The Year of Grace is an opportunity to discover the centrality of God’s action in our lives in the face of the mistaken belief we can merit our own salvation, Bishop Julian Porteous told young adults at Sydney’s SCENE conference last Wednesday. Sydney’s Auxiliary Bishop and the Archdiocese’ Episcopal Vicar for Renewal and Evangelisation was speaking at the opening session of the five day...

Former Federal Court Judge, Antony Whitlam QC has been appointed to head an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse amid suggestions senior priests failed to pass on knowledge of abuse to state authorities. Armidale Bishop Michael Kennedy and Parramatta Bishop Anthony Fisher OP made the joint announcement on Tuesday, as the alleged incidences of abuse occurred in both their dioceses. ...

A Canberra-based law firm is preparing a class action against the Sisters of Mercy in WA on behalf of women who say they were forced to give up their babies at St Anne's Hospital. Porters Lawyers Associate Mia Donald said the prospective suit relates to alleged cases of forced adoption in the 60s and 70s. "The class action is against those responsible for operating and managing the hospit...

Archbishop Costelloe explains the meaning and significance of the forthcoming year of grace to priests. The Year of Grace is not a program, its organisers say; it’s an opportunity. Beginning on May 27 at Pentecost, the bishops will encourage every Catholic in Australia to ask: “Where is Jesus in my life?” At a conference held at the Faith Centre on April 26, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe S...

Alzheimer's disease will destroy Australia if no effective treatments are found, says Santa Clara Bentley parishioner and leading researcher Professor Ralph Martins. Alzheimer’s disease will be the biggest killer of Australians by 2050, according to leading researcher and Santa Clara Bentley parishioner, Professor Ralph Martins. The professor participated at an international conference he...

Doctors targeted for participation in petition Health professionals who signed a petition opposing changes to the Marriage Act have been condemned online for their beliefs and individually targeted. The petition, created by lobby group Doctors for the Family, received 150 signatures and was sent to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on March 28. The document was one of...

The need for Powerpoint captions for the hearing impaired must be a priority over the aesthetics of the Sanctuary. Chaplain for the hard of hearing and the deaf, Fr Paul Pitzen, says priests need to get over aesthetics of the sanctuary of a church and look at providing Powerpoint captions for parishioners. Fr Paul has held his chaplaincy since 1977 and says due to WA’s isolation, not all th...

The shepherd Pope Benedict XVI chose for the people of Perth is installed as our sixth Archbishop. While a handful of archdiocesan organisers knew how Wednesday evening’s installation ceremony for Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB would unfold, almost no-one realised in advance the effect his words would have on a packed congregation of well over 1,100 people with many hundreds more watching ...

A document detailing staff training procedures reveals how asylum seekers in Australia are "hit" by Serco officers to restrain and control them. Instructions on how to "hit" and "strike" asylum seekers are included in a 2009 and 2010 training manual produced by Serco, the company contracted to run Australia's detention centres. Earlier today, the independent online news publication Crikey...

A loved shepherd feeds his sheep one last time. A packed cathedral on a hot autumn night saw a crowd of over a thousand people spill out onto surrounding lawns to catch a glimpse on giant television screens of Perth’s farewell to Archbishop Barry Hickey on Tuesday night 6 March. Also on hand were a score of WA’s top political and religious leaders including Premier Colin Barnett and vario...