Archive Listing

This beautifully bound hard back with quality paper, photographs and maps is a gem. I have previously read the proofs and am very impressed by the content and now with a quality production, the book is fantastic! Congratulations to Acorn Press and of course to the author, Dr Robert Withycombe. I understand the recommended retail price will be [...]

The “National Human Rights Consultation Report” chaired by Father Frank Brennan was presented to the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, on the 30 September 2009.  The Report’s Summary is available here, and the Full Report is available here. My concerns about a charter of human rights for Australia include: its necessity, its shifting of power [...]

“Islam: at war within itself”  is a penetrating analysis of some current events in the Islamic world. Recent months have seen a number of unexpected and extremely encouraging statements coming out of the Muslim world.  Respected, mainstream Muslim leaders in a variety of countries have voiced opinions which are at odds with traditional, conservative Islam.  They [...]

“News of the Vatican’s offer to Anglican traditionalists continues to reverberate around the world. Opinions range from jubilation to anger and frustration.”  A helpful overview by David Virtue of 27 October including some North American  responses is found at VIEWPOINTS – POPE’S OFFER: Williams Blindsided, Carey Appalled, TAC Takes Offer, FIF-UK Punts  There is many a [...]

“Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls” (edited by Melinda Tankard Reist) was recently launched at Parliament House. Revd Kate Boughton attended the book launch and the following is her report. Kate is my first ‘Guest Blogger’!  Thanks, Kate. :-)  Kate’s report: The following statistics were given as part of the reason why this book was [...]

A person’s autonomy is a key aspect of the pro-euthanasia/patient assisted suicide/medical killing case. Part 5 of the Report on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2009 is an overview of arguments for and against and includes a good section on autonomy and individual rights lived in social contexts. As John Donne so eloquently put it, “no man [...]

Is the Bill as proposed, ’a simplistic reaction and a threat to the ethical basis of our society’?   Two comments indicate that this is so. See Current Practices (Part 4- Incidental Matters), of the “Report on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2009″ pages 39, 40. But before noting these comments, the Report sets out the pro-euthanasia/patient assisted suicide (PAS) argument that compassion [...]

Sad and yet grateful:  my two initial responses to the news that an informal arrangement of many years has now been formalised by the Church of Rome. Sad for the loss of good conservative (mainly anglo-catholic) priests and their families from the Anglican Church. Note: sadly this will also weaken the conservative cause within the Anglican Church. Yet, [...]

The Tasmanian Parliamentary Committee’s ‘Report on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2009′ sets out in Part 3 ‘Analysis of the Bill’, comments and observations on major sections of the proposed euthanasia/patient assisted suicide legislation. I found this to be a useful guide to the arguments both pro euthanasia and against. e.g.: It is concerning that this [...]

The “Report on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2009″ by the Joint Standing Committee on Community Development of the Parliament of Tasmania (No. 36) 2009 was released last week. It is critical of the Bill: Key Finding 1. That the Dying with Dignity Bill 2009, the subject of this inquiry in its current form does not [...]