Past Programs
Catholicism - 2008
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Robert Sirico: Must Religion be a Threat to Liberty?
29/10/2008
An edited version of this year's Acton Lecture, which was given by Father Robert Sirico. Robert Sirico has written widely on economics and religion, and says that institutionalised religion is essential to political and economic liberty.
Robert Sirico: Must Religion be a Threat to Liberty?
29/10/2008
An edited version of this year's Acton Lecture, which was given by Father Robert Sirico. Robert Sirico has written widely on economics and religion, and says that institutionalised religion is essential to political and economic liberty.
Claudette Werleigh, General Secretary , Pax Christi International
15/10/2008
A former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Haiti, Claudette Werleigh, was in Australia recently in her new role as Secretary-General of the Catholic peace organisation, Pax Christi.
Pax Christi was created out of the ashes of the Second World War, and in those days it focused on dialogue between the people of France and Germany.
Claudette Werleigh has been touring the Asia-Pacific region, looking at the work being undertaken by Pax Christi members in our region.
In the early 1990s, after the fall of the brutal dictatorship of Baby Doc Duvalier, a Catholic priest, Jean Bertrand Aristide, became President of Haiti, and Claudette Werleigh served as his Foreign Minister and Social Affairs Minister from 1990 to 1995, and then briefly as Prime Minister in '95-'96.
This was also a time when Liberation Theology in Latin America was coming under sustained attack, and in this interview, Claudette Werleigh speaks about the auto-demolition of liberation theology in Haiti by the Catholic hierarchy led by Archbishop Francois Wolff-Ligonde.
But we began by talking about Claudette Werleigh's tour of the Asia Pacific. She's been looking at the work being undertaken by Pax Christi members in our region; including opposition to military buildup in the pacific, concern for the plight of indigenous communities and dialogue for peace in the Philippines.
The Movement for the Ordination of Women ( MOW) and the end of the moratorium.
15/10/2008
Pius XII, Hitler, and the Jews
08/10/2008
To most people he is best known for his failure to speak out clearly on behalf of Jews during the Holocaust, but he has regularly been defamed as a supporter of Hitler and an antisemite. On the 50th anniversary of his death we take another look at the wartime record of Pope Pius XII, Eugenio Pacelli - with Dr. Paul O'Shea, the Australian author of a new book about Pius, A Cross too Heavy.
Pius XII, Hitler, and the Jews
08/10/2008
To most people he is best known for his failure to speak out clearly on behalf of Jews during the Holocaust, but he has regularly been defamed as a supporter of Hitler and an antisemite. On the 50th anniversary of his death we take another look at the wartime record of Pope Pius XII, Eugenio Pacelli - with Dr. Paul O'Shea, the Australian author of a new book about Pius, A Cross too Heavy.
The Church and the Nazis
24/09/2008
They were known as 'brown priests' - the small and relatively marginalised group of Catholic priests who joined the Nazi Party. Some were personally close to Hitler, including the Benedictine abbot Albanus Schachleiter, who preached at Nazi rallies flanked by members of the SA, the Hitler youth, and swastika flags. Others left the Church to join the SS. All were a headache for their Bishops. American historian Kevin Spicer is visiting professor at Notre Dame University, and his book Hitler's Priests follows the careers of a dozen 'brown priests', examining their motives, the trouble they caused, and their eventual fate.
The Church and the Nazis
24/09/2008
They were known as 'brown priests' - the small and relatively marginalised group of Catholic priests who joined the Nazi Party. Some were personally close to Hitler, including the Benedictine abbot Albanus Schachleiter, who preached at Nazi rallies flanked by members of the SA, the Hitler youth, and swastika flags. Others left the Church to join the SS. All were a headache for their Bishops. American historian Kevin Spicer is visiting professor at Notre Dame University, and his book Hitler's Priests follows the careers of a dozen 'brown priests', examining their motives, the trouble they caused, and their eventual fate.
World Youth Day 2008 in review: Blindfolded and feeling parts of the elephant
23/07/2008
Pilgrim perspectives from a worldwide church gathered in Sydney for World Youth Day: Social Justice strands with Cardinal Óscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga of the Honduras, former President of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM); female genital mutilation and women's rights faced by African pilgrims with Loreto Sr Ephigenia; and the restorationist strand of grand Roman liturgy.
