people have become increasingly less able to engage rationally with discussion about politics (or religion, or even Marvel movies...) and I didn't want to become a lightening rod for the latest angry outbursts from irrational keyboard warriors.

In some ways this post will be easy.

The following is my reflection and a brief summary of the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit promulgated 25 March 2019. I should provide fair warning that, while this document has much to offer, my reflection includes a slightly irreverent lament that Pope Francis does not seem to be a fan of brevity and clarity in magisterial documents.

TLDR: Read Chapters 1, 3, 4, 6, 9.

Prologue - Paragraph 1-4

4 paragraphs of preamble, and paragraphs 1-2 set the tone for the exhortation.

Jordan Peterson is good – just not God

(First published in the Catholic Weekly - March 2019)

I am frequently sent articles, videos and news items by students and friends who seem to find Jordan Peterson inspiring and particularly good news for Catholics.

I have not been as impressed with him as others seems to be.

In the face of current legal cases that beggar belief, I returned to the words St Thomas Moore prayed after his unjust trial, as he was waiting to be executed.

Give me Thy grace, good Lord, To think nothing of worldly things; to set my mind firmly upon Thee; and not to be concerned about the words men say against me. ...
1

This post is my comment on the candidates for the 2019 NSW State election. It is in no way exhaustive, nor do I claim to be the least bit impartial. These are my observations as a voter, who happens to be a Catholic Christian.

For the benefit of those who prefer short answers, I offer a TLDR (Too Long: Didn't Read) after each entry. Even my full text is far too simplistic to be called a summary, so the TLDR is always going to be far too simplistic. Please read the rest.

The big news is that Albert has been accepted into a local school for children with special needs. The school itself has the training, facilities and experience to help Albert develop in skills which are essential to being as independent as possible in the long run. Today was his orientation day at the school, and school begins in earnest in February next year. The attitude, facilities, programme and general attitude of the staff was impressive and reassuring.

Even so.
2

Listening to late night talk-back radio as I drive home late at night is almost always a bad idea. The presenters are usually so biased in their outlook that they ride roughshod over logic in order to promote their preferred opinion. So it was moderately amusing to hear one guest complain that politics was becoming more tribal than ever.
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Married with eight children, I read for work and recreation which results in the current combination of G.K. Chesterton, Orson Scott Card and Terry Pratchet in my backpack. I'm not always certain which is work and which is recreation!
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