Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brisbane (Agenzia Fides) - A new John Paul II Centre for the Family and Life was recently opened by Archbishop John Bathersby in Brisbane. The Centre will deal with issues regarding life and the family, research sand studies in bio-ethics, and will develop pastoral guidelines for Family to make available to parishes, schools, church movements and lay associations in the dioceses.
At the inauguration ceremony the Archbishop said the Centre's philosophy, “comes from some of the most joyous words in the whole Gospel: I have come to bring life, and life in abundance” (Jn 10,10). This makes it “it is immediately understandable why the Church, following Jesus, promotes life in all its variety. Especially today in the field of bio-ethics, but also in that place which is most important for the person's moral, psychological and spiritual growth, the family”.
The Centre, sponsored by the diocese, intends to be a place for cultural elaboration and study, in dialogue and collaboration with Catholic universities, a place for pastoral elaboration and a point of reference for the communities in the diocesan territory. Similar structures exist in the dioceses of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/12/2007 righe 25 parole 252)
