NAMARIQ Alasadi lost a pair of shoes and nearly all hope when she made the “crazy journey” to Australia to escape the deadly war in Syria. The young woman who dodged death in her home country arrived in Australia in 2016 with “almost nothing left”. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done,” Namariq, a Year 9 student at ... Read More »
SEVENTEEN abuse survivors are sitting in a room in Hobart as a Catholic priest guides them through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For several days the survivors have unpatched hidden wounds caused by traumatic abuse experiences in their childhood or adult life. There are a number of people who were sexually abused by clergy, others were the ... Read More »
ONLY a year ago, Saveen Oghana and Ban Isaqi, an Iraqi couple, were busy building their careers – one as a medical doctor, the other a dentist – but now they’re in Brisbane preparing for the biggest challenge of their young lives. The 28-year-olds are studying at Australian Catholic University before they return home to manage a new hospital being ... Read More »
This is the testimony of Sue*, aged 47, about how her abortion affected her life. WHEN I was 20, I met a young man and we started a relationship. We moved in to a flat together and it was an intense beginning to early adult life. My boyfriend told me often that he loved me and there were numerous romantic ... Read More »
COUNSELLORS supporting women and men affected by an abortion experience have welcomed a $1500 donation from a Brisbane Catholic college. Brisbane counselor Gwen Winterscheidt of Rachel’s Vineyard, a Catholic ministry that facilitates healing retreats for post-abortive women and men, said the school had answered their prayers for financial support for an upcoming event. The group had begun plans for a ... Read More »
SHOULD I stay, or should I go now? It is the title of a chart-topping single by British punk band The Clash, but also a life-defining, cry-in-the-dark question facing many couples caught in crisis. When domestic violence is involved, when is enough, enough? Separation. Under what circumstances can a spouse or partner leave another? Many people, including Catholics, are forced ... Read More »
MELISSA Davey is deeply aware of the immense courage it takes for an abuse victim to pick up the phone and share their story. As the person receiving calls relating to complaints and allegations of abuse in the Rockhampton diocese, Ms Davey has learnt that the best way to respond to and support healing is through listening. Rockhampton Bishop Michael ... Read More »
REAL fasting isn’t just restricting food choices, it must also include cleansing the heart of all selfishness and making room in one’s life for those in need and those who have sinned and need healing, Pope Francis said. Faith without concrete acts of charity was not only hypocritical, “it is dead; what good is it?” he said, criticising those who ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
