In the NCR, John Allen writes, "Generally speaking, Catholic debate outside of Europe and the United States is usually distinguished by its ad extra orientation, meaning that the focus is not so much insider Catholic baseball but rather the burning challenges of the broader society, and how the Catholic church can be an agent for change."

"What seems to be emerging at the Oct. 4-25 Synod for Africa, however, is a conviction that for the Catholic church to be helpful in Africa ad extra, it first has some ad intra business to resolve."

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"Be still and know that I am God"

In the face of our busy lives, find peaceful downtime (R & R)!
Enter a church where there is Eucharistic Adoration, if only for a few moments, and enjoy the total silence. You will not be disturbed!

We hope you will This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it where and when Eucharistic Adoration takes place in your parish or community.  A few moments spent in prayer in your parish church may bring you a new or returning parish member.    

Australia's 'Catholics for Ministry' invite you to read Paul Collins' new pamphlet "And Also With You: Is the New English Version of the Mass a Betrayal of Vatican II?"

Our sisters and brothers in Australia invite you to download it, read it and spread it around to other memebers of your community.

The more people who know about what is proposed by the Vatican for the English-speaking world - the better! Catholics need to know about this.

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Moya St Leger writes in the Sunday Business Post Online about the latest struggles over the Church Tax in Germany.

"The Catholic Church in Germany is to appeal a court ruling which could jeopardise the Church’s annual tax income of €5 billion."

"Under federal law, the German Catholic Church - like the Lutheran Church - is a statutory body with tax-raising powers, as well as a religious community. German Catholics pay Church tax amounting to 8-9 per cent of their income tax. The state collects the tax and passes it on to the Churches."

"Catholics who no longer wish to pay the tax must formally resign from the Church, and their baptismal certificate is endorsed to that effect. Thereafter, the person has no access to the sacraments, Catholic schools or other facilities. Catholic priests are forbidden to attend those whose certificate has been endorsed or to bury them in a Catholic graveyard. Despite the canonical penalty for Kirchenaustritt, or defection from the Church, about 300 German Catholics are leaving per day."

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