Letters

'Schoolies'

Fr. M. Durham

Contents - Feb 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Can Catholic schools recover their 'salt' - Michael Gilchrist Spe salvi: Benedict's second encyclical calls for a rediscovery of hope in Christ - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Grace under fire: ordinations, and first Holy Communion in Iraq - Babette Francis Technical school: Salesians continue to help post-tsunami Sri Lanka - Michael Lynch SDB Paganism: 'New Age' activities continue in Brisbane Archdiocese - Tim Pemble-Smith A remarkable father remembered - Maria Rankin How to reform Catholic education: get the world view right - Chris Hilder The need for solitude and reflection amid today's cacophony - Andrew Kania What the social reign of Christ means today - Bishop Peter Elliott Letters: Dissent - Frank White Letters: Natural Law - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: New look Mass - Jessie Roger Letters: Virgin Birth - Eamonn and Pat Keane Letters: True Church - John Frey Letters: 'Schoolies' - Fr. M. Durham Letters: Poor communication - Don Gaffney Letters: Vatican II - Anthony Bono Letters: From India - Fr. A. Alex Prabhu Books: NO PLACE FOR GOD: The Denial of the Transcendent in Modern Church Architecture - Tony Evans (reviewer) Books: WHEN MIGHT BECOMES HUMAN RIGHT:Essays on Democracy and the Crisis of Rationality - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: A YEARBOOK OF SEASONS AND CELEBRATIONS, by Joanna Bogle - Eric Hester (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 and Freedom Publishing Reflection: Devotion to Our Lady: eclipse and revival - Br Barry Coldrey

On 18 November 2007 the Brisbane Sunday Mail included an item about 'schoolies' on the Gold Coast.

The paper reported that there is a store in Broadbeach, aptly named the 'Condom Kingdom,' doing a roaring trade. It also reported that pharmacies were busy distributing the morning after pill. One is left to wonder how many abortions will take place after schoolies is over.

Undoubtedly not all of the schoolies would avail themselves of the above 'amenities,' but, human nature being what it is, it would be safe to bet that the predominant culture of sex, drugs, alcohol and rock and roll combined will only spiral downwards as time goes on unless some drastic action is taken.

Parents and Catholic secondary schools need to work together to dissuade year 12 students from attending. In addition, perhaps an alter- native celebration could be arranged and promoted.

One also needs to realise that the driving force behind Schoolies in its present form is the almighty dollar.

FR M. DURHAM
Rockhampton, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 1 (February 2008), p. 15