To coincide with Aboriginal Torres & Strait Islander Sunday 2011 (3 July), the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through its Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has released a statement titled‘Friendship: a new name for solidarity with First Australians’.
“What we call the principle of solidarity is frequently stated by Pope Leo XIII, who uses the term ‘friendship’,” the Bishops Commission says.
“The term ‘friendship’ with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a possibility we could examine more fully.
“This would imply that to be in solidarity with the First Australians means to deepen our friendship with each other.
“It means to develop an attitude of support and unity. It makes our relationship personal and practical.
“By developing friendships, we would become aware first-hand of the issues that concern us all.”
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