pathways, February 2010
In recent days, I have had the opportunity to be present at two key events in the life of the Catholic Church in this country - the Catholic Social Services Australia national conference in Canberra, and the annual meeting of Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) in Sydney.
Both meetings, though very different in style and in process, were about social justice in our world, and in particular about the living out of the social teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Church's social teachings are at the heart of what it means to be Catholic.
These teachings are not an optional extra. Each September, the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference produces the Social Justice Statement for the community, highlighting a key area of concern and interest. As long as there are members of our communities who are poor, who do not have the basic resources to live a dignified life, then we are all diminished in some way.
The various agencies of Catholic Social Services are seeking to attend to the needs of the most disadvantaged in our society.
Every parish and every religious order needs to assess its response to the faith in the terms of its practical response to the Gospel imperative to bring justice to those in need.
Starting from a small group of passionate women religious, ACRATH has now gathered an extensive group of women and men across the country working to bring justice to those who have been trafficked, whether for labour or for sexual exploitation.
These committed religious have lobbied government to change immigration laws. They have assisted numerous women who have been trafficked by providing them with practical support and legal advice.
There are groups working actively in each State and internationally to address this insidious abuse of our fellow humans. I encourage each of you to explore the ACRATH webpage and to find a place where you, too, can make a contribution and give support.
Fr Frank Brennan SJ has been appointed as Advocate in Residence to four key national Church bodies - Catholic Social Services Australia, Catholic Health Care Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, and Australian Catholic University (Public Policy Unit).
Fr Brennan will endeavour to raise awareness and drive change. The parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to work together to improve the lives of people who are disadvantaged and marginalised by addressing issues that undermine their health and welfare.
Such an appointment indicates the great desire and willingness of a number of Church bodies to work together, to find new ways of bringing the Gospel message to bear on the justice issues of our time and our world.
I sense we are entering a new time for relevance and for social justice action at the grassroots of our church. Let we religious continue to be part of this prophetic proclamation of the Gospel.
