The Catholic Weekly

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
5 December 2004

Marian feast is reason for us all to celebrate

Rosary may be ‘evangelising opportunity’

Cardinal’s remarks not an attack on Islam

Bishops celebrate regional Masses

‘Risk of financial ruin in credit card overuse’

Remembrance

Pudding! It must be Fr Mac’s

Lift secrecy from adoptions: bishop

Rosary may be ‘evangelising opportunity’

By Sandra Murphy

THE popularity of rosary beads among the fashion conscious could provoke a resurgence in religion, says Bishop Julian Porteous.

While the Catholic Church in England and Wales have published a leaflet warning about a profanation of religious items, the bishop, who is rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, sees a positive side to the phenomenon. “It does provide an opportunity to talk to young people about prayer and Our Lady, and so the fashion could become an evangelising opportunity,” he says.

Bishop Porteous cited a Bible text from Luke 9, 49-50, in which John says that someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name and they tried to stop him, but the Lord said: “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Julie Grogan, manager of Church Store in the Dymocks Building, Sydney, says: “We have had a bit of a run on rosary beads over the past few weeks but I believe they are still being sold and used for religious purposes not fashion ... We don’t get the Britney Spears of the world in here and that suits us fine.”