Category Archives: reflection

A Christmas message from our minister

21 December, 2009 – 10:36 am

Christmas far from being the season of peace, joy and goodwill, is often the season for being trite, silly and insincere. Standing in a shop, paying over hard-earned money, for a gift the recipient may not want, certainly does not need, all while Silent Night is belted out on the PA system is bizarre! During [...]

By olivia |

People of faith and conscience: Resist Talisman Sabre ’09

8 June, 2009 – 1:20 pm

Renowned US peace activist John Dear SJ urges us all to support the nonviolent resistance against US military training in Queensland next month, one in a series of a joint exercises code-named Operation Talisman Sabre: “Dear friends, Blessings of peace to you! Now more than ever, we all have to stand up, walk the Way [...]

By olivia | Also posted in action |

Howe calls for overdue national disability insurance

14 May, 2009 – 3:12 pm

Professor Brian Howe, “one of Australia’s leading thinkers on social policy,” contributed a guest column to this month’s staff news at Melbourne University: The right of the disabled to become equal citizens During the past 25 years disability policy has increasingly been anchored in a human rights philosophy, which has been encouraged by the United [...]

By olivia |

‘Individual morality needs needs institutional support’: Schlink

23 March, 2009 – 11:32 am

Last month ABC broadcaster Phillip Adams interviewed Bernhard Schlink, retired German law professor and author of a number of books including the novel The Reader, now a celebrated and controversial film of the same title (still showing at the Nova five times a day). Born in 1944, Schlink has dealt a great deal with the [...]

By olivia | Also posted in inter-faith |

Overcoming fear and violence

26 February, 2009 – 12:44 pm

An edited extract from a Lenten reflection of the great prophet of nonviolence John Dear SJ: “What are you and I afraid of?  How can one let go of fears and grow deeper in true faith, hope and love?  What keeps you and me from taking a public stand on the thorny issues?  How can [...]

By olivia |