blessing the shark

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 10, 2006

Catholic Earthcare Australia is an ecological agency established by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference. Its mission is to help promote understanding among people that creation is sacred and endangered, and must be protected and preserved for present and future generations yet unborn.

Australian bishops invoke God's benison upon the plankton, 2004

Now don't jump to conclusions based on the parochial perspective of your local situation. Look at the facts: Sunday Mass attendance in Australia averages 91% of baptised Catholics. The churches are crammed. Most parishes have lines outside their confessionals four or five hours per week, and it's a rare Aussie who goes two months without confessing. Doctrinal errors are virtually unheard of -- among clergy and laity alike -- and Church teachings on issues of sex, social justice, and human life are embraced with profound and heartfelt joy by the faithful. The seminaries are so crowded that most have to wait-list accepted candidates a year or two for lack of space, and the same goes for convents of nuns.

In short, a Catholic diocese in Australia largely runs itself, effortlessly moving from strength to strength. And given that state of affairs, the poor bishops have to do something with the spare time on their hands.