Join Joe Gayland, Tom O’Loughlin, James Siemens, Carmel Pilcher, Kevin McGinnell, Sophy Morley, Jo and Gerard Shepherd, Judith Courtney, Judy Foster and Jo Ayers in this edition of Flashes of Insight – Let’s Talk Liturgy as they talk through the COVID-19 experience and ask about the lessons various parishes and church communities may have learned.…

People on the edges are what the Church sacrifices most today Elizabeth Young RSM told the conversation on Flashes of Insight. She describes these people as ‘lost opportunities’. Young, a pastoral worker who once worked in a large diocese, says that city dioceses, hospitals, schools and parish communities are generally well resourced and have good…

Anything that authenticates, makes visible and validates women’s ministry will help women take their rightful place in the Church says Kate Bell, a theologian and catechist. She made the comment on Flashes of Insight, a conversation between herself, and fellow theologians, Fiona Dyball, Elizabeth Young and Jo Ayers. The women discussed the newly approved ministries…

Synods, seen by Pope Francis and many to be inclusive, have the possibility of becoming exclusive. The signs of hope that Synods hold for women and those within the Church who want to see change may deliver the opposite. The warning comes from involved and committed Catholic women in a conversation on Flashes of Insight.…

The Catholic Church organization reflects an ancient society where women are incapable of leadership and governance says Auckland theologian and lecturer, Jo Ayers. “Second-class membership for women anywhere is unjust,” she told Flashes of Insight on Wednesday. Asked by host Joe Grayland if the relationship of women and the Catholic Church is a problem, she…

The Synod word has fallen out of widespread use in Catholic circles, but it is back, big-time. What does it mean? What are the issues? How should we approach a Synod? Joining Flashes of Insight host Dr Joe Grayland to discuss Synods and Synodality are: Synods were introduced to the Archdiocese of Wellington when Cardinal…

Because marriage equality is so prevalent in Catholic countries, Joe Grayland pose whether Catholic theology more than Protestant theology is more open to same-sex blessings? Is there a difference between catholic and protestant theology – more than evangelical protestant theology? James Alison responds to these questions. “Intrinsic to Catholic theology is the notion that grace…

Where is the church going with the debate over same sex blessings? Should our understanding of liturgy, blessing and sacraments be radically rethought or is the problem that we understand blessing, sacraments and liturgy as things that are “done to us”? Answering from a liturgical perspective Tom O’Loughlin says ‘liturgy is a human response to…

The Vatican’s same-gender blessings statement (Responsum) has back-fired according to theologian Dr James Alison. “I’ve been rather encouraged, and particularly surprised how much more unworriedly critical a vast number of people, including cardinals and bishops have been”. He’s calling the Vatican’s move ‘a shot in the foot’. James Alison spoke with Professor Thomas O’Loughlin, Fr…

Flashes of Insight – Let’s Talk Liturgy switches focus to the Eucharist as the Celebration of a people, a people attached to a greater body and the tensions that exist between individual expressions of thanksgiving and the expressions of thanks a community may offer. Particular issues discussed include: