Child sex abuse is a national tragedy, says Justice Peter McClellan. McClellan is the Chair of Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Commission learned that child sex abuse has occurred in almost every type of institution where children lived or attended. Furthermore, “it is not a case of a few Read more
Australians’ “yes” vote supporting legalising same-sex marriage may pose more questions than answers. The non-binding referendum drew 7.8 million for same-sex marriage and 4.9 million against. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart says parliament must work to unify Australians by respecting different views on marriage. “The Catholic Church, and many others who sought Read more
If you had been told thirty years ago that Australia would create the least asylum seeker friendly institutional arrangements in the world, you would not have been believed. In 1992 we introduced a system of indefinite mandatory detention for asylum seekers who arrive by boat. Since that time, we have accepted the idea that certain Read more
A Canberra group called “Concerned Catholics” is lobbying for structural change to address disillusion and disaffection in the Australian Catholic Church. Chair of the group, emeritus professor John Warhurst, says Catholic leaders in Australia must begin work to give parishioners an effective role and voice in the Church’s direction and provide greater accountability and inclusive Read more
In the one week, Australia’s human rights record made headlines in two quite different ways. First, the UN announced that Australia would be joining the Human Rights Council. Subsequently, the UN Human Rights Committee criticised Australia for ‘chronic non-compliance’ with the committee’s recommendations. Indeed, it reported that Australia’s non-compliance was ‘completely off the charts’. The dissonance of these two Read more
Here is the lead role in the tragedy – Cardinal George Pell – having to endure the humiliation of facing charges for alleged sexual abuse. The October 6th “mention” at the Melbourne Magistrates Court did not specify charges but reported that there would be up to 50 witnesses testifying in court proceedings. The “mention” occurs Read more
More than 10,000 people from numerous ethnic communities rallied together in Sydney last weekend to demonstrate their ‘no’ vote in Australia’s gay marriage referendum. The rally combined a fiesta atmosphere with fairground rides, food stalls, music and dancing. There were addresses by Members of Parliament, the Coalition for Marriage, his Excellency Robert Rabbat, Melkite Bishop Read more
Australian bishops have been meeting top Vatican officials, including the Vatican secretary of state and the secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, to discuss the situation of the Catholic Church in Australia. The Australian delegation – which included Denis Hart, Archbishop of Melbourne, Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane and Justice Neville Owen Read more
The voluntary euthanasia scheme proposal Australia’s State of Victoria is considering could claim the lives of more than 1,000 terminally ill patients a year by 2030, a leading Catholic researcher claims. On September 21, the Victorian Government unveiled legislation for an assisted-dying scheme, with debate on the bill to begin next month and a conscience Read more
The state parliaments in Victoria and New South Wales are being urged to reject the assisted dying bill in front of them. Both states are considering legislation for euthanasia. The Catholics who have written to their state parliaments are supported by 101 oncologists, who have written to their Victorian MPs calling for them to refuse Read more