Marked by Faith
Vista 1-3
Interesting things you might not know about Lent
www.therecord.com.au
MENTOR SEARCH: A unique school is looking for unique women Page 2
The Parish. The Nation. The World.
Thursday March ,
Western Australia’s Award-winning Catholic newspaper
Perth, Western Australia ● $1
CONSERVATIVE... Christians are like fundamentalist Muslims: nun Page 4
LOVE BOLT: John Heard looks at Vatican letter to Gypsies Vista 4
Pope Down Under Benedict tells Aussie bishop he’s coming to WYD in 2008
On air: Pope Benedict XVI participates in a live broadcast during his visit to Vatican Radio on March 3. The radio’s staff gave the pope an iPod nano as a gift. Vatican Radio offers podcasts in eight different languages. Photo: CNS ■ By Paul Gray
Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed to Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher that he intends to visit Australia for World Youth Day in 2008. Bishop Fisher, who has been placed in charge of the Australian arrangements for World Youth Day, said in an interview with the well-known Vatican correspondent John R. Allen that he saw the Pope earlier this month. The bishop spoke to the Pope during an audience for members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, when Benedict told him he was looking forward to coming to Australia.
“When I introduced myself I said I was from Australia, and he said ‘I am coming to Australia’ and that he was looking forward to it,” Bishop Fisher said. “The Vatican has also written to say he’s coming,” he added. World Youth Day will be held in Sydney in July 2008. Pope Benedict will be 81 that year. He has never flown as far as Australia at any time in his life, Bishop Fisher said. Bishop Fisher also said that World Youth Day would be a unique event in Australian history, challenging the prevailing atmosphere of Australian secularisim. “Australian secularism is often premised on an underlying Christian heritage of which people are often not conscious,” the Bishop said.
INDEX
SEA CHANGE IN THINKING A new book, not yet available in Australia, may well revolutionise the way we think about the Church and history, says Record correspondent PAUL GRAY.
Page 7
“There’s also a secularism which is more dogmatic and intolerant, that puts up with religion as long as it stays at home, like a pussycat that sits in one’s lap and doesn’t cause any trouble. “The young people who will be at World Youth Day will challenge the stereotypes of ‘religious youth.’ The event will confront secularism, not with the aggression of the rioting we’ve seen around the world against the Danish cartoons, but in a way that will convert hearts and get people to be more open to new possibilities. “They’ll see young people happy, not heading to the pubs and getting into brawls after football, but helping each other and loving God. That will challenge secularism far more effectively.”
Letters Being Heard The World Reviews Classifieds
Exhibition opens
See page 2
PARENTS ON REPORT - Pages 6,7 - VISTA 4 - Pages 8-9 - Page 10
Record writer DEREK BOYLEN stops to consider interesting ways that parents can help their children grow in understanding the reason for the season of Lent.
- Page 11
Vista 4