One of the basic tasks of the Christian life is understanding that although life can be unfair, God has given us eternal life Having grown up in North America during the decades of girl-power, materialism, and exaggerated self-esteem, I was encouraged to ‘dream big.’ Not by my humble parents, who stressed holiness over human achievement, but more so by our secular school system and the culture...

Giving more people degrees doesn’t make us a more educated society. Certain politicians in Australia, Britain and America have set a political goal of increasing the number of students at universities. The Australian Prime Minister has mentioned a target figure of 40 per cent of the population to have bachelors’ degrees by 2025, at a cost of more than $5.2 billion in public money over five ye...

One of the persistent disappointments for those committed to the cause of unborn children has been the witness over several decades of Catholics who, as politicians, voted for practices such as the legalisation of abortion. It happened in Western Australia in 1998 and it happened in Victoria in 2008 and it has happened around the world since the early 1970s, most notably in the US where Hous...

Susan (not her real name) is in her 20s and told The Record why she took part in the Walk and Rally for Life on May 22. What has been your personal experience of the issue? Abortion was one of those touchy subjects that I tried to avoid and ignore until it just couldn’t be ignored anymore. One of my best friends, a Catholic girl who was engaged to be married, told a group of friends that sh...

Dear Father, a friend told me about a prayer called the Trisagium Angelicum which she prays in a group to which she belongs. I had never heard of it. What is it? I think few people would be aware of this ancient prayer to the Blessed Trinity, so it is good that you ask the question. After all, we Catholics should be familiar with the many aspects of our rich cultural and spiritual heritage....

We have no evidence that Pope Benedict XVI had Australia’s Year of Grace in mind during his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, April 18 this year, but he might have done. In it, he went back to the earliest Christians to tell us how Christians have always dealt with life. “When the first Christian community is confronted by dangers, difficulties and threats it does...

Things might be looking up for Australia's fledgling neighbour, East Timor. International aid agencies are helping people to put the past behind them and, given the country's tumultuous history, that is no small feat. “I have a story,” she says quietly. Aged 33, Dirse Desilva Soares’ future looks bright - she is currently completing a teaching practicum in Perth - but the story she tells is ...

There are moments of genuine holiness to be found in some British television series, Guy Crouchback explains. I have recently obtained by mail order two rather elderly DVD collections of British television series featuring Catholic priests – Bless Me, Father, starring Arthur Lowe, and a collection of GK Chesterton’s Father Brown stories, starring Kenneth More. Both are excellent. In contrast ...

“God has given us tremendous wealth and influence ... what are we doing with it?” So, what are we doing, Catholics? I had never watched a film that claimed it could change the world – I have now. 58, which premiered across Australia in late May, aims to trigger a global Christian movement that will eradicate extreme poverty within one generation. It is no doubt a goal many may believe to ...

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