Eureka Street

Keywords: Pope Francis

RELIGION

On 'getting' the synod
- Richard Lennan
- 19 December 2024
Is the synod a parliament, a shareholder meeting, or something wholly unique? How we frame it shapes our understanding of its purpose and outcomes. Beyond analogies, could the true essence of synodality lie in embracing grace and discernment, re-centering the church on its divine mission?
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AUSTRALIA

Reflecting on the year that was
- David Halliday, Michael McVeigh, Laura Kings, Michele Frankeni, Andrew Hamilton, Julian Butler
- 18 December 2024
To close the year for Eureka Street, the editorial team are taking a step back to reflect on the character of 2024. What did it demand of us? What did it teach us about ourselves, and the world we inhabit?
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RELIGION

A controversial graduation address
- Bill Uren
- 11 December 2024
A contentious graduation speech at Australian Catholic University laid bare divisions between traditional Catholic values and modern sensibilities. The backlash, marked by audience walkouts, underscores broader challenges facing the Church.
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INTERNATIONAL

Climate finance still feels like charity, not justice
- Damian Spruce
- 10 December 2024
At COP29, the world’s wealthiest nations promised to confront climate change—but delivered only a fraction of the required funds, leaving developing countries with a trillion-dollar shortfall. As Pope Francis warns of a sick planet, the question remains: Who pays for the climate crisis, and who bears the consequences?
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INTERNATIONAL

Is peace possible?
- Justin Glyn
- 10 December 2024
Peace is hard to define, harder to achieve, and almost impossible to sustain. In a world obsessed with profit, simplistic narratives, and selective outrage, peace feels like a lofty ideal rather than a realistic goal. But what would it take to make peace more than a buzzword—and a true global reality?
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RELIGION

All religion is local
- John Warhurst
- 03 December 2024
2 Comments
The Synod of Bishops may mark a turning point for the Catholic Church, but the real work now begins — locally. From diocesan councils to parish communities, the challenge lies in translating synodality into action. In Australia, divergent episcopal views and a patchy history of reform raise critical questions about the Church’s future.
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RELIGION

How the Synod quietly redefined disability in the Church
- Justin Glyn
- 30 November 2024
2 Comments
The Synod on Synodality has quietly rewritten the Church’s relationship with disability, shifting from a legacy of marginalisation to a vision of equality and dignity. This historic move acknowledges past failings while championing the rights of disabled people as full participants in faith and society. But does the rhetoric match reality?
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ENVIRONMENT

Can an economy prosper without endless growth?
- Phil Jones
- 28 November 2024
1 Comment
Infinite economic growth on a finite planet is a paradox we can no longer ignore. As environmental crises deepen, solutions like the Steady State Economy offer a roadmap to balance sustainability and prosperity. Yet, transitioning from growth-centric systems raises hard questions: Can we create an economy that values life over profit?
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ENVIRONMENT

How Laudato Si’ inspired a global movement for sufficiency
- David Ness
- 28 November 2024
2 Comments
As the climate crisis deepens, there's an urgent need for a global shift toward fairness, equity, and living well within our planet’s limits. Drawing from Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, sufficiency thinking offers a critical, overlooked pathway to global equity and sustainability.
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RELIGION

Astute stewards: Implementing the Synod
- Bill Uren
- 20 November 2024
7 Comments
Will the recommendations of the Synod on Synodality inspire lasting change or risk losing momentum? With bishops balancing tradition and reform, the coming year will determine whether this moment becomes one of true transformation.
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RELIGION

Pope Francis' challenge to become a synodal Church
- Bruce Duncan
- 14 November 2024
14 Comments
The Synod is possibly the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. And despite its focus on internal Church reform and participation, can it effectively address broader social and moral issues in the world while still promoting a more inclusive and accountable Church?
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RELIGION

The quiet revolution in women's roles in the Church
- Joanna Thyer
- 07 November 2024
3 Comments
At the World Synod in Rome, four women joined to advocate for ordaining women as deacons. Though the topic remains off the table officially, the message highlights the Church’s internal conflict between traditional values and growing calls for inclusion and change.
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Keywords: Pope Francis