The Religious Write on Australian

Barney Zwartz

Finally, a brave bishop breaks ranks

Barney Zwartz ''I find these files [about priests who sexually abused children] to be brutal and painful reading. The behaviour described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining .

Comments 88

Barney Zwartz

What George doesn't understand

Barney Zwartz George Pell and Denis Hart really seem not to understand how they are perceived because they do not see themselves as part of the problem - as many in the pews and wider society do - but as the...

Comments 329

Barney Zwartz

The deadly dilemma

Barney Zwartz When can we say someone is dead enough to offer life?

Comments 379

Pre-empting prejudice

Barney Zwartz The less religious Australian society becomes, the more important it is to have a proper multi-faith general religious education.

Comments 164

Another one bites the dust

Barney Zwartz The Catholic hierarchy looks arrogant and discourteous in its treatment of the South Melbourne parish.

Comments 76

The Catholic Church's worst enemy resides in the Vatican

Barney Zwartz News from the Vatican last week: it has taken decisive action against an errant Australian bishop, showing that it has a zero tolerance policy towards deviants.

Comments 492

Muslims and misinformation

Barney Zwartz When it comes to the media you have, as Mark Twain observed, a difficult choice. If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.

Comments 463

Last orders: extreme unction for some great traditions

Barney Zwartz If you are under 50, there's a good chance you don't know any Catholic religious (nuns, brothers, priests in religious orders). If you're under 30 you've likely never seen one, especially as so few ..

Comments 116

The sins of the fathers – and an apology

Barney Zwartz The Vatican might have named 2010 the Year of Abuse Revelations, rather than the just concluded Year of the Priest. But in Melbourne, Archbishop Denis Hart has just made the

Comments 197

A home-grown saint – it's gold, gold, gold for Australia

Barney Zwartz For 40 years Garry McLean has longed for an Australian saint. Growing up, he was taught about Joan of Arc and St Patrick of Ireland and found them inspirational, but he wanted an Australian saint, a .

Comments 559

The Gospel according to Joe

Barney Zwartz Joe Hockey ventured into turbulent waters – politics and religion – in a

Comments 250

All roads lead to Rome?

Barney Zwartz In the ancient world, it was said, all roads lead to Rome. The Vatican has always believed that when it comes to Christianity they still should.

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