The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council’s (ACSJC) Briefing for October is now up on the website. The Briefing covers issues of Catholic social teaching in October 2017, highlighting resources, media items and diary events. It can be read here.
From the Secretariat, John Ferguson:
On Thursday September 7, we launched the Australian Catholic Bishops’ 2017–2018 Social Justice Statement, Everyone’s Business: Developing an inclusive and sustainable economy. Launching the Statement were Susan Pascoe AM, Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, and Frank Brennan SJ AO, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services Australia.
Auntie Elsie Heiss, Aboriginal Elder and former member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council and Sydney’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, acknowledged the Traditional Owners, the Cammeraygal people and Elders past and present.
Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council reflected on the Gospel passage in the Statement in the context of Australia’s economic performance of the past quarter of a century.
‘How is Australia managing with its current social, economic and civil circumstances?’
Commissioner Susan Pascoe spoke of the vital role of charities and other civil society organisations in giving voice to those who are marginalised and excluded from the mainstream – placing their rightful claim on the prosperity of the nation front and centre of economic planning. This is particularly important in a period when inequality is growing.The Commissioner spoke in defence of the independent voice of Charities.
