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The Southern Cross : February 2011
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opinion The Southern Cross February 2011 Page 7 www.adelaide.catholic.org.au The Southern Cross The Oprah effect Conception the issue Over the last month or so we have celebrated the birth of Our Lord, the beginning of a new year, and heralded Oprah's first visit to Australia. It was almost as if the wise woman from the western world arrived well before the wise men of the east. I was fascinated by the reaction of people to Oprah's visit and it seemed people are hungry for a Messiah. The timing was interesting given that the Christian world was gearing up to welcome their Messiah, and yet as history would show, the true Messiah never did arrive with such fanfare. People interviewed about their experience of being with Oprah, working with Oprah or interviewing Oprah all seemed to have similar reactions and expressed similar feelings regarding her. The most common seemed to be that Oprah made them feel special. She would have eye contact, give them time and appear genuinely interested. She was very ordinary in her approach to herself and others and this made people feel accepted and comfortable. She was consistent and her generosity was non- discriminatory, and because she had suffered and faced adversity in her life, there was a feeling of being understood. People queued for miles and hours to see her, journalists asked for hugs from her and were moved to tears by being in her presence. This says as much about how humans work as it does about Oprah. When one considers the ripple effect of a random act of kindness, her gift giving to guests on her show and to groups of less fortunate people around the world, causes a positive energy that uplifts, excites and inspires. What Oprah does and how she is with people actually works. The many years at the top of her field and her label as one of the most powerful women in the world are testimony to that. The good news to share is that this way of being is available to all of us. It may not make us millionaires in the dollar sense, but it is useful to take the time to examine some things about our ways with people. To remember and reflect upon what we are like when we are with people, how much time we give to those who are less appealing to us, how generous we are with things we are attached to and how willing we are to share our struggles and challenges, can be quite confronting if we are honest with ourselves. There is nothing wrong in being inspired by Oprah, as she herself was and continues to be, inspired by others. The important thing to keep in mind is, are we as hungry for the true Messiah? Are we clamouring for seats to be with Him, experiencing that quality time where we can look into His eyes, and excited by the gifts He continually showers upon us? Are we in awe that He chose to live a life with us where His challenges and vulnerabilities would be so painfully evident? As we ease out of Christmas and into Lent let us take the time to be inspired and excited by the one who loves us. A recent feature story in the Weekend Australian Magazine on the topical issue of gay marriage referred to several same-sex relationships with children involved. The story by Kate Legge, supported by portrait-style photographs of gay couples with children, painted a pretty picture of same-sex family life as a back-drop to the supposed groundswell of support for legislative change enabling gay couples to marry. Amidst the colourful prose about children with two daddies or two mummies, there were a couple of points which stuck hard in my throat as I endeavoured to keep an open mind on the issue. Referring to one little girl "dressed in a hot pink tulle fairy dress" with "blonde hair swept into a high ponytail tied with a silver bow", Legge then went on to write: "Her conception was unbelievably complicated and costly. Sperm from one of her fathers fertilised an egg harvested through an anonymous donor in India where the embryo was implanted into the womb of a surrogate. (Elton John and his partner last month became parents to a baby boy using similar mothers of invention)." She switches back to the idyllic life of the "doting" dads with not a whimper about the possible exploitation of women in India who are clearly being paid to donate eggs and bear a child who they will never see again. Reference was also made to a lesbian couple who "imported sperm from a US donor after an online search through thousands of profiles, settling for a blond-haired blue-eyed professional whose identity might never be revealed to the son he's fathered". If this is not designer babies, then I'll go he! While there was some inconclusive discussion about the latest research on children raised in such circumstances, there was no mention of the ethics of 'online donors' selectively choosing from and the rights of the children and people involved in these extremely complex conceptions. Let me be clear, the right of gays and lesbians to be treated equally and justly is not at issue. But when it comes to their capacity to have children, there is so much more at stake in terms of how we procreate and how we value human life. And this gets back to the heart of the institution of marriage, that is, the union between a man and a woman who, through their love for each other, are able to produce a unique individual. Nothing can ever change that. -- Jenny Brinkworth The Buck Stops Here During World War II the British Army sent me to Washington DC. At my first Sunday Mass at St Matthew's Cathedral there were Allied Forces from many different nations. For the collection I dropped in the coin similar to the English pence, my normal UK donation. To my horror and shame I realised that mine was the only coin, others were giving one dollar or several. And that was in 1943, 67 years ago! Frances Durdin Port Elliot Liturgy and youth In The Southern Cross, September 2010, Jenny Brinkworth writes: "Walk into any church on a Sunday and you will be hard pressed to find any teenagers... older people fill our pews". What I see is different. On a sunny morning in 2007 I drove into the car park at the Church of the Holy Name, St Peter's. To my surprise young people were walking across the car park. Not only were they young, they were obviously happy. Now I know they were choir members who had been rehearsing for Mass. Since then I have been attending the Holy Name Church and what I see fills me with hope. All ages are represented in the congregation -- babies in arms, toddlers, teenagers, parents and we in our eighties! As usual 10 or 12 devout young servers lead the procession and serve with great reverence. The choir, with its significant percentage of members under the age of 20 -- surely one of Australia's best choirs with an extensive repertoire -- sing a full Gregorian Mass or a Mass of one of the many great composers, Plainsong Proper and Polyphonic Motets. After Mass there is no rush. Families stay and mingle, many having tea, coffee and biscuits. Groups of young people talk and enjoy each other's company. Children play. I see here a "life of worship, prayer and action" with good liturgy; as hoped for by Father Philip Marshall in the Leap Ahead News (Southern Cross, November 2010) but it is my view of the congregation itself that I want to stress: all ages, joy, enthusiasm, friendship, strong faith. Good seeds for the future! Bill Clohesy Athelstone FEEDBACK pauline connelly South Australia's Catholic newspaper, The Southern Cross is entering an exciting phase with growth into digital publishing. Publisher, Solstice Media is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to work on the growth of The Southern Cross and a number of its other publications. The Business Development Manager will be responsible for developing The Southern Cross as a digital product - working with the Catholic Education OfÞce, managing advertising sales and revenue growth and development of a new look printed version of the publication. The role would suit candidates working in media, marketing or sales with an understanding of the Catholic Church. If you are interested in applying for this position please send your application or letter of introduction to: phamra@solsticemedia.com.au T 08 8224 1600 4 Cinema Place (off Vaughan Place) Adelaide SA 5000 www.solsticemedia.com.au JOB OPPORTUNITY The Southern Cross Business Development Manager
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