Welcome to winter and to the Church's Season of Ordinary Time, the part of the year when so much of the solid work of teaching is done. We would like to draw your attention to the updated 'Music that does Justice' in the Worship module. Our statistics confirm its popularity with teachers and Patrick Jurd its author has made some useful additions. 

Accreditation Seminar July 17 Denise Goodwin, Life and Tradition of the Church. Simonds Hall, Toorak Rd West, Sth Yarra. Book on CEVN. 

World Youth Day Anniversary Events include four gatherings during July. Check out all the details here.

Dr Peter Vardy on Teaching Ethics Today July 30 at Our Lady of Mercy Heidelberg. Bookings: 94592511

Children's Spirituality: Jeanette Acland, Faye Berryman & Alasdair Vance present a day for all who are interested in nurturing the spirituality of children. Carmelite Library, 214 Richardson St Middle Park on Saturday August 1. $20. Register by 30th July librarian@carmelitelibrary.org

Its probably a bit late for this year but these tours could be an immensely valuable to Religious Education teachers and those with an interest in inter-religious dialogue

Music is a powerful language for most students. Music that points to Justice, now contains extra starting points for classroom use and is enriched by exerpts from both scripture and church documents.  

Many issues at the core of RE were raised by the recent sentencing of young driver, Jeremy Bryant over the death of his friend in a car accident. This true story provides much to think about in terms of guilt and virtue, the ethics surrounding drinking, the grace of forgiveness and the role of punishment.   

The ABC's Religion and Ethics page gives an idea of what is being discussed on television and radio at the moment. This particular page opens  to an account of the Compass program 'The Making of the Stations of the Cross' at World Youth Day last July.

Environmental issues are never far below the surface of Australian Life. Let the Son Shine  is a new resource from the Columbans but you will find many online environmental links in here.

Controversy surrounded the granting of an honorary doctorate to President Obama because of his support for policies of choice in relation to abortion. Read his speech at Notre Dame and have another look at the Catholic position: is it coherent and reasonable? 

The death of Richard Pratt sparked discussion about the tension between his generosity as a benefactor and the means by which some of his great wealth was acquired. All of us are required to make day to day decisions about honesty. How do we decide?