A still from the movie trailer

Spotlight. Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachael McAdams, Liev Schreiber and John Slattery. Directed by Tom McCarthy. 129 minutes. Rated M (adult and sexual themes, coarse language).

This is one of the angriest films you will ever see.

In the Bible we hear about righteous anger, where God or humanity realises something is so wrong and sinful that ‘holy anger’ is the first and right response. At its best in the scriptures this anger leads to justice, making things right.

Spotlight is an occasion for holy, righteous anger and every adult Catholic should see it. Not because it is easy watching, but because it is necessary watching. The time to look away has gone. Continue reading →

Bishops Curtin and Edwards

The Episcopal Ordination of the Most Reverend Terence Curtin and Most Reverend Mark Edwards OMI, as Auxiliary Bishops of Melbourne, took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne last night, 17 December 2014.

Bishop Curtin was also ordained Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi and Bishop Edwards was ordained Titular Bishop of Garba (in Numidia).

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Reverend Denis Hart was the Principal Consecrator of the Ordination Mass.

The Co-Consecrators were Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Most Reverend Paul Gallagher DD and Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Reverend Mark Coleridge. Continue reading →

Fr Michael McCarthy

Media release, 10 March, 2014

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Denis Hart warmly welcomes the appointment by the Holy Father Pope Francis of the Reverend Michael McCarthy as the Bishop of Rockhampton.

“Father McCarthy has already shown distinctive leadership in the care of clergy and people in Brisbane. I know he will receive a gracious and enthusiastic welcome in his new diocese,” said Archbishop Hart.

Born on 13 September 1950, Fr McCarthy was educated at Greenmount State School and Downland College in Toowoomba.

After obtaining the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree from the University of Southern Queensland, he studied for the priesthood at St Paul’s National Seminary, Sydney. He qualified with a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Queensland.

Fr McCarthy was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Brisbane on 19 August 1978 and commenced his priesthood as Associate Pastor, Gympie in 1979. Continue reading →

Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Sale

Reverend Deacon Anthony (Tony) Aspinall has been appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference as the National Coordinator for the Permanent Diaconate.

Deacon Tony is from the Sale Diocese in Victoria, and was ordained to the Diaconate on 14 August, 1998.

Prior to his ordination, he worked for the Shell company in Melbourne in the area of compliance and auditing.

Deacon Tony is married to June and is the father of two children and grandfather to nine.

“My first appointment was to Narre Warren Parish where I was involved in general Parish ministry and was part time Chaplain to the Berwick Villa Maria aged care facility and the Dandenong Hospital Psychiatric wards. I later became part time Chaplain to St Francis Xavier College Beaconsfield.” Continue reading →

Media Release, 27 February, 2014

Bishop Peter Comensoli, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney has been appointed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Bishop Comensoli was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney on 20 April, 2011 and ordained to the Episcopate on 8 June, 2011 at St Mary’s Cathedral.

During the period while the position of Archbishop of Sydney is vacant, Bishop Comensoli will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Archdiocese.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Denis Hart congratulated Bishop Comensoli on this appointment. Continue reading →

Media Release
23 January, 2014

The Pastoral Research Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference will hold a three-day conference next month (19-21 February) on Australian Catholics and provide an in-depth look at the state of Catholicism in Australia.

The conference Beliefs and Practices of Australian Catholics: what we know and why it matters will bring together findings from the projects carried out by the in recent years.

The event will bring together people from parishes, diocesan agencies, Catholic health and aged care, Catholic social services, Catholic education, religious congregations and other Church organisations. Presenters will include local and international experts.

Director of the Pastoral Research Office, Dr Bob Dixon, said that the conference is a rare opportunity for people to consider the challenges posed by the research results. Continue reading →

MEDIA RELEASE
22 January 2014

Caritas Australia is disappointed by the Australian Government’s announcement of 18 January confirming cuts of $650 million from Australia’s official aid program in the 2013/14 financial year.

The cuts reduce funding for programs in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and South and West Asia which help to lift communities out of poverty. They also decrease Government support for non-government organisations like Caritas Australia. Continue reading →

Media Release

The jury of the Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting has awarded it annual prize to Jonathan Teplitsky’s The Railway Man.

“This deeply moving film about war, love, revenge, retribution and forgiveness was a standout in regard to promoting the best of human values which our prize enshrines”, said jury chair, Fr Richard Leonard.

Opening with a group of ageing former soldiers sitting in a veteran’s club in a Scottish town by the sea, Eric Lomax (Colin Firth) is actually never far from the Thai-Burma railway during World War II where, at the hands of his Japanese gaolers, he undergoes imprisonment, degradation and torture. Continue reading →

Media Release, 12 November 2013

Parish priests around Australia have been called on to acknowledge the start of Royal Commission hearings into Towards Healing on December 9 by reading the Catholic Church’s child sexual abuse commitment statement at Mass over the coming weeks.

The statement, which has been endorsed by Church leaders across Australia, acknowledges the damage sexual abuse has done. It acknowledges past failings including cover-ups, failures of leadership and not believing victims. Continue reading →

Truth, Justice and Healing Council Logo

Calls for a national mandatory accreditation and data collection system for all institutions working with children are part of the Catholic Church’s submission to the Royal Commission on child safe institutions.

The CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, said the core responsibility of religious and other Catholic organisational leaders is to ensure the safety of children entrusted to their care.

“There is no fail-safe method that can identify people who are unsuitable to work with children,” Mr Sullivan said. Continue reading →