World Youth Day 2008 in review: Blindfolded and feeling parts of the elephant
23/07/2008
Some Pilgrim perspectives from a worldwide church gathered in Sydney for World Youth Day
Kenyan Sr Ephigenia Gachiri IBVM on her work at WYD 2008
23/07/2008
Female genital mutilation and women's rights faced by African pilgrims with Loreto Sr Ephigenia
Honduran Oscar Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga on his role at WYD 2008
23/07/2008
Social Justice strands at WYD with Cardinal Óscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga of the Honduras, President of Caritas Internationalis, former President of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM)
The 40th Anniversary of the Pope banning the pill: Humanae Vitae
16/07/2008
As World Youth Day celebrations continue, George Cardinal Pell has called upon Catholics to "Populate or Perish". Yet the banning of artifical contraception was the greatest single catastrophe to befall the Catholic Church since the reformation. We speak to veteran Rome journalist Robert Blair Kaiser who was there - as well as some fine Australian Catholic women - including our own mothers Irene Crittenden and Judy Debien.
The 40th Anniversary of the Pope banning the pill: Humanae Vitae
16/07/2008
As World Youth Day celebrations continue, George Cardinal Pell has called upon Catholics to "Populate or Perish". Yet the banning of artifical contraception was the greatest single catastrophe to befall the Catholic Church since the reformation. We speak to veteran Rome journalist Robert Blair Kaiser who was there - as well as some fine Australian Catholic women - including our own mothers Irene Crittenden and Judy Debien.
WYD 2008 excludes young gay and lesbian Catholics.
09/07/2008
MAGiS (Ignatian) group over-ruled on their inclusiveness policy, and told they may not sponsor the Catholic Acceptance group and the PFLAG group
A preview of World Youth Day 2008
09/07/2008
With just a few days to go before World Youth Day in Sydney, we ask whether the visiting pilgrims from around the world are going to be presented with a real church or a fantasy church. On the one hand there is a strong emphasis on Catholic identity as traditionally conceived, and and on the other hand a failure to engage with modern problems.
The relics of saints at World Youth Day 2008
09/07/2008
The strong emphasis on Catholic identity as traditionally conceived, and an attempt to revive a range of traditional Catholic pious practices including the veneration of saintly relics, individual confession, the Latin Mass, eucharistic adoration and the stations of the cross.
Eucharistic Adoration at World Youth Day 2008
09/07/2008
Another aspect of the revival of a range of traditional Catholic pious practices.
World Youth Day 2008
09/07/2008
With just a few days to go before World Youth Day in Sydney, we ask whether the visiting pilgrims from around the world are going to be presented with a real church or a fantasy church. On the one hand there is a strong emphasis on Catholic identity as traditionally conceived, and an attempt to revive a range of traditional Catholic pious practices including the veneration of saintly relics, individual confession, the Latin Mass, eucharistic adoration and the stations of the cross. On the other hand there is a failure to confront modern problems. We look at the attempt to exclude young gay Catholics, the never-ending saga of sexual abuse, and the reality of a diminishing Australian church now facing an acute priest shortage.
Chaplains in State Schools
11/06/2008
Senator Lyn Allison on problems bedding down Federally funded chaplains in state schools;
Dalai Lama protests; Iranian Baha'is disappear ; Chaplains in State Schools;
11/06/2008
The Dalai Llama faces protests from within the Shugden Buddhist community on his Australian tour; The latest news on a group of Baha'i activists who were arrested by the Iranian government and have disappeared; Senator Lyn Allison on problems bedding down Federally funded chaplains in state schools;
Catholic women priests
04/06/2008
Vatican decrees that Catholic women who were ordained as priests will now incur automatic excommunication, as will those who have ordained them
Zimbabwean Anglican excommunication
04/06/2008
The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe is in uproar. In Harare the Anglican churches are padlocked on orders from the police and Anglicans who go near them are being arrested and severely beaten. Mugabe's archbishop, Nolbert Kunonga, was excommunicated just over a week ago, having been replaced by a new bishop, Dr Sebastian Bakare - but it seems that Bishop Kunonga will fall only with the fall of Robert Mugabe.
Emerging Church
04/06/2008
The Emerging Church movement with visiting commentator on new forms of worship, Johnny Baker of the 'Grace' community in the UK.
Zimbabwean Anglican excommunication; the Emerging Church; Catholic women priests
04/06/2008
The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe is in uproar. In Harare the Anglican churches are padlocked on orders from the police and Anglicans who go near them are being arrested and severely beaten. Mugabe's archbishop, Nolbert Kunonga, was excommunicated just over a week ago, having been replaced by a new bishop, Dr Sebastian Bakare - but it seems that Bishop Kunonga will fall only with the fall of Robert Mugabe. Also, we look at the Emerging Church movement with visiting commentator on new forms of worship, Johnny Baker of the 'Grace' community in the UK.
