The Record Newspaper - 09 February 2006

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JOAQUIN NAVARRO VALLS Know the Good Book

In a rare interview the papal spokesman talks about John Paul II, Opus Dei, and why the Church is winning the battle Page 7 against secularism.

How to pray with scripture Vista 1-3 I BAPTISED HIM: Fr Carey returned to Korea for a special ordination Page 4

PANCAKES GALORE: Caritas Perth invites all to Shrove Tuesday Page 2

CONDOM TREE: Bishop Saunders criticises Broome plan Page 3

UNDA research body Uni to establish Medical Research Institute with $2.675 million grant Hospice joins It’s not just us Catholics Murdoch SJOG

■ A Record Exclusive

The University of Notre Dame Australia will use a $2.675 million grant from the Federal Government to help build facilities for a worldclass medical research institute in Fremantle. The Centre for Research in Health and Education, which is estimated will cost $4 million, will combine medicine, education, nursing and associated health disciplines to conduct cutting-edge research into pressing health issues. It is due to open in 2008 at the same time as NDA’s second full medical school in Sydney and a clinical medical school in Melbourne. The university has already purchased a site for the institute at Lot 57, Henry Street, and an architect is working on plans for the building. UNDA is proposing to construct a four level building on the site. “This is a most exciting development for Notre Dame. It will do much to advance our research and quality in these vital areas. It is the largest capital grant the University has received,” said Notre Dame’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Peter Tannock. The Centre will be linked electronically to the University’s Broome Campus which is a base for Kimberley Aboriginal community research; it will also be linked to UNDA’s campus in Broadway, Sydney, which opens this month. The Centre will be overseen by a Board comprising experts from the University’s Schools of Education, Health Sciences, Nursing and Medicine. The Board will be chaired by Professor John Bloomfield, an international expert in the health sciences area. UNDA was also succesful Continued - Page 2 Interview with Dr Julie Quinlivan - Page 5 UNDA gives Hanoi scholarship - Page 6

“I am not a Catholic. I am not a man. I am not a rightto-lifer. But I oppose the abortion drug RU-486. I am a long time feminist and health activist who is committed to women’s access to safe legal abortion and I am getting exasperated with the prochoice movement’s simplistic message about RU-486. It is not safe and it will not expand women’s choices.”

“These are violently active chemicals and they have violent reactions on the organism”.

- Renate Klein, biologist, social scientist and professor of Women’s Studies at Melbourne’s Deakin University, putting her view on RU-486.

- Germain Greer on RU-486

The Murdoch community Hospice has joined the St John of God Health Care system to become part of the Catholic health service’s expanding palliative care and cancer services. The hospice is on the grounds of St John of God Hospital Murdoch and will be known as St John of God Murdoch Community Hospice. St John of God Health Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said he was delighted to welcome Murdoch Community Hospice, its staff and volunteers, patients and their families to the St John of God Health Care facility. The governing boards of the Hospice and St John of God health Care had agreed it was in the current and future interests of patients, families and the community for the Continued on Page 2

Sacred Heart: “built by the people - for the people” ■ by Peter Rosengren

On the hop: Anthony Ghilarducci, aged 10, rings the Karagullen Church bell after Mass, watched by a friend.

When Sacred Heart Church in Karagullen celebrated exactly 50 years to the day since its opening and consecration last Sunday 5 February, you might have thought you were lost somewhere in Italy – except for all the gum trees. The names of the families gathered told a large part of the Sacred Heart story. They were the same names that had been there at the beginning 50 years earlier.

Names like Ghilarducci, Caccetta, Di Marco and Anile. And then there were the Del Simone, Macri, Putland and O’Meagher families too. Nestled in the bush-covered hills and orchard-filled valleys east of Kelmscott, the picturesque little church was full to capacity with young and old as Archbishop Barry Hickey and Kelmscott Parish Priest Fr Abraham Sundararajan concelebrated the usual 9.30am Mass which this time also marked the birthday.

INDEX

HANOI VISITS PERTH Archbishop Joseph Kiet Ngo of Hanoi visited Perth this week and spoke to The Record about UNDA scholarships, the Church in Vietnam and ordaining 57 priests at one go.

