James Martin SJ, America Magazine – 8th April 2016

Pope Francis’s ground breaking new document “Amoris Laetitia”(“The Joy of Love”) asks the church to meet people where they are, to consider the complexities of people’s lives and to respect people’s consciences when it comes to moral decisions. The apostolic exhortation is mainly a document that reflects on family life and encourages families. But it is also the pope’s reminder that the church should avoid simply judging people and imposing rules on them without considering their struggles.  

Using insights from the Synod of Bishops on the Family and from bishops’ conferences from around the world, Pope Francis affirms church teaching on family life and marriage, but strongly emphasizes the role of personal conscience and pastoral discernment. He urges the church to appreciate the context of people’s lives when helping them make good decisions.  The goal is to help families—in fact, everyone—experience God’s love and know that they are welcome members of the church. All this may require what the pope calls “new pastoral methods” (199).

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Don't fence me in by Catherine Marshall | 27 August | Republished with permission from Eureka Street

My immigrant family never slept that first week in our newly-rented Sydney house. Too fearful were we of burglary or attack. There were no bars on the windows, no fence securing our plot. Anyone could breach the flimsy lock that kept us safe from intruders and find a way to shatter our new-found peace.

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The mystery of why the Sisters are not in charge of the Church

There were the Sisters who taught grades one through eight: Sisters Aimee, Beatrice, Dorita, Everard, Gratia, Mary Margaret, Mary Therese, Rose Margaret, and Spiritu.

Family violence more complex than sexual abuse
Andrew Hamilton |  Eureka Street | 12 August 2015

The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence, like its Federal counterpart into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, has revealed the personal stories behind the statistics.

The Chief Commissioner has also emphasised how appalling and complex the reality of family violence is.

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If Ignatius hadn't missed the boat ...

By Andrew Hamilton SJ, 29 July 2015, Reproduced with permission from Eureka Street,