Living the Gospel in these times is not a private devotion. It is a public witness that human dignity is not negotiable, that truth matters and that peace is more than the absence of conflict – it is the fruit of justice, reconciliation and communion, Perth Archbishop and Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Timothy Costelloe SDB has said.
Prefacing Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division – the latest social justice statement from Australia’s Catholic bishops that urges a renewed focus on ways to make Australia a more cohesive society – Archbishop Costelloe said the strain on social cohesion had been made “painfully visible” by the rise in antisemitism.
The statement, released on Friday 7 August, explores recent developments in Australia including the Bondi Beach attack of December 2025 as well as the alarming rise in Islamophobia and other forms of racism.
It also lists a range of actions to build social cohesion, which it argues can only come through practising a “culture of encounter”.
“This statement invites us to see our current social climate as an opportunity to witness to the Gospel,” Archbishop Costelloe stated.
“The Gospel calls us back to Jesus Christ, who meets division not with hostility but with mercy; not with the logic of ‘us and them’ but with the costly love that heals and transforms.
“We offer Jesus and the hope born of his death and resurrection. When we choose forgiveness over enmity, hospitality over isolation and solidarity over vilification, we help to create the conditions in which a more peaceful society can prosper.”
Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service chair, Bishop Tim Harris, said the Church had a key role to play in building a culture of listening and inclusion.
“Our starting point is the conviction that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inherent dignity that can never be diminished by race, religion, culture, language or background,” Bishop Harris said.
“The Church serves society best when it creates spaces where people can encounter one another as neighbours rather than strangers.
“Australia has been enriched by successive generations of migrants, refugees and First Nations peoples whose stories form part of our national identity. Yet social cohesion cannot be taken for granted. It must be renewed through acts of solidarity, hospitality and mutual understanding.
“Listening is especially important. Genuine listening does not require us to agree on every issue, but it does require recognition of the dignity of those with whom we disagree.
“The Church can and must be a sign of unity: a community where every person feels at home and all are encouraged to use their gifts to build a more just, peaceful and cohesive Australia.”
“Social cohesion grows when individuals allow their attitudes and actions to be shaped by love and humility,” the statement adds.
“Love draws us out of ourselves and into a culture of encounter with others.”
“It entails drawing close to others who have very different life experiences from ours. It means deep solidarity with them, seeing their plight with our hearts and not just with our eyes, listening intently and not just hearing, not passing by, but stopping to engage with them with great compassion, not pity.”
Each year since 1940, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has issued a statement on a key issue in society for reflection and discussion in the lead-up to Social Justice Sunday (August 30).
Through this tradition the Conference contributes to the development of local Catholic social teaching and encourages the community to reflect and act on social, economic and ecological issues.
Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division is the second Social Justice Statement released by the Conference this year.
Parishes, families, schools and agencies are encouraged to reflect on the statement and use it as a resource for prayer, formation and action towards building a cohesive society based on the Gospel values.
The full statement and related resources can be found at Social Justice Statements