Australia's first female Anglican bishops; A spirited defence of Catholic Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
28/05/2008
The installation of two Australian Anglican bishops- Kay Goldsworthy in Perth last week, and Barbara Darling in Melbourne next weekend- appears to have been taken in its stride by the Australian public, with no great fanfare and little fuss. We speak to Barbara Darling about her life as an Australian woman pioneer. We also speak to pioneer and prophet (prophetess) Dr Patricia Brennan, who says that with the installation of these women bishops the Sydney Anglicans are growing more and more isolated and irrelevant. And Sydney Catholic priest Dr Michael Whelan attacks the Australian bishops' statement criticising Bishop Robinson- as lacking in clarity and courage, mischievous, and even fundamentalist.
Canon Darling on Australia's first female Anglican bishops
28/05/2008
The installation of two Australian Anglican bishops- Kay Goldsworthy in Perth last week, and Barbara Darling in Melbourne next weekend- appears to have been taken in its stride by the Australian public, with no great fanfare and little fuss. We speak to Barbara Darling about her life as an Australian woman pioneer.
Dr Patricia Brennan on Australia's first female Anglican bishops
28/05/2008
Pioneer and prophet (prophetess) Dr Patricia Brennan, who says that with the installation of these women bishops the Sydney Anglicans are growing more and more isolated and irrelevant.
A spirited defence of Catholic Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
28/05/2008
Sydney Catholic priest Dr Michael Whelan attacks the Australian bishops' statement criticising Bishop Robinson- as lacking in clarity and courage, mischievous, and even fundamentalist.
Mother Mary MacKillop: Her Holiness
21/05/2008
Just in time for World Youth Day, Sydney playwrights Justin Fleming and Melvyn Morrow bring Pope Benedict XVI to the stage, with his piano, as a character in Her Holiness, their play about Mother Mary MacKillop.
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
21/05/2008
Confronting Sex and Power in the Catholic church of the United States
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, Religion and public life; Mother Mary MacKillop: Her Holiness
21/05/2008
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, Roger Trigg on the pressure to privatise religion and keep it out of public life. And just in time for World Youth Day, Sydney playwrights Justin Fleming and Melvyn Morrow bring Pope Benedict XVI to the stage, with his piano, as a character in Her Holiness, their play about Mother Mary MacKillop.
Religion and public life
21/05/2008
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, Roger Trigg on the pressure to privatise religion and keep it out of public life.
Michael Kieran Harvey on Messaien
14/05/2008
A midnight festival in St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne to celebrate the centenary of one of the great mystical composers of the 20th century, Olivier Messaien.
Max Charlesworth AO on democracy in the church
14/05/2008
Professor Max Charlesworth on his "A Democratic Church: Reforming the values and institutions of the Catholic Church"
Ahmadiyya Islam in Indonesia; Victorian Police Chaplain retires; Max Charlesworth AO on democracy in the church; Michael Kieran Harvey on Messaien
14/05/2008
Indonesian government steps back from banning the Muslim Ahmadiyya sect in the name of religious freeedom; First of a new series of quarterly essays on religion in Australia: Professor Max Charlesworth on Democracy in the Catholic church; The Rev Jim Pilmer, chaplain to the Victorian police department retires after 12 years; A midnight festival in St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne to celebrate the centenary of one of the great mystical composers of the 20th century, Olivier Messaien.
Dean Logan on the Australian Christian Lobby
07/05/2008
Former Chief of Staff for the Australian Christian Lobby
Former ACL Victorian State Director Railton Hill on the Australian Christian Lobby
07/05/2008
When it comes to same sex couples and marriage, a Charter of Rights, or child surrogacy, how effectively does the Australian Christian Lobby represent the mainstream churches? When the ACL lobbies with government, how does its perceived constituency find a genuine voice in its policy-making?
The Australian Christian Lobby
07/05/2008
When it comes to same sex couples and marriage, a Charter of Rights, or child surrogacy, how effectively does the Australian Christian Lobby represent the mainstream churches? When the ACL lobbies with government, how does its perceived constituency find a genuine voice in its policy-making?
