The most exciting news this month is that our RESource site has won a Webby honoree award. The Webbys acknowledge excellent websites. There were 10,000 nominations from 60 countries so we are feeling proud of our success. Currently, if you type the word 'resource' into Google, we come out top of the list. No more forgetting the address!!!

The World Youth Day Cross and Icon arrived in Melbourne on Friday 25th April. Check out the many events and activities surrounding their progress through Melbourne until May 10 on the Days in the Diocese website.

Twilight Theology Dr Joseph Donders - God in a Globalised World - the tension between the resurgent role of religion and the progressive secularisation of society. Where do we stand? 4.30 Simonds Hall 28th May. Apply online.

Asking the Big Questions with Denise Goodwin 5th June, Simonds Hall. Counts towards accreditation. Apply online. 

Looking ahead, Wind, Fire & Water: Finding God in the 21st Century, the 2008 AARE Conference will be on in September on Grand Final Weekend: 28 Sept-1 Oct. Great speakers.

People have been asking about social teaching sites on RESource. Lots of the Ethics topics include reference to the Church's social stance in the 'Understanding the Tradition' section. Two very useful general sites are Catholic Social Teaching and the Australian site Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Are you looking at the Reformation with your Year 10s this semester? Have you seen the unit on Luther and the German Reformation in RESource?

The Damaris site makes links between popular culture and Christian faith. It looks at film, music, TV, books and video and examines their relationship to faith. It is has an evangelical Anglican perspective but is essentially undenominational. You need to log in with user name and password. Full access requires subscription but there are many articles available free. Thanks to Patrick Jurd of De La Salle Malvern for this tip.

An article in Cathnews recently drew attention to a statement by controversial Sydney Islamic leader claiming that the Bible as well as the Koran expected that women be veiled. For many the veil is a symbol of how they understand the world. How does it fit in the Australian context?

Victorian Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter urging Victorians to resist moves to remove the regulation of abortion provision from the criminal to the health sector. Will decriminalising abortion make people think abortion is alright?

The death of a baby in the US whose parents belong to a small sect which believes in prayer rather than medical treatment raises questions about the relationship between the freedom to believe and the need to protect the rights of others. Should 'peculiar' sects be free to attract followers? What's the difference between proclaiming the gospel and proselytism?