Bishop Douglas Warren

The following information was provided on the Diocese of Bathurst’s website

Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, Bishop Douglas Warren, died peacefully on 6^th February 2013, at the Southern Cross Village in Parkes.

Bishop Warren was ordained priest in 1942 in Rome, and celebrated 70 years of priesthood last December.

In 1964 he was consecrated Bishop and appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes. He was appointed Bishop of the Diocese in 1967. He resigned his office in 1994, but never lost interest in the needs of the people and priests of his Diocese.

After a period of failing health, Bishop Warren moved to the Southern Cross Village in Parkes in January 2012 and resided there until his death. May he rest in peace. Continue reading →

Bishop Michael Putney in his Townsville office

January 18th, 2013

In a message to the Diocese of Townsville, Bishop Michael has said that he is back home, feeling well enough and has been at work in the office today.

He will be meeting with a Medical Oncologist on Monday to sort out some kind of treatment plan.

Bishop Michael said “I have been overwhelmed, humbled by, and filled with gratitude for the support I have been given, and by the prayers that people are offering me.” Continue reading →

St Mary MacKillop image on the side of St Peter’s Basilica

Media Release,23 January, 2013

A formal decree approving St Mary of the Cross MacKillop as second patron of Australia has been received by the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart.

The Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Cardinal Cañizares Llovera issued the decree on 15 January, 2013, in response to a request from the Archbishop Hart and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

While many Catholics in Australia already consider St Mary MacKillop as a patroness in this country, the formal process was initiated by the Australian Bishops who expressed the wish of the people of Australia for a further official recognition of Australia’s first canonised saint. Continue reading →

Cover image: Lore

Cate Shortland is best known for her 2004 multi-award winning debut film, Somersault. Lore is a stark contrast to that earlier film. Written in German by Shortland, this Australian film was filmed entirely in Germany.

Lore tells the story of Hannelore, the oldest daughter of five children.  Her parents are Nazis and at the end of war, and with the death of Hitler, they instruct their children to journey from the Black Forest to their grandmother’s home Hamburg. They abandon them to this journey as a way of ensuring they will not be arrested by the Americans.

Jury chair Fr Richard Leonard SJ said, “The jury was impressed by the themes that this beautifully-made film holds together: a survival trek, loss of innocence and discernment.”

Morally what is most impressive is the relationship that develops between Lore and a young man, Thomas, who instructs the children to say he is their older brother. He says he is a Jew. He has the yellow Jewish star in his documents.  Everything in Lore’s moral view of the world is challenged by Thomas. This family’s children have been part of the Hitler youth. A previously despised Jew is now their saviour. Continue reading →

Francis Sullivan and Barry O’Keefe, Photo SMH

Media Release, 11 January, 2012

CEO of the Catholic Church’s newly-formed Truth, Justice and Healing Council Francis Sullivan spoke today on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at 1pm

“We welcome the appointment of the six commissioners named by the Prime Minister today: Chief Commissioner Justice Peter McLelland; Bob Atkinson; Justice Jennifer Coate; Robert Fitzgerald; Professor Helen Milroy; and former Senator Andrew Murray.

 “Once again, we commit to fully cooperate and engage with the Royal Commission and its deliberations,” he said.

“At its heart, the Royal Commission needs to let the full truth come out and ensure that the dignity of those who have been damaged by these atrocities is preserved, that they are supported, and not subject to a retraumatising of their experiences.” Continue reading →

Bishop Michael Putney, Bishop of Townsville

Media Release, 9 January, 2012

Bishop Michael Putney has been in contact and has provided an update on his medical condition after consultation with a number of specialists in Brisbane.

“It is with sadness that I inform the Townsville community the biopsy results have shown that Bishop Michael’s stomach cancer has now spread to his liver,” Acting Vicar General Fr Michael Taylor said today.  “It is untreatable and incurable, Bishop Michael will undergo a course of chemotherapy to alleviate some of the symptoms.”

Bishop Michael conveyed this news with great calm and courage.  He expressed his gratitude for the support he has received, especially the prayers.  He stated that he was completely at peace about what will happen and leaves his future entirely in the hands of God. Continue reading →

Bishop Michael Putney, Bishop of Townsville

Fr Michael Taylor, the Acting Vicar General, has requested prayers for Bishop Michael Putney who has recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer and is currently in Brisbane receiving treatment.

Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral Townsville, next Thursday 10 January,2013 at 7.00pm to pray for Bishop Michael and all those who are dealing with cancer at this time.

For those unable to make the Mass, please keep Bishop Michael and others in your prayers. Please share this event with others who may be interested.

For more information, contact Neil Helmore
Diocese Communications Officer, Catholic Centre PO Box 6149, Townsville Q 4810
P: 0414 671 250
E: nhelmore@tsv.catholic.org.au

Kid playing video game – the SUN, UK

On the 1^st January 2013, an R18+ classification for computer games was introduced in all Australian States and Territories. On behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops, its Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting (ACOFB) welcomed this new national and uniform approach for parents to understand that there is R18+ material in computer games and they might stop their children from accessing it.

Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ, the Director of the ACFOB said, “Until now the Office for Film & Literature Classification had only has five categories available in regard to computer games: G, PG, M, MA 15+ and RC (refused classification). Like many parents, many Australians assumed that material that was not MA15+ was refused classification. But this is not the case. Continue reading →

Don’t divert aid

To sign the petition encouraging the government to increase its aid spending, click here

Caritas Australia, an international aid and development agency that helps some of the world’s poorest people, has said the Australian Government‘s plans to divert much needed overseas aid money to fund rising refugee support costs domestically will do irreparable damage to Australia’s international reputation.

The proposed aid cuts show that out of all the 23 OECD countries that give overseas aid, Australia will now be the biggest spender on aid within its own borders.

While the US and France spend around three percent of their overseas aid budget on “in-donor expenses” which includes refugee processing, Australia is proposing to spend double that. Continue reading →