Fr John P Mannion argues that while the western world has moved from absolute monarchy to participant democracy, the Catholic Church has moved in the opposite direction, concentrating all power in the Bishop of Rome. Even the Commandments can  be re-written as a result - as can be seen in the then Cardinal Ratzinger's reply to the US bishops, apparently allowing exceptions to the fifth commandment. (This a condensed version of his article: original can be obtained from the author at Killoran, Clonfert, Co Galway.)

In a BBC interview, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, speaks of the need for a debate on priestly celibacy. And he believes it may be time for a pope from the developing world.

A people formed in his own image