It takes courage for us to be loving critics
“Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical lovers.” These words were spoken by John Gardner, a senior government official in US President Lyndon Johnson’s administration, writes Patty Fawkner.
Loving God, teach us the prayer of neighbour love
Through prayer, we stand in solidarity with our neighbour. When we pray the Our Father, we don’t fly solo, we pray it on behalf of humankind, writes Patty Fawkner SGS.
What is it about women and the Church?
During the Second Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church, we learnt from experience that synodality is not for the faint hearted, writes Patty Fawkner SGS.
Independents change the game through listening, dialogue and consultation
Following last month’s Federal election, are there lessons for the “official Church” in the rise of the independents who listened to the concerns of their communities, asks Patty Fawkner SGS.
As Christians we are called to create a community of radical inclusion
A “preferential option for the other” is at the heart of the Gospel, and what it means to be Christian, while also offering a fresh way of thinking about love.
On Anzac Day there is a time for poetry, a time to speak, and a time to keep silent
Disturbing images and stories ascend from the ashes in Ukraine. We are heavy-hearted and disturbed by the horror, the brutalisation, and the overwhelming sorrow of war, writes Patty Fawkner SGS.
Structural change within the Church is needed in the fight for justice
The Plenary Council is an opportunity to amend structures of governance, language, and preaching, which would make a difference to all members of the People of God, writes Patty Fawkner.
Resisting the impatient desire to reform other people
Minding my own business does not mean that I don’t care about others. But this is different from thinking that I know what is best for them, writes Patty Fawkner.
It’s not easy being Christian, let alone being Catholic
Being faithful to the Gospel comes at a cost but regaining the respect of others in the public sphere should never be the end game, writes Sister Patty Fawkner SGS.
Plenary Council reveals a diversity that is both enriching and challenging
When the Catholic Church in Australia gathered online for the first General Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council earlier this month, Congregational Leader Patty Fawkner participated as a Council Member.
Sexual and gender minorities are among those most excluded in our Church
One thing for certain we can say about Jesus, and therefore about God, is that Jesus is very comfortable with diversity and accompanying those on the margins, writes Patty Fawkner.
We become the stories we tell ourselves
I cannot control what others think about me or their expectations of me, but I can control my attitude and how I choose to be, writes Congregational Leader Patty Fawkner.