AUSTRALIAN Catholics recognise the need for the Church to do more for social justice, yet most don’t take part in social justice activities in their parish, according to research published by the Pastoral Research Office (PRO) last week.
In its June newsletter, the PRO revealed that 75 per cent of Catholics are not regularly involved in parish activities that reach out to non-parishioners, according to the 2011 National Church Life Survey (NCLS).
Fifteen per cent of respondents said they were involved in parish service activities, and just five per cent said they took part in social justice activities at their parish.
The NCLS also canvassed attitudes to the Church’s work in promoting social justice and supporting human rights.
Thirty-two per cent of those surveyed said they believed the Church is playing a very positive role, while 47 per cent said the Church is playing a positive role but much more could be done.
Director of the Archdiocese of Perth’s Justice, Ecology and Development Office (JEDO) Carol Mitchell said the statistics showed that all Catholics are called to be “agents of change”.
“We are called to stand in solidarity with the marginalised, vulnerable and poor; to respect individual dignity and work toward the common good through the principles of subsidiarity,” she said.
Mrs Mitchell also suggested ways to improve the numbers of Catholics involved in social justice activities. “We need to ask what issue will move them to action, within their parish community first, and then more broadly,” she said.
“We need to identify if our parishioners are already aware of the wonderful work being done by so many Catholic agencies.
“These agencies are a great place to start for those parishioners who wish to be more involved beyond the parish boundaries.”