'Nuclear Non-Proliferation update',

by Bill Frilay (5 May  2010)

'Wisdom of the heart: the meaning & challenge of morality'
by Brian Lewis (1 Feb. 2010)

To nuclear disarmament workshop

presented by Bill Frilay 20 Feb, 2010

Pope's fighting words for a world in crisis',

by Bruce Duncan, Eureka Street, 7 January 2010

ICNND report on Nuclear Non-Proliferation, December 09,

by Bill Frilay, 31 January 2010.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Update,

by Bill Frilay, 18 October 2009

'Cardijn and human development: the rise of lay consciousness'

by Bruce Duncan, to Cardijn Conference, Adelaide 9 October 2009

'Six weeks in South America', by Bill Frilay (18 Oct. 09)

The War of the Powerful against the Pope
An economist's response to George Weigel's view of Caritas in Veritate
by Arthur Gibbs
Weigel alleged that the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome produced left-wing nostrums into the encyclical, which the Pope had failed to delete. Weigel advises readers to take to heart only the theological bits he claims the Pope wrote. Arthur Gibbs vigorously defends the social justice sections, and critiques the neo-conservative ideology that Weigel has long defended. (3 Oct. 09)

'The financial crisis, aid and climate change', by Bill Frilay, (15/7/09).

'Pope Benedict attacks the ideology of the 'market', by Paul Rule, The Melbourne Anglican, 4 August 2009.

'Pope's worthy plea against market forces', by Bruce Duncan, The Age, 14 July 2009.

'Pope confronts economic injustice', by Bruce Duncan, Eureka Street, 10 July 2009.

Nuclear Non-proliferation update, by Bill Frilay (23 June 09)

Pope Benedict challenges western economics

On the new social encyclical

Resolution of conflict situations, by Brian Lewis

The author outlines how different moral theories judge between competing values.

The principle of the 'double effect', by Brian Lewis.

Dr Brian Lewis explains how this principle can help resolve complex ethical dilemmas trying to act ethically and avoid doing harm or evil. (3 March 2010).

ABC John Cleary's Sunday Nights 26 April 09,

with Stephen Ames, Bruce Duncan and Caz Coleman (Hotham Mission) On the role of the churches and the Yarra Institute in the formation of public policy. Click here for access to MP3 download.

Lively history of Quaker Service, by Paul Rule. A review of  Heather Savill's Friends in Deed: fifty years of Quaker Service Australia. in Eureka Street, 1 May 2009.

Tax havens: a moral problem, a financial leak, by Cal Ledsham.

Cal Ledsham explores how the use of tax havens has allowed wealthy individuals and organisations to shirk their share of tax payments, and hence force other taxpayers to make up the difference. He looks at efforts to curtail such massive tax avoidance.

Benedict XVI's Africa visit and the condom debate, by Brian Lewis.

Brian Lewis reviews Pope Benedict's visit to Africa, especially his speeches about human rights, climate change, poverty and development, and considers why the AIDS issue became so prominent in the western media but not in Africa. He notes that the Pope did not oppose married couples using condoms to protect a non-infected spouse against disease.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, by Bill Frilay. April 09

Bill Frilay prepared SPC's submission in February to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. He was also part of the NGO delegation which met with the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 2 April. He comments on President Obama's initiatives.

The popes versus the free market, by Bruce Duncan, in Eureka Street, 2 April 2009

Pope Benedict's new social encyclical to be released in May will take up the great themes of Pope Paul VI's 1967 Development of Peoples: poverty and hunger, human rights and peacemaking, nuclear weapons and disarmament.  But the circumstances bear uncanny similarity to the Great Depression when Pope Pius XI in 1931 issued his encyclical, Quadragesimo Anno, attacking economic 'liberalism' with its extreme inequality in wealth and power.

The Main Ethical Theories, by Brian Lewis

Noted moral theologian, Brian Lewis, lucidly summarises the main ethical theories and argues that 'Integral personalism' offers the best guide to human action. He outlines duty-based theories, especially that of Kant; consequentalist theories, including utilitarianism and proportionalism; and then 'Person-centred theories': Naturalism, Personal Values theory, and Integral Personalism.

Benedict's World Day of Peace statement - needs more on environment & population, by Bruce Duncan 
The Pope reiterates the Church's concerns about world peace, disarmament, human rights, hunger and poverty. However, development experts may not be entirely happy with the 2009 statement. Possibly reflecting internal debates in Rome, it fails to grasp fully the significance of the environmental issues and their consequences for the population.

Global Economic Crisis   Bill Frilay 12 December 2008

Catholic bishops call for fresh efforts for social justice in Australia. 2008 social justice statement, in Pathways (Catholic Religious Australia), November 2008
by Bruce Duncan
No one quite knows how the world will muddle through the current crisis, but one thing is very clear: we need stronger commitments to rework policies to enhance social justice and greater equity in sharing goods and resources.

'Why Church social thought matters': the social justice statements, A Little Yeast, 5 November 2008
by Bruce Duncan
This article asks if Christians 'have largely failed to develop convincingly' how their social traditions might help develop better economic structures. It also considers how US neo-conservatives have systematically challenged progressive Church voices in the public forum.

Moral purpose and the international economy, by Bruce Duncan (posted 9 Oct 08).

Leading economists warned about the corruption of ethics in international finance. The world needs a renewed moral vision of how the economy must serve social justice and human wellbeing for everyone.

Can UN campaign against global hunger succeed? by Bruce Duncan (posted 9 Oct. 08)

The financial crisis threatens to undermine the UN campaign greatly to reduce hunger and the grossest poverty unless the richer countries honour their promises to increase aid

Reality check for antisocial Church, Eureka Street, 2 October 2008
by Bruce Duncan
Despite many positive aspects, the main events of WYD neglected to highlight the relevance of the Gospel for today's urgent social issues of justice and peacemaking, climate change, hunger and poverty. This was doubly puzzling, given Pope Benedict's insistence on promoting Church social thinking.

The SIEVX: Insidious Conspiracy or Fortuitous Tragedy? 9 September 2008
by Emmy Silvius
As we approach the seventh anniversary of this maritime tragedy in which 353 people (mainly women and children) lost their lives, many questions remain unanswered. This article brings together the events surrounding the heart-rending disaster of 19 October 2001 and points out some of the lingering suspicions.

New Form of Trafficking in Human Persons 26 August 2008
Summary by Emmy Silvius
Earlier this month Chief Magistrate John Pascoe presented a paper in Cairns on the trafficking of unborn children.

Brisbane non-violent protest against Raytheon and Iraq War 6 August 2008
by Bruce Duncan
Pope Benedict urges active non-violence, as protesters faced trial for 'exorcisms' against the arms giant.

The disturbing peace of God WYD talk, Sydney, 17 July 2008
by Bruce Duncan
Christ’s promise of peace is a serious summons to help transform our world.

Ozanam: a pioneer in social justice in The Record (St V de P Society) Autumn 2008, 15-16
by Bruce Duncan
Ozanam 'aimed to build a wider constituency of opinion and activism for social reform.'

Instruments of Idolatry in Arena Magazine, December -January 2007-08, 26-30
by Stephen Ames
'It would surprise me if religious themes were not evoked today because all the "big questions" are yet again being opened up'.