Media Release, 5 July, 2013

As the peak Indigenous advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is proud launch a National Consultation into Indigenous Inculturation of the Catholic Church in Australia.
It is a timely announcement, given that this Sunday – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday – will see Indigenous and non Indigenous Catholics sit side by side to celebrate the gifts that Australia’s first people bring to the Church in Australia.

In collaboration with Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Ministries, councils and communities, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the National Liturgical Council, the consultation aims to discover what can be done by Indigenous Catholics to bring to life the immortal words of Pope John Paul II in Alice Springs 1986:

The Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others. Continue reading →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1gDmj9KiAQ

Media Release
3 July, 2013

Catholics are being urged to engage in the political process in the lead up to the coming federal election and to vote for the common good.

This week Australia’s Catholic bishops have written to the more than 1300 parishes across Australia to ask them to consider the bishops’ Vote for the Common Good election statement. The statement is available today for parishes and the general public at www.catholicsvote2013.org.au

“As bishops we want to focus your attention on some key issues of vital concern to the Australian community,” the statement says.

“We encourage Catholics to look beyond their own individual needs to apply a different test at the ballot box – the test of what we call the common good. The good of the individual and the good of society as a whole must be brought together in harmony. When they are, we have the common good.”

Archbishop Philip Wilson, Vice President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said today that aware of the turbulent political situation, the Bishops saw the importance of outlining some key areas which might inform consciences, while leaving it to voters to make their final decision.

“The principles of social teaching cross party political boundaries and Catholics may, in good conscience, form different opinions on the candidates and parties standing for election.”

“As Catholics, we need to take our democratic freedoms seriously and become involved in the political process.”

Focussing on principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the Bishops outline a range of issues including positions on the poor and vulnerable, marriage and family, life, child protection, migrants and refugees, indigenous Australians, education, health, ecology and sustainability and peace and development.

“The statement draws on our rich tradition of social teaching and upon the Church’s long experience of serving all people without distinction through our work in a broad range of areas including health care, education and social services”, he said.

The statement is available for download from www.catholicsvote2013.org.au as a PDF as well as in eBook format. A short video is available also on the website which can be used in parishes and schools where appropriate.

For media enquiries, please contact Beth Doherty on 0407 081 256 or media@catholic.org.au

Francis Sullivan, photo by Beth Doherty

CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council, Mr Francis Sullivan, has welcomed comments from Cardinal George Pell and the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart that the Church has been involved in cover-ups and mishandling of child sex abuse in the past.

The comments came as both faced intense scrutiny at the Victorian Inquiry into church sexual abuse which concluded this week.

Mr Sullivan said it is incumbent on the Church to be open and honest about its history of sexual abuse.

“This is the only way that the community can trust the Church will fully embrace these inquiries, including the Royal Commission hearings later this year, fairly and justly. Continue reading →

www.caritas.org.au

CARITAS Australia, the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church, has expressed disappointment that the government in its Federal Budget has not followed through on its long-standing commitments to increase the foreign aid budget to 0.5% of Gross National Income.

Caritas CEO, Jack de Groot said they’ve delayed this bipartisan agreement twice now, which means that Australia was continuing to break international commitments. Mr de Groot added that Australia is lagging behind in its ability to be a responsible international citizen and breaking promises that quite simply save lives.

However, Mr de Groot welcomed the announcement of $390.9 million to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region. Continue reading →

Curtin Detention Centre from www.theaustralian.com.au

The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has expressed deep concern over the proposed detention of children and families in remote immigration facilities.

“There is something particularly uncaring about locking away children and families in a starkly isolated facility such as Curtin in the Kimberley”, Bishop Saunders said. “I have seen first-hand the conditions of this place and the physical and mental trauma experienced by older detainees who had already suffered greatly.

“The Minister says that families and children will be detained for migration checks for the shortest possible time. But the Government gave similar undertakings in 2008, and recent figures reveal that the average time adults and children are spending in detention is almost five months. Continue reading →

Mercy Works Partners in PNG

CARITAS Australia, the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church, has backed a letter from Australia’s business leaders, calling for the Prime Minister and Opposition leader to strengthen their commitment to international aid.

On the eve of the Prime Minister’s planned visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Caritas CEO Jack de Groot said foreign aid saves lives and makes a huge difference, particularly in the Pacific region.

PNG is one of the largest recipients of Australian foreign aid money, receiving over $490 million in the 2012/13 budget.

“Countries in the Pacific are our nearest neighbours and we share a history and partnerships. Supporting countries such as PNG with foreign aid is not only the right thing to do, it’s in our best interests as a nation,” Mr de Groot said. Continue reading →

Word Made Flesh and “Shared” Among Us

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Communications Office has released an eBook and parish resource to coincide with the celebration of the 47th World Communications Day, which takes place in Australia on Sunday, May 5.

In one of his final acts as Pope, Benedict XVI authored the statement “Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization”, recognising the gifts of social networking in sharing the message of Christ.

In response to the Holy Father’s message, the Communications Office of the Bishops Conference commissioned 30 Catholic Media Professionals from around Australia to contribute chapters to an eBook entitled “Word Made Flesh and “Shared” Among Us.”

The authors, including four bishops, gave heartfelt testimonies about their use of social media.
Coming from a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences, each of the contributors reflected generously on how social media had helped them to spread a message of hope.

The eBook is available now for free download to iPads, iPhones and Android devices at www.catholic.org.au and can be read in iBooks and a range of eReader apps. It can also be downloaded at www.amazon.com for $1.99.

Bishops’ Delegate for the Media and Chair of the Australian Catholic Media Council Bishop Peter Ingham said that this unique project is a real testimony to the way in which Social Networks can be used for the greater glory of God.

“Each contribution to this eBook is a specific example of those who, often unconsciously, have become online missionaries, spreading the Gospel in the new “Areopagus” (public square) that is now something of a digital continent.”

“Like the Holy Father says in his World Communications Day Message: “In social networks, believers show their authenticity by sharing the profound source of their hope and joy: faith in the merciful and loving God revealed in Christ Jesus”.

The eBook and Parish Resource are available by clicking the relevant buttons on the front page of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website www.catholic.org.au

For media enquiries please contact Beth Doherty on 0407 081 256 or media@catholic.org.au