THE P RTAL
February 2015
Australia Pages - page 8
Australia News in brief
Eliza Frank reports
The Bishops’ Conference
World Climate Change
T
Australia
Pages
J
he Bishops’ Conference has asked
acqui Remond, director of Catholic
for submissions to and responses to The Synod of
Earthcare Australia, said, “Catholics number one
the Family. One of the new Cardinals, the Most Revd in four Australians and the time is ripe for them to
John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, push for greater action on curbing global warming.”
wants to change the language of the Synod documents. “Looking at the leadership and the governance we
have in Australia right now, there isn’t a lot of hope
In his blog, Archbishop Dew said, “Some of the coming from the policies and the agenda that’s set.”
language used in Church documents – terms like
“intrinsically evil”, “irregular situation” and “abortive
Ms Remond continued, “Hope is coming from
mentality” – don’t help this process.”
abroad with Pope Francis expected to release the
first encyclical on ecology as soon as March. The
The Cardinal continued, “We need to find a language doctrinal directive is likely to focus on the damage to
that still speaks the truth of the Gospel and the truth of humanity and ecosystems caused by climate change.
the doctrine, but does so it in such a way that it is not “[The encyclical] has a significant influence because
all about rules and sanctions, but about helping people it sets a benchmark for learning for everyone in the
find their way to God. It seems to me that the majority Church, which includes the cardinals, the bishops,
are very aware of the need for the Church to reach out the clergy and the lay people.” “This message will have
in new ways to the many who do struggle.”
an incredible ripple effect through the Church and
beyond. That’s going to create real change that’s really
The cardinal then referred to the parable of the needed, and that’s great.”
wheat and the weeds. “Sometimes we are the wheat,
[Source material: CN Catholic News]
and sometimes we are the weeds. Whatever happens,
life will also be full of both.”
New Appointments
[Source reference:
Cardinal Archbishop John Dew’s blog]
M
onsignor Harry Entwistle, has
appointed Fr Kenneth Clark, parish priest
of the Ordinariate parish of Maffra in Gippsland,
Victoria, as the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy. Email:
Part of church life
[email protected]. In another poointment,
t was a big step for me to go down to my local Fr Stephen Hill, Parish Priest of St Ninian and
Catholic Church for the first time and sit at the back St Chad, Perth, has been appointed as the Vocations
behind some sixty other people who I didn’t know, Director. Email: [email protected].
while Mass was being said. Yes, it was a modern form
of the Mass. It certainly wasn’t the BCP, but it was easy
The Ordinariate in Australia ordained its first
to follow.
permanent Deacon on Tuesday 20th February at St
Benedict’s Catholic Church, East Brisbane.
Well I’ve been a Catholic and a member of the
Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross for New Zealand ~ New Cardinal
over two years. I attend the Ordinariate parish church
e congratulate the Catholic Church
several suburbs away from home. What is so good
in New Zealand in gaining a new cardinal.
is the recent introduction of a cuppa after Mass. It
provides that short time of social fellowship, that The Pope announced the names on January 4,
human connection that is a necessary part of Church after praying the Angelus with a crowd in St Peter’s
life and which helps to keep people together. It’s a Square, and said he would formally induct the
human social need to be a living part of community men into the College of Cardinals on February 14.
and share the simple things of life that one does at such The new Cardinal for New Zealand is the Archbishop
of Wellington, John Atcherley Dew.
a time when tea and scones are served after Mass.
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