The presidents of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) say the adoption of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards marks the latest milestone in the Church’s ongoing response to child sexual abuse.

The deeper connection with the Rosary that a Canberra priest and parishioner felt last October – on opposite sides of the world – was the genesis of a new video series that launched on Mother’s Day.

The 2019 Catholic Mission Conference, titled “Mission: one heart many voices”, concluded on Wednesday 15 May with a challenge to participants to consider what the Church beyond 2020 must look like.

The Fair Work Act has “failed to provide an adequate wages safety net for low-paid workers with family responsibilities” or “alleviate the poverty and disadvantage suffered by them and their families”, a Catholic Church delegation has told the Fair Work Commission this week. On Wednesday 15 May, John Fernon SC and Brian Lawrence appeared before the Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission, s...

Online registrations have officially opened for the 2019 Australian Catholic Youth Festival, to be held in Perth from 8 to 10 December 2019. A number of key festival speakers and performers have already been announced, including festival favourite priest-musician Fr Rob Galea, international Catholic speaker and author Katie Prejean McGrady, and American Catholic rapper and performer Joe Mele...

A panel of experts has been convened to conduct a national review of the governance and management structures of Catholic dioceses and parishes, including in relation to issues of transparency, accountability, consultation and lay participation. The review was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse after the Commission concluded that the g...

The Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Service and Mission and the Board of Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) have completed their search for a new Chief Executive. The Most Rev Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM, Chair of the Commission, released a statement on 3 May expressing his pleasure in announcing the appointment of Ursula Stephens. Dr Stephens will commence her service as Chie...

By Eric Martin The story of Western Australia’s most vulnerable and their quality of life is the tale about to unfold with the launch of the Royal Commission to inquire into violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disability. On 5 April 2019, Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, and Minister for Families and Social Services, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, annou...

An Australian appeal has been established to support the Catholic community in Sri Lanka, still reeling from the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 253 people and wounded hundreds. Aid to the Church in Need – whose mission is to support the Christian faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need – established the appeal on Friday 26 April. National Director of Aid to ...

Australia’s Catholic bishops have this week called for respect and understanding in the federal election campaign, reminding Australians they all have a part to play in combating “crude tribalism” and promoting peaceful public debate.