MEDIA RELEASE
“Lay movements should know their roots”:
Catholic historian to argue at free ACMICA-ACU seminar on
Thursday
Catholic social teaching, the body of papal and episcopal
teaching on social issues, owes much to the pioneering work
of lay movements, Mr Stefan Gigacz, a Malaysia-based Catholic
historian is expected to argue at a free seminar in North
Sydney this Thursday.
“It is often said that Catholic social teaching is
the Church’s best kept secret,” Mr Gigacz said.
“If so, then a greater hidden asset would be the history
of Catholic lay movements’ contributions toward this
tradition.”
Mr Gigacz conducted his original research in lay movements
whilst working for the International Young Christian Workers
in Belgium. His research uncovered never before acknowledged
links between the ideas espoused by the little known early
20th century “Sillon” lay movement and some important
concepts in Vatican II documents.
“The Sillon definition of democracy [was successfully
embedded in] several key Vatican II concepts such as religious
freedom, the role of lay people, the mission of the Church
in the modern world and even the missionary activity of the
Church”, Mr Gigacz cited as an example.
Mr Gigacz challenges lay movements like ACMICA-Australian
Catholic Movement for Intellectual Affairs, co-host of the
free seminar on Thursday, to help Catholics become more conscious
of their significant heritage and identity.
“In the short term, this means encouraging students
to take up the study of these issues, perhaps organising study
circles and seminars. In the longer term, it might require
establishing centres of documentation and learning which will
gather and mobilise the necessary resources as well as developing
links with centres in other continents”, he said.
Well-known Jesuit lawyer, Fr Frank Brennan, and former executive
secretary of the ACSJC Sandie Cornish will join Mr Gigacz
at the ACMICA-ACU sponsored seminar.
The seminar, to be held from 7pm on 10 June at the Australian
Catholic University, 40 Edward Street, North Sydney, will
address the question “A Catholic Social Conscience:
Can it be Reclaimed in Our Time?”.
Ms Cornish who herself had recently returned from a post
in Hong Kong will share her views from a cross-cultural and
feminist perspective. Fr Brennan, who is due to commence a
one year research fellowship at Boston College, Massachusetts
in September, will address the seminar question from angle
of Church leadership.
Further details about the ACMICA-ACU seminar: http://www.acmica.org/media_june10.html
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Mr Gigacz’s full paper at: http://www.acmica.org/pub_gigacz.html
Links to ACMICA: http://www.acmica.org
Links to ACU National: http://www.acu.edu.au
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