The Australian Catholic Bishops have released a new election resource highlighting key issues for consideration this election. The guide doesn’t assign ratings to candidates or parties, but rather gives a background on the different issues that could affect the election and information on these issues from a Catholic perspective.
Why are the dates for the celebration of Laudato Si’ Week in Australia (16-24 May) different from those on the international Laudato Si’ Week website? These dates allow both Laudato Si’ Week, and National Reconciliation Week from 27 May –3 June, to be celebrated appropriately by Australian Catholics. The dates were announced in the Social Justice Statement Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.
The Federal Budget was delivered in recent weeks and many Catholic organisations have issued a response from their perspective. While there have been some welcomed initiatives, aged care and health care services stated the budget does not meet the needs of an industry in crisis and Catholic Social Services Australia said the measures introduced will do little to address long term poverty.
The Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (NSW) is running an online workshop on “Whether the economy can serve the community’s needs” – Examination of perspectives and solutions within “Alternative policy frameworks”. Via zoom and from 9am to 3:30pm on Saturday 23 April, speakers will focus on answering questions on how an economy can serve community’s needs, while embracing respect for the Natural World.
Reconciliation week is approaching and the theme for this year is, “Be Brave. Make Change”. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council has helped many Dioceses and Catholic agencies create a Reconciliation Action Plan and encourages organisations to do so. The theme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Sunday (3 July) is, “The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. Get up! Stand up! Show up”
Laudato Si’ Week, a celebration of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home is taking place 16 May – 24 May this year. The ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace has created resources for individuals and groups to use throughout the week, including reflection, prayers, actions and quote images. Parish bulletin notices, prayers of intercession and PowerpPoints will also be available.
Pax Christi Victoria held an online conference entitled Where Does Australia’s Security Lie? Director of the Office, Dr. Sandie Cornish provided input into the discussion, centring on the concept of a just peace and Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, Fratetlli Tutti on social friendship. This talk is now available online for all to download and reflect upon.
Reflecting on the response to the East Coast floods, Dr Sandie Cornish, Director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace deconstructs Catholic Social Teaching on the role of government, community resilience and subsidiarity. “Personal responsibility, community and solidarity are rich themes in Catholic Social Teaching. So too is the role of government.”
Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop Mykola Bychok, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia have released a joint statement calling for peace after Russia invaded Ukraine. “Ukraine is a peaceful nation. We don’t want war.” Caritas is support people on the ground fleeing the conflict in dire straits.
One in three disability sector workers report wanting to leave their job in the next twelve months and Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) report the sector is demoralised and at breaking point. Ms Monique Earsmon, Executive Director of CSSA is bringing the issue to the fore, “Disability workers are undervalued and this is having a devastating impact on the people they care for.”