Notes: Friday, December 10, 2010

1. "WikiLeaks acts 'illegal': Gillard government"

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/wikileaks-acts-illegal-gillard-government/story-fn775xjq-1225968584365

2. Cardinal Pell represented at launch of revised version of B'nai-B'rith-produced and -supported anti-racism/-bigotry handbook for schools

From the Sydney Catholic Weekly of several Sundays ago (bold and italics as in the original):

‘Inspired initiative’ to fight racism, bigotry

By Kerry Myers
21 November, 2010

THERE must be constant vigilance against racism and prejudice, warned the chairman of the Community Relations Commission of NSW, Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian.

[...] Dr Kerkyasharian was speaking at the launch of Without Prejudice – Towards a Harmonious Society in the Strangers Lounge of NSW Parliament House on Tuesday, November 9.

The book is a further initiative to combat prejudice in classrooms and is a revision of an earlier project produced and supported by B’nai B’rith, the world’s oldest and largest Jewish community service organisation.

Guests included parliamentarians and community representatives, including Anthony Cleary, the CEO’s director of religious education and evangelisation, who represented the Archbishop of Sydney, George Cardinal Pell.

“What an inspired initiative by B’nai B’rith . . . to enlighten children at this most influential point in their young lives,” Dr Kerkyasharian said.

“How better to do it than to provide their teachers with such a practical guide which can so easily be implemented in the classroom .... so easily dipped into and out of.

“This handbook is so well designed that just one exercise of 30-40 minutes could have an impact on a child’s life forever. [...]
[http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=1&subclassID=2&articleID=7543&class=News&subclass=CW]

Without Prejudice is available here. The Archdiocese of Sydney and the Catholic Education Commission of N.S.W. are listed here, along with bodies such as the Education Task Force of B’nai B’rith (N.S.W.) and the Alfred Dreyfus Unit of B'nai Brith (sic), as community groups by which "Moving Forward Together is supported and endorsed".

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Melchiades, Pope, Martyr, A.D. 2010

Notes: Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Herald letters regarding informal voting:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/leave-it-blank-if-you-dont-like-either-candidate-20100817-128c2.html?skin=text-only

Coptic Orthodox Pope escalates (or at least continues/renews) hostilities between his Church and the Egyptian government?

In The Australian today:

Pope Shenuda III [sic--though should be II., I understand] warned Egyptian Copts - who often use the telephone to maintain contact with their local parish priest when they are abroad - that the security services were tapping calls, the independent Al Masri Al Yawm newspaper said.

Shenuda III said: "Beware not to admit your sins over the telephone, because all phone conversations are recorded by the state security services.

"Otherwise, you will have to go seek absolution in prison, from the police, rather than from your local priest."

The cleric reportedly issued the warning to hundreds of worshippers during a sermon in Alexandria on Sunday.

Copts are the Middle East's largest Christian community and make up about 10 percent of Egypt's largely Muslim population of 80 million.
[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/egyptian-sinners-who-dial-a-confession-risk-prison-church-leader-warns/story-fn3dxity-1225906568093]

The article fails to make the connection to Egypt's highest court's recent ruling (see this blog's "Coptic Orthodox Church" label) that the Coptic Orthodox Church is required to have divorce and remarriage, a ruling which the C.O. Pope and C.O. Church intend to disregard. I wonder whether the C.O. Pope's warning ties in with this feud (perhaps not the best word, but you get my drift)?

Dr. Hamilton on The Greens as 'the party of moderation' (and apparently of prudence, justice, and fortitude, too)

Amusing to see Dr. Hamilton positioning The Greens as a centrist via media between 'religious extremism' and sexual libertinism (no mention in the article of abortion or euthanasia and The Greens' policies thereon, though):

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/the-party-of-moderation-steps-lightly-in-the-footsteps-of-plato/story-e6frgd0x-1225906537799

Dr. Collins on the religious and social/political views (in a word, "integralism") of Mr. Abbott and the late Mr. Santamaria

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/preview.aspx?aeid=22823

A weak article, one whose weaknesses Mr. Gerard Henderson points out here. No mention in either opinion piece, though, of the Social Kingship of Christ, which is the cornerstone of integralism in the sense in which I regard myself as an integralist.

A telling answer to an 'F.A.Q.' at the website for the re-opened programme for a Sydney Archdiocese Permanent Diaconate

(Last Sunday's Sydney Catholic Weekly had a couple of articles which brought Sydney's Office of the Permanent Diaconate and its website to my attention.)

If a married man is ordained a deacon do he and his wife have to refrain from sexual activity?

Married deacons and their wives do not surrender any rights or responsibilities resulting from their married state of life. Marriage and orders are not incompatible sacraments; rather, there is a great mutuality between them.
[http://www.sydneydiaconate.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=20#sexlife]

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Agapitus, Martyr, and of St. Helen, Empress, Widow, A.D. 2010

More Sydney Archdiocese liturgical dancing: Handing on the tradition, St. Joachim's Parish, Lidcombe

At this rate I'll have to start a "liturgical dancing" post label. Here's an item from the 'Parish Noticeboard' section in last Sunday's edition of the Sydney Catholic Weekly on the perpetuation of this sacrilege:

The next liturgical dance practice will be held at 9am on April 18 in St Joachim’s parish hall, Lidcombe. Practices will then be held every Sunday until Pentecost: April 25, May 2, 9 and 16. For more details ring Michelle on 9648 2912 or 0421 839 474.
[http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=74&articleID=6821&class=Features&subclass=Parish
noticeboard]

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, A.D. 2010

Happenings in the Archdiocese of Sydney

Here are some interesting clerical appointments that I noticed in last Sunday’s Sydney Catholic Weekly:

Rev Dr Neil Brown: Appointed as parish priest of the parish and shrine of St Anne, Bondi Beach, from October 4, 2008, for six years.

It will be interesting to see what kind of relationship Dr. Brown cultivates with the Traditional Mass community, which has used his church on a couple of occasions.

[…] Fr Paul Hilder: Appointed dean and administrator of the parish of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, for six years. …

Does anyone know anything about Fr. Hilder? How well-disposed is he towards the Traditional Mass?

[…] Fr Anthony Percy: Appointed rector of the seminary of the Good Shepherd, from January 1, 2009, for three years.

I had thought that Fr. Percy had already taken over, but clearly not.

[…] Fr John Speekman: Reappointed administrator of the parish of St Joseph, Camperdown, from July 21, 2008, for one year.

I did not even know that Fr. Speekman had left his old Diocese. If I recall correctly, there was a controversy in that Diocese over Father declining to distribute Holy Communion to children whom he knew not to be properly disposed to receive It. Fr. Speekman has a blog: http://homiliesfromaustralia.blogspot.com/

If anyone has any more information on these priests then please let me know.

Reginaldvs Cantvar
9.XII.2008 A.D.