Author Archives: Schutz

Readers of this blog know that I have declared that I will believe the rumours of George Cardinal Pell’s “upcoming appointment” to the Congregation for Bishops WHEN IT HAPPENS. On this blog we know the difference between a rumour and … Continue reading →

A curious story in the Hun this morning: Hungry Pope sneaks out for a snack Pope Benedict XVI snuck out of the Vatican in secret to enjoy a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant. The Pontiff, who is normally … Continue reading →

There are times when Papa Benny just nails it. There are times when his teaching and his homilies – and even his ad libs (I am waiting eagerly for a full translation of his Q&A session with priests from the … Continue reading →

On the 9th of March, 2001, I and two other pastors of the Lutheran Church of Australia were summoned to St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Box Hill by the President of the Victoria District to give an account of our … Continue reading →

If you have been to the Sistine Chapel as a tourist recently (and not for a liturgical event or perhaps a conclave), you will have found it disconcertingly filled with a crowd of rowdy tourists (self-excluded, of course). Now you … Continue reading →

Almost ten years ago, on the 9th of March, 2001, I and two other pastors of the Lutheran Church of Australia were summoned to St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Box Hill by the President of the Victoria District to give … Continue reading →

How many of you have a “sacred trust”? By “sacred trust”, I mean a godly duty to which you have publically bound yourself by an oath in the presence of God and in his name. Off hand, I can think … Continue reading →

I understand that the Holy Father’s second volume of his book “Jesus of Nazareth” is now at the translators. The first volume made a beautiful and timely argument for holding together what many “scholars” today prefer to separate: Jesus of … Continue reading →

ABC Online is reporting Priests’ ‘wives’ speak out against celibacy (HT to Matthias): About a dozen women have written an open letter to the pope challenging the Church’s position that priestly celibacy is a sacred commitment. “As far as I’m … Continue reading →

There was a story yesterday in Cathnews drawing our attention to an ABC TV Lateline story “Unique Ukrainian priests escape scandal”. The Lateline report began with: It seems not a week goes by without some devastating revelation of sexual abuse … Continue reading →