Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Canberra (Agenzia Fides) - The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) has given a new focus to the many gifts and blessings that people with disability and their families can bring to the life of the Church. The ACBC has acknowledged the need for the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) to have a specific mandate to promote the participation of people with disability and their families in their faith life.
The chairman of the BCPL, Bishop Eugene Hurley, appointed Bishop Max Davis, the Bishop of the Australian Defence Force, as Bishops’ Delegate for Disability Issues. Bishop Davis said the lived experience of the life of Jesus challenges us all to be more aware of the diversity of needs that our faith community embraces. Bishop Davis has established the Australian Catholic Disability Council to advise the BCPL on strategies and projects it can undertake to promote the participation of people with disability in the life of the Australian Church. Bishop Davis said he expected that promoting the participation of people with disability will provoke yet another step in a wonderful process, which will enrich our Church community’s appreciation of the presence of Jesus in our midst - a presence which is so rich in diversity but so focused on the unity His Presence brings. (K.P.) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2007; righe 15, parole 188)