Jim Wallace on the Australian Christian Lobby
07/05/2008
Leader of the Australian Christian Lobby
More on the chaos at World Youth Day HQ; Edmund Campion reads from his essay "A Mass on the Racecourse"; Reviewing the Act of Settlement of 1701
09/04/2008
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is prepared to consider repealing those sections of the Act of Settlement of 1701 that prevent Catholics from ascending the throne or marrying into the Royal Family. Anglican theologian Theo Hobson and Conservative Party politician Adrian Hilton debate the issue.
Also, Centenary celebrations for Strathfield Uniting Church in Sydney.
Reviewing the Act of Settlement of 1701
09/04/2008
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is prepared to consider repealing those sections of the Act of Settlement of 1701 that prevent Catholics from ascending the throne or marrying into the Royal Family. Anglican theologian Theo Hobson and Conservative Party politician Adrian Hilton debate the issue.
More on the chaos at World Youth Day HQ
09/04/2008
Last week we reported on the departure of Father Tim Deeter from World Youth Day celebrations. This week there's more chaos as composer Moya Henderson has her work for the celebrations cancelled.
World Youth Day 2008? ;
02/04/2008
Are problems beginning to show in the events organisation of World Youth Day?
Anglican and Catholic Covenant
02/04/2008
Australian Anglicans and Catholics across 3 major regions sign and celebrate an historic agreement this week that promises further and closer co-operation between their three dioceses. The four Bishops in Newcastle, Maitland-Newcastle and Broken Bay dioceses are meeting in Newcastle's Christchurch Anglican Cathedral together with their priests and people to build what were once unthinkable bridges across sectarian divides.
Chris Willcock S.J
02/04/2008
The newly composed opening song for World Youth Day 2008
Clouds gathering over World Youth Day 2008? ; Anglican and Catholic Covenant
02/04/2008
Australian Anglicans and Catholics across 3 major regions sign and celebrate an historic agreement this week that promises further and closer co-operation between their three dioceses. The four Bishops in Newcastle, Maitland-Newcastle and Broken Bay dioceses are meeting in Newcastle's Christchurch Anglican Cathedral together with their priests and people to build what were once unthinkable bridges across sectarian divides.
Rimini Manuscript
12/03/2008
A medieval manuscript of Gregorian chant owned by the State Library of NSW comes alive in a series of sell-out concerts.
Anglican Primate of the West Indies on Lambeth; Ghanaian Presbyterians; Rimini Manuscript
12/03/2008
This week we speak to Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the Bahamas, Anglican Primate of the West Indies, who wants Peter Jensen to come to this year's Lambeth conference. Also we meet the moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana - where Calvinists dance in church. And a medieval manuscript of Gregorian chant owned by the State Library of NSW comes alive in a series of sell-out concerts.
John Russell (obituary)
12/03/2008
ABC Broadcaster
Rabbi David Rosen on the Catholic church and the Jews
27/02/2008
Rabbi David Rosen on the controversy about the new Good Friday prayer for the Jews which the Pope has written for the revived 1962 Latin Missal.
Mark A Siegel on Islam, Democracy and the West; Rabbi David Rosen on the Catholic church and the Jews
27/02/2008
On the morning of December 27, 2007 -- the day she was assassinated -- Benazir Bhutto completed her final edits for a new book -- Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West -- and emailed the manuscript to her collaborator, spokesman and friend in the United States, Mark A Siegel. Part memoir, part manifesto, the book argues that Islam is compatible with democracy, but also that Islamic extremism thrives under a dictatorship. Mark Siegel gives his first Australian interview since the book's publication. Also, Rabbi David Rosen on the controversy about the new Good Friday prayer for the Jews which the Pope has written for the revived 1962 Latin Missal.
The new "Black Pope"; Anglican music and culture under threat in Sydney
30/01/2008
Representatives of the largest male religious order in the Catholic church have elected a new world leader. He's 71-year-old Father Adolfo Nicolás. ALSO Peter Phillips is conductor of one of the world's most famous choirs, The Tallis Scholars, as well as being a regular columnist for The Spectator. In his most recent column he has launched a blistering attack on the Sydney Anglicans, claiming the Jensen brothers are vandalising Anglican music and culture in Sydney: "For the parishioners there is no escaping the hard-line and destructive opinions of these two, whose double-whammy reminds one of the accumulation of power by the Kaczynski twins in Poland."
The new "Black Pope"
30/01/2008
Representatives of the largest male religious order in the Catholic church have elected a new world leader. He's 71-year-old Father Adolfo Nicolás,
