National
Despite the referendum to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution not succeeding, Australia needs to find a way to address the inequalities many First Nations people face, Bishop Charles Gauci has said.
News
More than 100 people at a SA Catholics for the Voice rally in Mary MacKillop Plaza were urged to talk to their friends, family and colleagues about the importance of voting Yes in the Voice referendum.
Get The Southern Cross delivered straight to your inbox twice per month.
Thanks for signing up to the Southern Cross newsletter.
‘You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.’ These words, spoken by Pope John Paul II, now a saint, on November 29 1986 in Alice Springs, form part of a longer address he gave that day to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Blatherskite Park. Even though he did so 37 years ago, they are well worth reading and meditating by every Australian Catholic, particularly in the lead up to the referendum on October 14.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has released research today suggesting the Voice referendum sits on a knife’s edge, with 56 per cent definitely or likely to vote yes and 44 per cent definitely or likely to vote no.
Australia’s Catholic bishops have welcomed the Voice referendum on October 14 as a “blessed opportunity” for the Church and all Australians to embark on a new engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Lisa Buxton is executive officer of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney. This is an edited version of her address at the launch of the 2023 Social Justice Statement.
People of faith have been called to take action and engage with their local communities to promote the importance of a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Get The Southern Cross delivered straight to your inbox twice per month.
Thanks for signing up to the Southern Cross newsletter.
