Letters

Planetary Spirituality

Grahame Fallon

Contents - Nov 2011 - Buy a copy now Homily: Benedict XVI: From his All Saints Day homily - Pope Benedict XVI Ad Limina: The Australian bishops' 2011 ad limina visit to Rome - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Pastoral visit: Benedict XVI calls his visit to Germany 'a great feast of faith' The Lion of Munster: Blessed Cardinal von Galen: a voice against tyranny - Babette Francis WYD Madrid: World Youth Day 2011: Experiencing Christ's presence - Dr Joe Santamaria WYD Madrid: World Youth Day: Becoming sons and daughters of Christ - Sam Rebbechi Society: Finding hope in the midst of secularism - Cardinal Raymond Burke Saints: G.K. Chesterton: Is there a case for his canonisation? - Karl Schmude Letters: Catholic schools - Don Gaffney Letters: First Parents - Fr Brian Harrison OS Letters: World Youth Day Madrid balance sheet - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Planetary Spirituality - Grahame Fallon Letters: Climate change - P.C. Wilson Letters: Immoral policies - Anthony English Letters: Vatican II - Kathleen Donelly Letters: Atheism - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Same sex marriage - Brian Harris Letters: Islam - John Frey Letters: Catholic healthcare for Cairns - Dr Tim and Anne Coyle Letters: New parish in India - Fr S. John Joseph PP Letters: Advocate needed - Oliver Clark Books: STRAINED RELATIONS: The Challenge of Homosexuality, by Bill Muehlenberg - Dr Joe Santamaria (reviewer) Books: ST THOMAS BECKET, by Michael Green - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, by Ivan Gobry - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Donations: Support the Fighting Fund! Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The Church's architecture: faith translated into vision - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

Frank Mobbs (October AD2000) noted that in the Summer 2010 edition of " Compass: A Review of Topical Theology" Fr Denis Edwards considered "Planetary Spirituality". Dr Mobbs questioned what qualifies a Christian ecological approach to be a kind of spirituality.

Fr Edwards reviewed facts about the physical universe, facts that lead many people beyond their selves into mystery and awe. "Yes," Dr Mobbs said, "but what has this to do with spirituality?" Is wondering, being amazed, a kind of spirituality? Is wondering sufficient?

Fr Edwards continued, "We now believe we are connected with all other creatures". But, Dr Mobbs asked, "Supposing we are connected in multiple ways with other things, what bearing has this on spirituality?" Indeed, "There is a problem in calling some human activity 'spirituality'. It is hard to define in such a way as to receive widespread agreement".

It dawned on the newly enlightened Saul of Tarsus - reborn as St Paul - that unspiritual people can accept nothing spiritual but see it all as nonsense. On the other hand, truly spiritual persons can judge the spiritual value of every thing and their own value is to be judged by no-one (1 Cor.2:14-15) - except God.

We are called not only to Planetary Spirituality but above all to Cosmic Consciousness and Cosmic Spirituality.

The apostolate of Australia's National Catholic Rural Movement was "To restore Christ to the Countryside ... and the Countryside to Christ".

On 24 July 2009, at Aosta in northern Italy, Pope Benedict XVI exhorted us to restore God to the Universe and the Universe to God, culminating in Cosmic Liturgies and songs of Cosmic Praise.

GRAHAME FALLON
Woody Point, Qld

A response

Responding to my critique of "Planetary Spirtuality" by Fr Denis Edwards, Grahame Fallon finds me described by St Paul, for Fallon writes: "It dawned on the newly enlightened Saul of Tarsus - reborn as St Paul - that unspiritual people can accept nothing spiritual but see it all as nonsense. On the other hand, truly spiritual persons can judge the spiritual value of every thing and their own value is to be judged by no-one (1 Cor.2:14-15) - except God."

It has done me the world of good to learn that I am ranked among the "unspiritual" and, further, it is gratifying to learn that in judging me Mr Fallon has placed himself among the "spiritual."

FRANK MOBBS (DR)
Gosford, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 24 No 10 (November 2011), p. 13