ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE: ACBC Social Justice Statement launch
Mark Clarke, Office for Justice and Peace, Wednesday 18 September 2013
EACH year the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) releases a social justice statement on an issue of contemporary concern for the Church in Australia. The 2013 -14 Statement from the Australian Bishops is entitled Lazarus at our Gate. A Critical moment in the Fight against World Poverty. It draws heavily on the Gospel reading for Social Justice Sunday which this year will be celebrated on Sunday 29 September.
View Gallery
In the Bishop’s statement we are challenged to identify the people who “sit at our gate” like Lazarus desperately longing for our support and for a just solution to their poverty. Like the Rich Man (who wore purple and fine linen), we can become blinded, by our own enormous wealth, to the plight of those around us who struggle daily for their mere existence. Luke’s Gospel reminds us that such a chasm - between the rich and poor - is not of God’s making, but of our own.
The Statement highlights five examples of those whom we can identify as “Lazarus at our Gate”. Firstly the Bishops identify the hungry of the world. Through the example of people such as Flabiana and her family in Timor-Leste, the Bishops’ point to a path whereby the God-given of even the poorest may be restored though actions of Solidarity and in support of the Common Good.
Though natural disasters occur throughout the world, the Bishops identify disaster-affected communities in developing nations as experiencing additional trauma due to their limited access to resources in order to rebuild and progress.
The third group identified by the Statement is Indigenous peoples throughout the world. While Indigenous people comprise only 5% of the world’s population they make up 15% of the world’s poor.
People with disabilities make up the fourth group of those whom the Bishops’ identify with Lazarus. The Statement informs us that disabilities are both a cause and consequence of poverty.
Lastly the 2013-14 Social Justice Statement talks of the plight of those people on the move – the displaced people. With an estimated 45 million people displaced by war or civil violence, the Bishops challenge us, the Church, to be a source of hope and assistance to those on the move around the Globe.
The Victorian Launch of the ACBC Statement took place on Friday 13 September 2013. As all worthwhile endeavours should begin with prayer, the launch began with Mass celebrated in the St Mary MacKillop chapel at Australian Catholic University – St Patrick’s campus.
Following Mass, the “Rich”, identifying themselves by dressing in purple, assembled at the birth place of St Mary MacKillop in Brunswick Street Fitzroy. Mr Damien McCartin represented the Diocese of Ballarat, Mr Mark Clarke, the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Ms Julie Purdey, the Diocese of Sandhurst, and Ms Susan Grout was an apology, due to illness, from the Diocese of Sale.
Messages of support were received and read on behalf of Bishop Paul Bird, Bishop of Ballarat, and Archbishop-elect Christopher Prowse, Archbishop-elect of Canberra and Goulburn (diocesan administrator of Sale).
Mark Green, Manager of People and Mission for Caritas Australia performed the official launch of the Statement and the official Response was given by Fr Tony Kerin, the Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Social Services for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Episcopal Vicar guided the assembled to the realisation that in this parable of Luke’s Gospel, Lazarus remains silent – only the Rich Man and Abraham have speaking roles. What is true of this parable is often the truth of the world. It is frequently the poor and marginalised that do not, or cannot, speak.
Bishop Vincent Long, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, thanked the two engaging speakers on behalf of those present, and the Australian Bishops’ Conference, for their eloquent expose of the Statement.
Bishop Long spoke passionately of his own life as a refugee, and opened the Gospel story for those assembled. He challenged us all to see those “at our gate” and in the name of justice to work to ensure that the good things of God’s creation should be available equally to all.
Immediately following the launch, a luncheon of fine foods prepared by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre catering service was enjoyed by all.
Copies of the Statement, Prayer Cards and “Ten Steps” booklet are available from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council. Ph (02) 8306 3499 or email admin@acsjc.org.au
Photo: (Left to Right) Damien McCartin , Office for Justice and Peace Diocese of Ballarat; Tara O’Toole, Office for Justice and Peace Archdiocese of Melbourne; Julie Purdey, Diocese of Sandhurst Social Justice Council; Bishop Vincent Long, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne; Mr Mark Green, Manger Mission and People Caritas Australia; Fr Tony Kerin, Episcopal Vicar for Justice, Archdiocese of Melbourne; Mark Clarke, Office for Justice and Peace, Melbourne.
