The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
22 August 2004

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Pope John Paul II returns to Lourdes as a pilgrim

Children ‘used as political fodder’

Von Trapp Singers – win free passes

Was it the Pope’s goodbye to Lourdes?

Reunion for ‘Class of 1954’

Cologne ‘a journey on many levels’: cardinal

Patricians choose Indian to head leadership team

Let patients know risks, say ethics prizewinners

Pitter Patter: When tragedy hits

Fire in Genesian roof, so show must go off

Caritas acts to help Sudanese refugees

Cardinal’s Comment: Food for reflection

Editorial: Good sports

Children paint a sad picture of our apathy

Conversation: John O’Neill, Soccer Australia supreme - Joeys boy in a very different ball game ...

The secret life of ducks

‘No poverty’ target in poll

Stephanie’s skills in English win a high distinction

Unity is a sea of hands ...

Cardinal pays visit to seven Ashfield schools

At last, after a lifetime as a priest, Mons Tony has his own parish

‘Flame of faith’ in Bl Mary

Sr Maurus Tierney, friend to the poor and convicted

Bishop: sin not part of God’s plan for us

Archaeologists’ find may be cave of John the Baptist

3-goal netball win over Marist Sisters Woolwich

Mathematics ... or golf?

Santa Sabina gymnasts win in NZ

6 Joeys in teams to play Irish boys

Rosebank sports awards

Cardinal’s Comment: Food for reflection

Last week we celebrated the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus, body and soul into heaven.

This is a strange doctrine even by Catholic standards and is not found explicitly in the Scriptures, but dates from the late 6th century.

All mainstream Christians believe that Jesus is divine and that his mother Mary was “full of grace”. Catholics also revere her as Mother of God, free from sin and therefore worthy of sharing the resurrection of the body, before the last day of Christ’s return.

Doctrines like this meant that 50 years ago, Catholics were accused of being too Marian, too feminine, so diverting attention away from Christ. Today because Catholics cannot accept the ordination of women to the priesthood (neither can the Orthodox), they are accused of being anti-women.

Where does the truth lie? A retired senior politician once said to me that the Muslims and Catholics have mistaken views on women. This is an interesting claim when no country in the Western world is

+ George Cardinal Pell

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