Media Release, 9 July, 2013

The Australian Catholic Life Council has made available the DVD version of “God So Loved The World”, a Pastoral Series on Life Issues. It can now be purchased and shipped within two days through orders at www.godsolovedtheworld.org.au. The DVD is available for a suggested donation of $10. Continue reading →

Rio de Janeiro Safety and Security Statement, 3 July, 2013.

In recent weeks grassroots protests have taken place in Brazil.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) would like to reassure leaders, pilgrims and their families that the safety and well-being of pilgrims is our first priority.

The World Youth Day (WYD) Office in Rio reports that, contrary to some media reports, the protests have mostly been peaceful and some actions by small groups of activists are not supported by the majority of the protesters.

The protests seem to have since died down and the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Most Rev. Orani João Tempesta O.Cist., has expressed his confidence that the protests will not impact upon the celebration of WYD, which he says is “held in high esteem by all”.

Archbishop Tempesta said that WYD shares with the demonstrators a desire to build a better society.

“Catholic youth also have these same hopes and dreams, and they keep Christ in their hearts,” he said. (See http://www.rio2013.com/ en/news/details/2457/pilgrim-s-safety-in-the-spotlight)

The Australian Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) has been in liaison with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) since October 2012. Continue reading →

Australian Religious Response to Climate Change

In a remarkable show of unity, prominent faith leaders from diverse religious backgrounds are calling for bipartisan support of a carbon price in the lead up to the 2013 federal election.

The leaders have signed an open letter organised by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and will be commenting publicly at an official launch in Sydney this Thursday. The letter adds moral weight to calls for the winding back of coal exports and for greater investment in clean, renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The sixteen signatories include the Grand Mufti of Australia, the President of the Uniting Church Assembly, Senior Rabbi of The Great Synagogue in Sydney, and the Chair of the Hindu Council of Australia. Continue reading →

Photo courtesy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) notes the passing of the Australian Education Act through the Australian Parliament last week.

The Act determines new funding arrangements that will deliver additional funding for the needs of students in Catholic schools across Australia from 2014.

Given the passing of the legislation, NCEC is committed to continuing discussions and negotiations to finalise the regulations and other relevant arrangements to enable funding for Catholic schools from 2014.

State and Territory Commissions as system authorities will further progress outstanding arrangements in the coming months.

ENDS
Contact:
Ross Fox
Executive Director
Tel: (02) 6201 9830
Mob: 0422 583 117
2 July, 2013

By +Archbishop Mark Coleridge

The full text of the ACBC election statement can be viewed at www.catholicsvote2013.org.au

The elusive concept of “the Catholic Vote” frequently makes an appearance during elections and this year’s Australian Federal election will be no different. But like all groups, Catholics are a broad and diverse lot, representing a wide cross section of the Australian population.

One in four Australians are Catholic. A quarter of the 5.4 million Catholics in Australia were born overseas and more than two thirds of this group are from non-English speaking backgrounds. The top five non-English languages spoken are Italian, Filipino languages, Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese.

That diversity is a great strength as it allows us to have a great many perspectives on how best to apply Catholic social teaching to the problems that face Australia.

The first point of contact with the political process for most of us is the local candidates that present for election. The bishops have asked us all to meet with local candidates and make our concerns known. That’s important because however presidential the style of campaigning that we see every night on the television, ultimately we vote for local candidates – not national leaders. If we can award the best of the local candidates with our vote, that’s one of the most important steps we can take to ensure the national parliament runs well. Continue reading →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCsqMGl0gdI

www.wisdomatthegate.org.au: Wisdom at the Gate is a colloquium facilitated by the Council for Australian Catholic Women and supported by the National Office for the Participation of Women. It aims to gather, connect and reenergise those who are responding to the issues of women’s participation in our church within their local context.
While acknowledging the limitations that exist, the colloquium is an invitation for women to gather and dream; to be all they can be; to re-imagine the potential of what is possible within their own context; and to distil the wisdom that women carry and nurture within their lives and our church.

Australian Religious Response to Climate Change

Media Release

Prominent religious leaders from five diverse traditions are calling for urgent action on climate change to help avert a devastating 4° C rise in global temperatures.

In an open letter to both sides of the political divide ahead of the upcoming Federal election, they are unequivocal about human-induced climate change. They call for bipartisan support for carbon pricing, the fast-tracking of renewable energy and the winding back of coal exports.

The twelve leaders include the Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, the Chair of Catholic Earthcare Australia, Archbishop Philip Wilson, the President of the Uniting Church Assembly, Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney and the Chair of the Hindu Council of Australia, Professor Nihal Agar.

Spokesperson for Archbishop Wilson, Catholic Earthcare Director, Jacqui Remond, said, “We urge all Australians to give this moral issue the attention it demands. If we don’t, our children and grandchildren will face devastating consequences because of our failure to act now.”

With reference to numerous recent reports, the leaders write, “influential bodies are now warning us about an unthinkable 4 degree Celsius rise in temperatures if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. Recent experiences of extreme weather events, both here and overseas, are a mild foretaste of what this will mean.” Continue reading →

Pope Francis has decreed that the name of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be added to Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV. Below is the Decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship together with a schedule stating how Saint Joseph is to be mentioned “with Blessed Joseph, her spouse”, after the naming of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV.
Continue reading →

Gary Bonney visits Caritas programs in Peru

Two students from Western Australia’s Notre Dame University, supported by Caritas Australia, will clock up more than 1,600 kilometres when they embark on a road trip across the South West and Mid West, Western Australia, to bring awareness to constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples across the world. For over 40 years Caritas Australia has been working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia through its First Australians programs. Caritas’s Walk As One campaign advocates joining in solidarity with Indigenous communities to achieve a more just world. Continue reading →

World Youth Day coordinators gather

With only one month to go before pilgrims set off for WYD in Rio de Janeiro, 50 Australian pilgrimage coordinators recently met in Sydney for a final preparatory briefing before leading over 1700 pilgrims to South America.

The Australian pilgrimage to WYD will consist of over 30 groups from various dioceses, communities, groups and movements in the Catholic community across Australia. Sixteen Bishops and a large number of lay leaders, youth ministers, chaplains, religious and teachers will travel with the young pilgrims, visiting different parts of Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina.

Matters discussed at the briefing day included reports with the latest information and planning from the WYD Office in Rio. It also provided coordinators with spiritual formation, updated travel arrangements, logistical and critical response planning, and a time to discuss post-WYD retreat and formation strategies. Continue reading →