Christopher West: Reality check for Chaz Bono The gender reassignment of Sonny and Cher's daughter Chastity raises some interesting questions.   Guy Crouchback: EU's Catholic leader paradox The president of the EU is a Catholic; an interesting man with difficult challenges ahead.   Mark Reidy: No avatar needed, just God's love There are plenty of p...

Abortion Grief Australia has initiated a new approach to those often forgotten in the abortion debate.   AGA director, Jule Cook.   By Robert Hiini Abortion Grief Australia (AGA) has announced that is making moves to provide post-abortion grief counselling to men for the first time. Partnering with BaptistCare’s Pathways Counselling, AGA will pro...

The debate over the legitimacy of the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje has been revived after an Austrian Cardinal said that private Medjugorje visits bring good results; while the local Mostar Bishop said the Cardinal broke Church etiquette with his own personal visit to his diocese. VATICAN CITY (CNS) - After visiting Medjugorje, the site of alleged Marian apparitions in Bosnia-Herzegovin...

Perth Archdiocese’s Catholic Marriage Education Services launches Faith-based programme for all married couples.   Catholic Marriage Education Services (CMES) is set to launch a new six week marriage enrichment programme, IMAGO, on 4 February. IMAGO is an educational programme for Christian couples who want to understand and deepen their relationship even more. Th...

Congregations will need to ‘tune in’ to liturgy’s mystery says Bishop By Anthony Barich CATHOLICS may make a surprising discovery if they pray the new Missal “as the Church prays” and apply their minds to it, says an Australian Bishop set to visit Perth for the February 4-7 Australian Bishops’ liturgy conference at Novotel Langley Hotel in Perth. The p...

THE Australian grandmother of 20 whose cure from cancer was attributed to the miraculous intercession of Blessed Mary MacKillop has stepped forward and spoken to Australian media for the first time about her experience.   Kathleen Evans at her daughter’s wedding, which, according to doctors, she was not expected to live to see. Photo: Courtesy of Josephites. ...

For Pope Benedict, a different shade of green                                 Pope Benedict XVI and two priests look out over a pond on the grounds of Kenthurst Study Centre in Kenthurst, Australia, in mid-July, 2008. He told...

In this week's Record:   - Devastation on an unimaginable scale as Haiti burns   - Abortion counselling on the way for men   - Infighting on alleged Medjugorje apparitions   - Priest Profile: Fr Peter Nguyen - Treacherous journey inspires priesthood   - New marriage enrichment programme due to launch   ...

Pope Benedict XVI’s Christmas Vigil Mass homily at the Vatican. It may just change your life. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world, and all men and women, whom the Lord loves! “Lux fulgebit hodie super nos, quia natus est nobis Dominus. A light will shine on us this day, the Lord is born for us” (Roman Missal, Christmas, Entrance Antip...

This week:   - How Catholics in Western Australia celebrated Christmas - Photos and stories from parishes throughout the Western seaboard.   - Pope Benedicts Christmas Vigil Homily: Left to ourselves, we could not reach him   - Insensitivy, smugness, pretention keep people from God: Benedict XVI   - Three more Irish Bishops resign ...