Election of a Pope, how foreign it all is...

 

You can't help read the news without seeing something about the election of a new Pope.

I've looked through the candidates and can't help reflect that they will be all following the last Pope John Paul's, conservative roots. Celibacy, no condoms, no women ordination, etc etc.

I reflect on this while watching them, cardinals brightly dressed in red, old men. They appear completely out of place. I wonder if they have twitter, facebook accounts? Know what the latest music the young people are listening to where they live? Have an reflection on a current movie? I watch these elders shuffling along thinking of Nick Caves song "God is in the house" and wonder where?

I can't help thinking that the Catholic Church will continue to loose its way regarding relevancy. Its a shame Catholicism has a lot to offer, I love its mysticism, it's depth of theology,it's breathing with seasons.

But the Church appears uninspiring with the leaders it is putting forward.

Labor, I lower my head and weep

Since 2007 In which Labor brought in hope with a new government, now all is despair. Rudd quitting the front bench only confirmed that all was not well with the labor government leadership. The public can only see a fractured labor, and who wants that sort of leadership running the country. Its terminal.

Rudd:: In many ways brillant, but can he lead others instead of micro manage, I doubt it. His time is up. Having not sided with any of the Labour factions, once his popularity slipped he was gone. He will never be leader again without factional support.

Gillard :: The lady with the knife. She lost the election, but hobbled together a coalition. Poor popularity. The one who went behind Kevin Rudd's back and stole the leadship. Then broken major promices. The only reason she is in power is because of the 'faceless men'. I think she has done well navigating some of the legislation through parlement. Though integrity has a lot of political captial she has zip.

The only hope for Labor is a new leader. I can only see Stephen Smith. Even then I doubt he could defeat Abbot. I doubt that with the fragile numbers in the house of represenatives that the governement will last 3 months. Shame a really.

 

 

Politics :: Bass

With changing enrollment details, I received a welcome letter and a survey if I wanted to fill out by our local state memeber "Ken Smith". I filled out the survey noting I thought it was a concern with an elderly population which is growing that there were no 24hr emergency or bulk billing medical services on Phillip island. I got an answer to this question::

If the Liberal Party regain power in November this year, we will  be working with the Federal Government to set up a 24 emergency care facility at Cowes to cater for some of your urgent health needs

It sound positives but....
1) The Federal government is Labor. I couldn't imagine them working with the Libs on this one.
2) Health is a State responsibility.
3) I didn't do the typo "24 emergency", I suspect he means 24 hour emergency.  

Now the Federal election is also around the corner, so I wonder what the opposition environment member Mr Greg Hunt offers.