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CST

Three images of women at a protest are pieced together, each with a green, purple or grey overlay. The text "Social Justice Statement 2022-23, Respecti, Confronting Violence and abuse" is in white at the top of the image. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is written in small white writing at the centre of the image at the bottom with the corresponding logo.

Social Justice Statement 2022-23

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Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse points out that the roots of domestic and family violence “lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others” and that “this stands in contrast to the relationships to which God calls us”. Our relationships should be “marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. We reject the manipulation of religious teachings to justify violence and abuse. We support women in calling for respect in relationships; their lives and those of their children are sacred.

A Sun rising over a landscape of trees, grass and long grass

From the Office

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Sandie Cornish, Director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace reflects on Laudato Si’ Week, the Laudato Si’ Goals and the interconnected issues that an integral ecology must address. She highlights our feature article from Lismore diocese on Laudato Si’ and the effects and response of the floods, Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June), Refugee Week (19-25 June) and talanoa sharing stories around the mat present in the Pacific Council of Churches.

The silhouette of a person putting a ballot in a ballot box.

Bishops Call for a Better Kind of Politics

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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.

A large community group listens into a discussion in a community hall.

Community Resilience and the Role of Government

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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.”

World Day of Peace 2022: Quote Images

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Along with the discussion guide, the Office has created a series of quote images that highlight the key themes from Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace 2022 Message. These quote images can be used as part of a reflection or liturgy, meditation, advocacy presentation or on social media to promote the message.

Image of hands painted as a map of the globe. Text: BBI-TAITE in oartnership with Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace. Presents Catholic Social Justice teaching. Online, 16 weeks, 8 sessions

Catholic Social Teaching Course

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The BBI-TAITE and the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace are partnering together for an online course on Catholic Social Teaching. Open to all and reasonably priced, this course consists of eight sessions across 16 weeks. Perfect for teachers, parish leaders, diocesan workers and volunteers it looks at local, national and international issues from a Catholic Social Teaching lens. Taught by Dr. Sandie Cornish, enrolments are now open. The course begins on 15 February, 2022.

Depiction of a white dove flying holding an olive branch on a sky blue background.

The Year to Come

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Sandie Cornish, the Director of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace provides an overview of what to look forward to in 2022. Formation will be a key priority for the ACBC and the Office is supporting an 8-week course in Catholic Social Teaching, providing prayer and reflection materials, the launch of the Signs of Our Times Project Collaboration and continuing on the seven year Laudato Si’ Action Plan.

The text "Signs of Our Times" is in the middle of the image with blue, yellow, green and pink as a background.

Signs of Our Times Soft Launch

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The Signs of Our Times Project had its soft launch on 30 November where Bishop Vincent Long welcomed the project “as a means of going deeper in our appreciation of the tradition of social teaching and action and engaging in it.” The project which started from living out Pope Francis’ call for a Culture of Encounter has produced resources parishes and schools can use to reflect on our times as we pray with scripture, reflect on CST and share our stories.

Questions on Submarine Spending

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Bishop Vincent Long, Chair of the Australian Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service has written on the Nuclear Submarine deal by the Federal Government with the United States. “The Australian Government’s decision to buy nuclear-powered submarines has brought to the surface once again big questions around how governments should spend money, particularly during a pandemic.”

First Anniversary of Fratelli Tutti

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The first anniversary of the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti was celebrated on 3 October, 2021. The encyclical, which focuses on social friendship and overcoming racism and discrimination through dialogue and encounter has a new website which contains many resources all can use to share its message that we are all one human family. Videos, infographics, reflections, social media graphics, photos and prayers are available.