Melbourne (Fides Service) - Melbourne’s Catholic Youth Ministry CYM is organising a street protest 21 December to highlight the perceived reality that ‘Christ’ has been left out of ‘Christmas’, and reject consumerism and aggressive promotion of the commercial side of Christmas. The protest is also against Melbourne City Council’s refusal to host a Nativity Scene in the city centre. The young people plan to present a live performance of the Nativity of Christ on the steps of Melbourne Town Hall.
Mgr Les Tomlinson in charge of youth ministry said the protest is a response to a general denial about Christmas’ Christian origins. “The aggressive promotion of the commercial side of Christmas has seen a shift where some people are even unaware of its Christ origins” he said. In preparation for Christmas many Catholics in Melbourne have been attending Holy Hours every Thursday in Advent at St Patrick’s’ Cathedral hosted by CYN.
Brisbane’s Archbishop John Bathersby, noted that the conscious effort by public figures to avoid mentioning the word ‘Christmas’ is a ‘sad reflection’ of an increasingly secular society: “’Christmas’ is being replaced with euphemism like ‘seasons greetings’ ‘festive season’ and even ‘here’s cheers’ the Archbishop said.
In Sydney, Cardinal George Pell in his Christmas message warns against a “vague spirituality which leaves selfishness in place” insisting that the “all-important struggle between good and evil” requires the faithful to proclaim that “the Christ is the Son of God; son of the transcendent God who is the lord of history and the creator of the universe”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2004 righe 31parole 334)