New Evangelisation in the 21st Century: Removing the Roadblocks ISBN 9781920721831 Author Eric Hodgens, This title has recently been published by John Garratt. As the end of the 20th century approached, Pope John Paul II confided that he felt God was calling him to lead the Church into the new millennium. To prepare for this he issued a new Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, calling for a New Evangelisation. This term has become a major sound bite in Catholic PR and has been taken up round the globe by dioceses and religious movements.
In this essay Eric Hodgens identifies the problem that triggered this call, examines how John Paul II and Benedict XVI have responded to that problem, views it in the light of history and current sociology, identifies some new relevant issues and suggests alternative approaches to a New Evangelisation. His basic thesis is that until the Church faces up to issues raised by liberal democracy, biblical literacy, scientific knowledge and issues of sexuality, it will not overcome the roadblocks to effective evangelisation in the 21st century.
Eric Hodgens was ordained a priest in the Melbourne archdiocese in 1960. After his seminary studies he completed a BA majoring in Psychology and Biblical Literature and Antiquities. He subsequently completed a master’s thesis in the Criminology Department of Melbourne University. He has held a number of key diocesan positions in pastoral planning, the continuing education of priests and the priests’ remuneration and retirement funds. The latter called for extensive demographic research to project the future retirement requirements of priests. He was the founding parish priest of Holy Saviour Parish, Glen Waverley North and recently retired after 14 years as parish priest of St Bede’s Parish, North Balwyn
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