All Photos by Ashoka Peiris T.H.
EACH year the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) releases a social justice statement on an issue of contemporary concern for the Church in Australia. The 2013 -14 Statement from the Australian Bishops is entitled Lazarus at our Gate. A Critical moment in the Fight against World Poverty. It draws heavily on the Gospel reading for Social Justice Sunday which this year will be celebrated on Sunday 29 September.
View Gallery
In the Bishop’s statement we are challenged to identify the people who “sit at our gate” like Lazarus desperately longing for our support and for a just solution to their poverty. Like the Rich Man (who wore purple and fine linen), we can become blinded, by our own enormous wealth, to the plight of those around us who struggle daily for their mere existence. Luke’s Gospel reminds us that such a chasm - between the rich and poor - is not of God’s making, but of our own.
The Statement highlights five examples of those whom we can identify as “Lazarus at our Gate”. Firstly the Bishops identify the hungry of the world. Through the example of people such as Flabiana and her family in Timor-Leste, the Bishops’ point to a path whereby the God-given of even the poorest may be restored though actions of Solidarity and in support of the Common Good.
Though natural disasters occur throughout the world, the Bishops identify disaster-affected communities in developing nations as experiencing additional trauma due to their limited access to resources in order to rebuild and progress.
The third group identified by the Statement is Indigenous peoples throughout the world. While Indigenous people comprise only 5% of the world’s population they make up 15% of the world’s poor.
People with disabilities make up the fourth group of those whom the Bishops’ identify with Lazarus. The Statement informs us that disabilities are both a cause and consequence of poverty.
Lastly the 2013-14 Social Justice Statement talks of the plight of those people on the move – the displaced people. With an estimated 45 million people displaced by war or civil violence, the Bishops challenge us, the Church, to be a source of hope and assistance to those on the move around the Globe.
The Victorian Launch of the ACBC Statement took place on Friday 13 September 2013. As all worthwhile endeavours should begin with prayer, the launch began with Mass celebrated in the St Mary MacKillop chapel at Australian Catholic University – St Patrick’s campus.
Following Mass, the “Rich”, identifying themselves by dressing in purple, assembled at the birth place of St Mary MacKillop in Brunswick Street Fitzroy. Mr Damien McCartin represented the Diocese of Ballarat, Mr Mark Clarke, the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Ms Julie Purdey, the Diocese of Sandhurst, and Ms Susan Grout was an apology, due to illness, from the Diocese of Sale.
Messages of support were received and read on behalf of Bishop Paul Bird, Bishop of Ballarat, and Archbishop-elect Christopher Prowse, Archbishop-elect of Canberra and Goulburn (diocesan administrator of Sale).
Mark Green, Manager of People and Mission for Caritas Australia performed the official launch of the Statement and the official Response was given by Fr Tony Kerin, the Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Social Services for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Episcopal Vicar guided the assembled to the realisation that in this parable of Luke’s Gospel, Lazarus remains silent – only the Rich Man and Abraham have speaking roles. What is true of this parable is often the truth of the world. It is frequently the poor and marginalised that do not, or cannot, speak.
Bishop Vincent Long, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, thanked the two engaging speakers on behalf of those present, and the Australian Bishops’ Conference, for their eloquent expose of the Statement.
Bishop Long spoke passionately of his own life as a refugee, and opened the Gospel story for those assembled. He challenged us all to see those “at our gate” and in the name of justice to work to ensure that the good things of God’s creation should be available equally to all.
Immediately following the launch, a luncheon of fine foods prepared by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre catering service was enjoyed by all.
Copies of the Statement, Prayer Cards and “Ten Steps” booklet are available from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council. Ph (02) 8306 3499 or email admin@acsjc.org.au
Comments