Fr John Flader BA (Harvard), DCL (Navarre), was ordained a priest of Opus Dei in 1967 and came to Australia in 1968. He has served as chaplain of Warrane College at the University of New South Wales (1970-1991), chaplain of the University of Tasmania (1992-1997) chaplain of RMIT University (1998-2001) and Director of the Catholic Adult Education Centre of the Archdiocese of Sydney (2002-2010). Since 2011 he has been chaplain of Montgrove College in Orchard Hills, Sydney.
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The best in Catholic news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Though not sinful, dreams give insight into our heart
Is a person guilty of sin who has unchaste nightmares or dreams and wakes up realising what just went through their mind in a dream?
Honouring the name above all other names
When I was growing up I was taught to bow my head whenever I said or heard the name “Jesus”. I have noticed that some priests still bow their heads in Mass but no one else seems to do it anymore except for some of us oldies. How has this come about?
Sr Josefa’s life one of true holiness and suffering
A friend recently lent me a book by a Spanish nun named Sr Josefa Menendez, which I am finding very inspirational. I would like to know whether she and her writings have been approved by the Church.
Do I need to go into the sordid details?
I have several questions regarding impure thoughts. Can they be mortal sins? How should I confess them? Do I need to go into detail?
Angels and demons: God’s intimacy was refused
Why did some of the angels fall and become devils when they were created in heaven and were so close to God? Also, why didn’t they have the opportunity to repent and be saved as we do?
The King of Kings chose a humble birth
I have three questions on the birth of Christ. Why do we say he was born in a stable? What are swaddling clothes? And what exactly was the sign announced by the angel?
They want me to clean at an abortion clinic?
I work as a cleaner and the firm I work for has just won a contract to look after several abortion clinics. If I am required to do so, could I work in those clinics? I am opposed to abortion but I don’t want to lose my job.
Word’s use a scandal in the mistaking
I have been confused for quite some time as to exactly what scandal is and whether it is a sin. For example, we say that a person was scandalised. Is there sin in any of this?
Heaven may be possible if thrice purified
I have always thought that it is not easy to go straight to heaven when we die but, based on the Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas, that the Anointing of the Sick removes all our temporal punishment and, in any case, there is a plenary indulgence at death for those who prayed. Is this true?
Eucharistic miracles proof of Christ’s Real Presence
I have been fascinated by your account of the Eucharistic miracles of Buenos Aires and Poland. What is the connection between these and the miracle of Lanciano in Italy?
