Viewpoint

Now that President Trump has taken office, Jo Biden's parting shot warning of the danger to American democracy posed by an oligarchy of the super-rich - assembled by President-Elect Trump -seems all the more timely. But it is not the only threat. The rule of law is the institutional foundation and safeguard of democracy. Once it is undermined democracy crumbles. There is now a real danger that pol... Read More

A down to earth liturgical battering awaits us after Christmas. No more "Away in the Manger". Nor sweet, and posh, little voices from King's College Chapel. The wrapping paper in the bin, we hear about a stoning (St Stephen on 26th December) and more killings, on the Feast of the Holy Innocents ( 28th December). Both have resonances today. In the Acts of the Apostles St Luke describes how Stephen,... Read More

In the coming days many MPs will be attending a carol service or Nativity play in their constituency. As they hear the Christmas story of a baby born two thousand years ago, we must hope that they will consider how babies born today in their own communities are faring. It is a distressing fact that, no matter how much their parents love them and strive to do the best for them, many infants in the ... Read More

On Sunday, the Italian daily La Stampa quoted Pope Francis, in excerpts taken from a book shortly to be published, saying that some international experts have declared that "what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide". "We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition (of genocide) formulated by international jurists and organisations,"... Read More

Professor Dr John Wijngaards writes: During these opening days of the latest Roman session of the synod, Bishop Anthony Randazzo of Broken Bay, Australia, has given a press conference. He denounced what he said is an overly western agenda obsessed with 'niche issues' such as women's ordination. In his view it diverts attention from more pressing topics. Bishop Randazzo, who is president of the Fe... Read More

Dr Swee Ang, orthopaedic surgeon, author and founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, gave the following speech to medical staff and aid workers in Beirut last week, on the 42nd Anniversary of the Sabra Shatilla Massacre - in between operating on patients injured in the pager attacks. Your Excellencies. Dear brothers and sisters. Before I start I would like to pay tribute to one of the patients I... Read More

The Palestinian people, like many nations throughout history-Americans under British rule, the French during Nazi occupation, Indians under British imperialism, Algiers under French occupation, and others-find themselves under the iron grip of ruthless military occupation. Israel, the occupying power, imposes a regime of oppression and apartheid that denies Palestinians all their fundamental right... Read More

On the surface, life in Britain goes on much as it ever did, with periodic political or media eruptions which disappear as quickly as they erupt. Organisations at micro (families) and macro (institutions, companies) pursue their enduring priorities with their ups and down, pleasures and frustrations. But beneath the surface, unnoticed by many, a deadly stain is spreading, a stain that is inexorabl... Read More

The sigh of relief on 21 July when Jo Biden stepped down as Democrat presidential candidate was deafening. Within less than a fortnight the Democrats nominated Vice-President Kamala Harris to replace the outgoing President with ratification to take place at their 19 August National Convention. After intense consultations, at a Philadelphia rally on 6 August Harris presented Minnesota Governor, Ti... Read More

David Benjamin Blower writes in Passio: For many centuries, voluntary poverty was the mark of revolutionary movements of all kinds, not just religious orders "Have courage, poor of Jesus Christ, since paradise is yours! How unfortunate are the rich, since their riches, if they refuse to share them, will only torment them more and more in hell!" (St Paul of the Cross) This sounds like a rallying ... Read More

After the general election, in the House of Commons, the former and present Prime Minister laughed together and said nice things about each other. This occasioned a note of self-congratulation in the media about the state of British democracy. Peaceful change of government. No-one disputing the vote count. A gold medal for GB in electoral conduct. Well, up to a point Lord Copper. There is evidenc... Read More

Sean van Staden SJ, from the Jesuit Institute South Africa, writes: How many songs can you think of that contain lyrics about "being me"? James Bay asks, "Why don't you be you, and I'll be me?" Adele sings, "So I hope I learn to get over myself, stop trying to be somebody else." Psychologists will tell you that the surest way to better mental health is to learn to accept yourself for who you are.... Read More

The 'March for the Martyrs' was a spectacular event when thousands of marching Catholic students filled Taft Avenue in Manila carrying banners and placards, singing fervently the patriotic song Ang Bayan, and demanding justice for students killed by the anti-riot police of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr when they staged a demonstration against injustice and corruption in 1972. They were the great d... Read More

Publishing the truth, revealing war crimes, atrocities, murders, and crimes against women and children and rights advocates are part of the onerous and sometimes dangerous work and duty of media people such as writers, journalists, publishers, editors, photographers. Many journalists are courageous, fearless and pay the ultimate price for revealing the truth about corruption and serious wrong-doin... Read More