17 May 2013, Media Release

The excision policy has been in place since 2001 and since that time we have still had thousands of people turn up on our shores asking for help.

The decision yesterday by the government to expand the excision policy to cover asylum seekers arriving by boat at any part of the Australian coastline will do nothing to help the underlying situation of war and poverty which compel asylum flows around the world.

“The majority of people seeking asylum in Australia by boat come from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Sri Lanka, these four countries all feature in the top 10 countries at risk of serious human rights violations and mass killings” said Bishop Gerard Hanna, Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees.

“These people are compelled to leave their homeland and have no option but to seek asylum in a third country” he said.

“It is tragic to think our response is to bypass their legal protections under the refugee convention and send them to remote indefinite mandatory detention on Manus Island or Nauru” said Bishop Hanna.

“Australia is part of the international community, we have a moral obligation to ensure that our decisions and policies contribute to, or at the very least do not subtract from, the common good of all humanity” said Bishop Hanna. Continue reading →

Media Release, 16 May, 2013

Mr Francis Sullivan, CEO of The Truth, Justice and Healing Council, established by the Catholic Church to coordinate the Church’s response to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, visited Wollongong yesterday to meet with Bishop Peter Ingham, clergy, religious, school principals, and employees from the Catholic Education Office, CatholicCare and the Office of the Bishop.

Mr Sullivan walked through the process of the Royal Commission and gave an understanding of the public and private hearings. He commented, “This is our opportunity not to let down people who have been damaged by the Church.” All present were very positive in their response to Mr Sullivan’s presentation. Continue reading →

Media Release, 16 May, 2013

The Australian Catholic Life Council today released a short video series “God So Loved The World” as a pastoral resource to educate, inform and provide information about life issues.

This pastoral series of videos was developed in collaboration with Respect Life Offices around Australia, bioethicists, theologians, doctors, academics and pastoral carers to provide a response to difficult issues such as abortion, euthanasia and reproductive technologies.

Taking an educative and explanatory approach, the series shares the Catholic Church’s position on bioethical issues, choosing to focus on abortion, euthanasia and reproductive technologies.

The series is available online at www.godsolovedtheworld.org.au

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJz4xSS8gTk

Chair of the Australian Catholic Life Council Bishop Eugene Hurley in recommending the series said that people need to move away from legalistic language and become more pastoral about how they care for those facing life and death challenges. Continue reading →

Media Release, 16 May, 2013

A new website designed to provide information on the way the Catholic Church will approach its engagement with the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse has been launched today.

The website provides material from the Truth Justice and Healing Council, which has been established by the Catholic Church to help the Church response to the Royal Commission, on how it will operate and the work it will do.

Mr Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth Justice and Council, said the site would be a valuable resource for both the Catholic and broader community that will be regularly updated with new information. Continue reading →

PENTECOST PASTORAL LETTER 2013
A PERMANENT NAZARETH:
FAMILY LIFE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
BISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSE
CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SALE

Dear Friends in Christ,
It was in 2010 that the Catholic Diocese of Sale began considering a pastoral plan for the diocese in the years ahead. This valuable time has enabled us to reflect on the past 125 years of Catholic life in the diocese with gratitude to God whilst beginning to plan ahead for the future in the hope of the Holy Spirit who always leads and animates the Church.

Our reflections together have been in response to the guiding principle of Blessed John Paul II that all such pastoral efforts are based on “knowing, loving and imitating” Jesus Christ but specific pastoral priorities are to arise from local communities (Novo Millennio Ineunte, John Paul II, 2001, 29).

I have published two Pastoral Letters to set parameters and encourage our reflections (Finding Home in Jesus, 2010, and Everything for the Gospel, 2011)

After considerable opportunities for prayerful diocesan discussions, organised via the Diocesan Pastoral Council, two general areas of pastoral priority have arisen. Continue reading →

15 May 2013
Media Release

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office applaud the government’s commitment to provide refuge for 20,000 of the world’s most vulnerable people through the humanitarian program.

Over the last 15 years Australia has resettled around 13,500 refugees and humanitarian entrants each year. Following the recommendations from the expert panel report released in August 2012 the current Labor government increased that number to 20,000.

“Of the over 15 million refugees worldwide, only 80,000 will be resettled each year” said Bishop Gerard Hanna, Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees. Continue reading →

Media Release, 15 May, 2013

Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) says that for the 800,000 Australians on income support this Federal Budget provides very little comfort.

“CSSA welcomes the modest increase to the income free threshold of $19 per week for Newstart recipients,” said Executive Director of CSSA, Mr Paul O’Callaghan. “However the large majority of unemployed Australians will be unable to take advantage of this initiative. Given the acute financial stress experienced by households dependent on the Newstart Allowance, this is hardly a fair go.”

“Australia needs to have an independent mechanism for determining allowances such as Newstart,” he said. “The Government continues to reject the adoption of an objective mechanism to determine the adequacy of Newstart and other Allowances and Pensions. But the salaries of politicians, judges and senior public servants are based on an objective mechanism, called the Remuneration Tribunal. We now need a similar mechanism for recommending Allowance and Pension levels so that they are not subject to political whim.” Continue reading →

With the Grace of God

His Excellency Bishop Ad ABIKARAM, Maronite Bishop of Australia, extends a warm invitation to you to attend
THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY of His Excellency Bishop Antoine TARABAY as the 4th Maronite Bishop of Australia
To be held on MONDAY 3 JUNE 2013 AT 6:30PM
at St Maroun’s Cathedral 627 Elizabeth Street, Redfern followed by a Cocktail reception at Le Montage Bayside Events Centre Frazer Street, Leichhardt

RSVP by Wednesday 15 May 2013 to marounia@maronite.org.au Continue reading →