One of the most important lessons we have learnt from George Pell’s royal commission appearance is the Catholic Church was – and still is – in a state of denial over child sexual abuse.
George Pell’s evidence, which implied that children’s complaints of abuse were widely disbelieved ‘back then’, overlooks the long history of successful prosecutions.
AAP/Jeremy Piper
George Pell told the royal commission into child sex abuse the Catholic Church was predisposed not to believe children’s complaints. But, when abuse was reported, police and the courts believed them.
Galileo Galilei was imprisoned for his ‘heretical’ views.
Wellcome Images
Soaring community outrage over the issue of child sexual abuse was this week fanned by a Tim Minchin song calling for Cardinal George Pell to return home to Australia to give evidence to the royal commission.
Tim Minchin’s song-craft is direct yet sophisticated, and artfully constructed.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Tim Minchin’s latest musical offering, Come Home Cardinal Pell, is provoking strong reactions because of its blunt and direct message to Cardinal George Pell. But in terms of song-craft, it’s a winner.
Zika is an enormous challenge for Pope Francis and the Catholic Church.
Reuters/pool
The Catholic church must recognise its teachings are out of step with reality if ZIka is to be prevented from taking hold in Latin America.
Nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, Spotlight has won over critics with its compelling story and strong cast featuring Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo.
Entertainment One Films Australia
If you haven’t seen Oscar winner Spotlight yet, go. It tells the true story of how decades of abuse in one city was finally uncovered - followed by revelations worldwide, including in my home town.
Spotlight tells the story of the investigative team at The Boston Globe which uncovered the extent of the child sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in Boston.
The progressive present came after many years of struggle.
Tata Chen
When they vote October 25 in parliamentary elections, Poles will be taking a dangerous step into the unknown, and the rest of Europe may not be far behind.
Pope Francis is consulting widely on the reform of church teaching on the family.
AAP/Newzulu/Silvia Lore
As a Jesuit, Pope Francis is part of a long tradition of religious men of science. Will his leadership influence the Catholic Church’s stance on contemporary scientific issues?
Pope Francis’s US visit is being trumpeted as exceptional, but the Vatican has been a superpower for decades.
Pope Francis and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are together seeking to mobilise world opinion to change the way we live and produce.
EPA/L'Osservatore Romano
On his first visit to the US, Pope Francis will highlight the challenges of poverty and sustainability. A related issue, he acknowledges, is population. So what does that mean for Catholic teaching?
The GOP’s problem with Pope Francis is that he may be too conservative.
Reuters
Over 500 years ago, first Jews and then Muslims were expelled from Spain. This summer, Spain’s Parliament invited the former back but not the latter. Here’s what Cervantes might say to his countrymen.
B.A. Santamaria (left) is the subject of a new biography by political commentator Gerard Henderson.
Wikimedia Commons
Gerard Henderson has produced a rounded and at times fascinating portrait of B. A. Santamaria. His broad conclusion is that Santamaria was a compelling, skilled and persuasive man who was enormously devoted to his causes.