In recent months, English actor and comedian Russell Brand has made headlines over multiple allegations of sexual assault and rape, all of which he has disputed. This is on the top of earlier allegations of drug abuse, battery and criminal damage. Judging by media reports, he’s not the kind of guy you’d want your daughter or …
The Sacred Heart and the social miracle
PART 1 Until the release of Dilexit nos in October 2024, the encyclicals of the late Pope Francis (1936-2025) had largely focused on the social teaching of the Catholic Church. With his fourth encyclical, he turns his attention to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a central feature of private Catholic devotion. Dilexit nos (“He loved us,” hereafter DN) is …
Nicaea and moral theology
Rev Dr Rod Benson, General Secretary, NSW Ecumenical CouncilFifth Theology Symposium: Nicaea at 1700: A Council for the Ages?St Andrew’s College, Redfern, Sydney, 23 August 2025 Introduction In 1914, Princeton theologian Archibald B. D. Alexander claimed that ethics was the crown of theology which “ought to be the end of all previous study.” He lamented a …
Foundations for human flourishing
This weekend is notable for two things: first, it’s the start of Daylight Saving in the enlightened states of Australia, a truth that will dawn painfully on those who arrive for church about thirty minutes from now. Second, it’s footy Grand Final weekend in two of the three major codes, which this year is a …
Joseph Fletcher and situation ethics
By Rod Benson In 1966, American episcopal moral theologian Joseph Fletcher published a popular book titled, Situation Ethics: The New Morality. In the book he advocated a ‘new’ approach to Christian ethics and moral decision-making which occupied a middle way between the two extremes of legalism and antinomianism. For Fletcher, this approach, labelled ‘situationism,’ was …
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