OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Catholic Bishops’ biannual plenary: family pastoral, youth, inter-religious relations

Tuesday, 12 December 2006

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Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - Pastoral care for families was the central theme of a recent biannual conference of the Catholic Bishops of Australia in Sydney during which the Bishops approved the publication of a booklet “Divorce and the Catholic Church-Frequently Asked Questions”. “This small booklet is an attempt to explain some of the principles underlying the Church’s approach to issues around divorce, remarriage and the Eucharist” the introduction says “It is hoped that it provides encouragement and guidance to all who are grappling with the pain of divorce and in particular with its implications for their life as members of the body of Christ, the Church”. A publication date has not yet been set.
The Bishops also formally approved the itinerary for the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon in view of the universal World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney in 2008. They also approved a Congress on “Peace in the Middle East” at NSW Parliament House in May 2007. The day-long congress will be “ a significant event in Australian inter-religious affairs featuring participants from the Christian, Muslims and Jewish faiths. International speakers will join local experts to consider the topic of “The Role of Religion in Achieving Peace in the Middle East”.
The Pastoral Projects Office, Melbourne presented an update to the Bishops on the National Church Life Survey conducted throughout Australian in all the main Christian Churches, including Catholic parishes and the results of a research project on Catholics who had ceased attending Mass. The Bishops sad the report would be a valuable tool in forming pastoral strategies to help people return to the practice of their faith.
In the field of the media the Bishops agreed that on 1 January 2007, the Catholic Church Television Australia will merge with Australian Catholic Film Office and the National Catholic Television Library, becoming “Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting”, director Jesuit Father Richard Leonard. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2006 righe 27 parole 271)