MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: May 20, 2004
Distinguished Catholic social justice advocates
to speak at free seminar
A Catholic Social Conscience: Can it be Reclaimed in our Time?
A free seminar is being organised to assess how Christians
can do better to contribute to the moral life of our nation
and world. The seminar to be held at 7pm on Thursday
10 June at the Ryan Auditorium, Australian Catholic University,
North Sydney will feature three distinguished Australian
Catholic speakers.
Fr. Frank Brennan, a well-known Jesuit and
social justice advocate, will look at how we might engage
with the issues at a faith level. Ms. Sandie Cornish,
past National Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic
Social Justice Council (ACSJC) for the Australian Catholic
Bishops and recently returned from two years working in Hong
Kong in a Social Justice centre, will bring a cross-cultural
and gender perspective on acting for justice. Mr.
Stefan Gigacz, a canon lawyer with extensive experience
in the International Young Christian Workers movement will
explore the broader picture of how to rekindle the spirit
of social action.
Organiser Fr Peter Maher comments on the relevance of this
seminar:
“The Synod of Bishops in 1971 noted that ‘action
on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation
of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive element
of the preaching of the Gospel’. How do we make these
Gospel ideals real in our lives, where do we find the inspiration,
and what steps do we need in contributing towards a just and
democratic world?
“We live in a time when there is ambiguity in moral
thinking and action privately and publicly in the face of
the tensions wrought through fundamentalism in a whole range
of ideologies. In an era of terrorism and national insecurity,
we are hearing a diversity of opinions on how we ought to
respond to these challenges. Many of these policies, such
as the indefinite detention of unvisaed asylum seekers and
the war in Iraq have left many people including Catholics
divided and morally confused.
“How can we sort through the diversity of opinions
on contemporary questions and make best use of the rich Catholic
thinking on social issues to contribute to the high ideal
of the 1971 Bishops Synod – transforming the world?
Church documents often begin with scriptural and theological
reflection but this is not the only way most people come to
the big questions of life. We are mostly moved by what we
see and hear, either in our own lives or by what the media
thrust before us.
“The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that ‘the
Church’s social teaching proposes principles for reflection;
it provides criteria for judgement; it gives guidance for
action’. This is the Christian methodology, developed
by the late Belgium Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, which reminds
us that if we are to move forward we have first to see, to
discover the real facts; then to judge, and this is where
the Gospel and the social teachings can help; and then to
act in whatever way we can.
“Aware of the need to stimulate Catholic social thoughts
and action, the free seminar on June 10th will help us assess
how we as Christians can do better to contribute to the moral
life of our nation and world”, he said.
This seminar is sponsored by the Australian Catholic
Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ACMICA)
and the Australian Catholic University (ACU)
to engage participants in evaluating where Catholics stand
in their vocation to change the world as called for by decades
of Catholic Social teaching. This seminar will be particularly
helpful for students and graduates interested in moral and
social issues.
Originally founded in 1944 and revived in 2002, ACMICA is
a movement of Catholic tertiary graduates and professionals
engaged in the process of critical analysis, careful reflection
and just action. It is affiliated with Pax Romana, which is
a lay apostolate movement recognised by the Holy See and has
consultative status with the United Nations.
For more information, visit the seminar’s website:
www.acmica.org or call 0403181586.
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