Pope Francis so far has been like a breath of fresh air in the Catholic Church. This is however only the beginning of what needs to happen.
He has dispensed with a minor number of the old traditions but they have been mostly only ritual or dress related. There is much more that needs to happen.
I realise that change in the Church can, and must, be made in small steps but it would be nice to see some of these changes beginning to be discussed and put forward soon.
The changes that really need to be made are those that would bring the Church out of the middle ages and into the 21st century. It needs to be more relevant to peoples lives and the demands of our new political, technical, industrial and moral challenges. If change does not happen soon I fear that church attendances will continue to fall and the younger generation will not engage with the church at all.
So, the beginning of the reign of Pope Francis has shown promise but there is much more to be done.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Friday, 29 March 2013
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY and WHERE TO FROM HERE
The Australian Labor Party is languishing in the very low 30's in all the latest polls of voter's voting preferences. Unfortunately they seem to believe that carrying much the same as they have been will, by some miracle, get them out of a mess of their own making.
It is my opinion that they have totally lost contact with the feelings, aspirations and motivations of most of the Australian public. They keep speaking about their Labor Values; well times have changed we are no longer living in or under the conditions that prevailed back in the 50's or 60's. Working conditions and the very type of work carried out have changed dramatically. Blue collar work has mostly shifted to the mining areas and manufacturing has rapidly declined. Many new jobs have been created in the IT, tourist and service areas. Membership of trade unions has sharply declined.
The traditional base of the Labor Party has shrunk and to survive the Party needs to change to appeal to a broader spectrum of Australians or it is in danger of losing relevance entirely.
It is my opinion that they have totally lost contact with the feelings, aspirations and motivations of most of the Australian public. They keep speaking about their Labor Values; well times have changed we are no longer living in or under the conditions that prevailed back in the 50's or 60's. Working conditions and the very type of work carried out have changed dramatically. Blue collar work has mostly shifted to the mining areas and manufacturing has rapidly declined. Many new jobs have been created in the IT, tourist and service areas. Membership of trade unions has sharply declined.
The traditional base of the Labor Party has shrunk and to survive the Party needs to change to appeal to a broader spectrum of Australians or it is in danger of losing relevance entirely.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY and VOTER CONFIDENCE
I believe that the Australian Labor Party lost most of their diminishing pool of supporters last Thursday the 21st of March.
If they cannot even manage to conduct a leadership spill without it developing into a laughable circus what chance do they have of governing Australia. If they think (Julia Gillard) in particular that the aborted spill has stopped the deep divisions within the party from cracking wide open they are fooling themselves. The comments made by the four front bench members who have resigned their positions or been sacked make this abundantly clear.
With Julia having to do a cabinet reshuffle in the coming week this could be likened to a sinking Titanic who's captain is more worried about who has what deck chair rather than saving her ship.
I also believe that whatever political party you support we all should be calling for an election ASAP so that we the people can decide who has the best credentials to run OUR country.
If they cannot even manage to conduct a leadership spill without it developing into a laughable circus what chance do they have of governing Australia. If they think (Julia Gillard) in particular that the aborted spill has stopped the deep divisions within the party from cracking wide open they are fooling themselves. The comments made by the four front bench members who have resigned their positions or been sacked make this abundantly clear.
With Julia having to do a cabinet reshuffle in the coming week this could be likened to a sinking Titanic who's captain is more worried about who has what deck chair rather than saving her ship.
I also believe that whatever political party you support we all should be calling for an election ASAP so that we the people can decide who has the best credentials to run OUR country.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
DRUGS IN SPORT and HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM
The current system here in Australia of a ban for a few games or years if a sports person is found to have taken illegal substances is totally inadequate. Many people are willing to take a risk because of the huge financial rewards that are available. There is no avenue readily available to recoup the sponsorship money, salaries and rewards that a player has gained whilst cheating by taking these substances.
If we are truly sincere about stamping out drug taking in sports there should be an automatic life ban on any further participation or association with the sport placed on the person involved. The Governments that have trained and supported the athlete, the sponsors and the providers of winning bonuses should have a means by which they can retrieve their investments.
This would provide an incentive for athletes to remain totally drug free throughout their careers as it would provide both a moral and financial incentive to do that.
If we are truly sincere about stamping out drug taking in sports there should be an automatic life ban on any further participation or association with the sport placed on the person involved. The Governments that have trained and supported the athlete, the sponsors and the providers of winning bonuses should have a means by which they can retrieve their investments.
This would provide an incentive for athletes to remain totally drug free throughout their careers as it would provide both a moral and financial incentive to do that.
JULIA GILLARD and THE LABOR PARTY
THE CHANCES OF LABOR WINNING THE NEXT ELECTION
The Australian Labor Party finds itself between a rock and a hard place; all of its own doing.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that they cannot win the next election with Julia Gillard as their leader. Their problem is that there is no one who stands out as a viable alternative.
Kevin Rudd the ex leader and ex Prime Minister is so hated by most of his colleagues that it would seem that they prefer to be defeated rather than bring him back. When he challenged last year and failed some of the senior Labor figures made such scathing remarks about him that it is hard to see how they would retreat from those comments if he came back.
This morning Simon Crean's name is being put forward. With Simon I think that they are looking for a sacrificial lamb who would take the fall, resign after loosing the election and leave the main players to fight out who would be Opposition Leader.
It is my hope that whoever wins the next election, and it would appear that it will be the Coalition, that it is by a decisive margin so we can get this great country back on its feet.
The Australian Labor Party finds itself between a rock and a hard place; all of its own doing.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that they cannot win the next election with Julia Gillard as their leader. Their problem is that there is no one who stands out as a viable alternative.
Kevin Rudd the ex leader and ex Prime Minister is so hated by most of his colleagues that it would seem that they prefer to be defeated rather than bring him back. When he challenged last year and failed some of the senior Labor figures made such scathing remarks about him that it is hard to see how they would retreat from those comments if he came back.
This morning Simon Crean's name is being put forward. With Simon I think that they are looking for a sacrificial lamb who would take the fall, resign after loosing the election and leave the main players to fight out who would be Opposition Leader.
It is my hope that whoever wins the next election, and it would appear that it will be the Coalition, that it is by a decisive margin so we can get this great country back on its feet.
Friday, 15 March 2013
POPE FRANCIS 1st AND POSSIBLE CHANGE
Again there has been much rejoicing in the Catholic Church about the election of a new Pope. However, if there has ever been a need for drastic changes to be made within the church it is now. Attendances are down, the abuse claims against priests are increasing at an alarming rate, the church, once one of the richest organisations in the world, is losing money every day and many young people cannot relate to the to the overly ritualistic approach of its services.
Those of us outside the Catholic faith and, I believe those within, are crying out for change. This new Pope has the opportunity to bring about that change. It is a shame that a younger man was not elected as time will be needed to achieve everything that MUST change.
It is time for the Church to make itself more relevant to the 21st century.
The Catholic Church over the past two millennium has been both a force for great good but also for much evil and suffering. With appropriate changes that force for good can come to the fore again and benefit mankind. Bring on the changes Pope Francis 1st.
Those of us outside the Catholic faith and, I believe those within, are crying out for change. This new Pope has the opportunity to bring about that change. It is a shame that a younger man was not elected as time will be needed to achieve everything that MUST change.
It is time for the Church to make itself more relevant to the 21st century.
The Catholic Church over the past two millennium has been both a force for great good but also for much evil and suffering. With appropriate changes that force for good can come to the fore again and benefit mankind. Bring on the changes Pope Francis 1st.
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