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Editorial I say, I say The World 50th Anniversary Classifieds

It was a moment for pride, in a Church and in the community that had built it and grown around it. Sacred Heart had been paid for, and built, by the families of Karagullen for the families of Karagullen and also for those who visit – but they had done it on their own without assistance or reliance on external sources, locals told The Record. It was a typical chapter from the migrant story in Australia – families working hard and sacrificing Continued on Page 3

A PILGRIMAGE TO IMAGINE - Page 6 - VISTA 4 - Pages 8-9 - Page 10

Archbishop Barry Hickey will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land which promises to be a unique and faith-enhancing chance to see the land of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

- Page 11

Page 10


February 9 2005, The Record

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UNDA plans research institute Continued from page 1

in applying for a separate Commonwealth grant of $1 million for 2006 for research and infrastructure funding. Former Education Minister Brendan Nelson granted UNDA the funding for “building for education, nursing and medicine programmes” on 15 December last year in a $49 million capital funding boost to university campuses around Australia. UNDA Dean of Medicine Prof Julie Quinlivan said this would be NDA’s first research institute. “When you roll out a new university it takes time to roll out the research institutes,” Prof Quinlivan said. “We are really keen to have a multi-disciplinary approach so we don’t want to just have the doctors by themselves. This institute will integrate medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, counselling and education. “We thought it was really important

to bring the school of education in because there is no point in having great evidence showing what works if we can’t educate the public or educate clinicians and health care workers about it. Education is going to make it quite unique.” Prof Quinlivan said the institute would take on the key issues of healthy ageing, rehabilitation, and healthy lifestyle as well as including counselling and pastoral care as a part of health care. It would also be linked with the UNDA Broome campus to boost Indigenous health and education. UNDA Dean of Health on the Fremantle campus, Helen Parker, is working with Professor Quinlivan to establish the medical research institute. Prof Quinlivan said UNDA was in discussions with a number of people about heading the institute. “That person would need to be supported by all the heads of the disciplines to make sure it keeps the

multi-disciplinary focus. We hope the educational aspect of research will come though,” she said. Initial research projects will focus on intervention for families with young children to promote good diet and exercise; rehabilitation of older Australians; and rehabilitation after injury. Catholic Health Australia chief executive Francis Sullivan said the medical research institute would deliver important services for the community and show once again that the Church was a crucial component in Australia’s health system. “A genuine tertiary pursuit of medicine requires an excellent research unit so the university is sending the serious signal that it is into the serious business of medical education,” Mr Sullivan said. “One of the unique features of the UNDA medical school is it commitment to exposing the students to the Catholic Church’s teaching on social justice.

Mercy book sale

“Increasingly in Australia, the provision of excellent medical care is a social justice question. We are talking about the provision of medical services in rural and remote Australia, to disadvantaged communities and to an ageing population with an increasingly broad range of degenerative problems. “This is the Catholic Church responding to the evolving medical needs of the country. We already have, at last, quite a widespread recognition that we have a medical workforce crisis evolving and therefore we need to train more people to move into medicine, nursing and the allied health professions.” Mr Sullivan said Government policy required universities to become more competitive and entrepreneurial. “UNDA has been far sighted enough to get into the medical school environment quickly,” he said. “It is a credible, entrepreneurial exercise moving in tune with Government policy.”

Thousands of books at bargain prices will be on sale at the Mercy book sale from February 24 to 26. This year the sale has been moved to the Mercy Group Office, 33 Williamstown Road Doubleview. The book sale is a fundraising event, run by a dedicated group of volunteers, who work throughout the year to ensure its success. Proceeds of the sale help to support the wide range of services offered by Mercy.

Get those pancakes! Caritas in Perth is inviting one and all to join them for a pancake lunch at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre on Shrove Tuesday February 28.

Hospice joins SJOG family Continued from page 1

hospice to join St John of God Health Care, with which it has always had a close association. “The hospice, established in 1998, is a high calibre 20-bed facility enjoying an excellent reputation for its specialised inpatient and outpatient palliative care services,” Dr Stanford said. “We are committed to expanding the hospice so that it continues to be the leading provider of community palliative care services in Western Australia and in time, recognised as a national centre for excellence. “St John of God Murdoch Community Hospice, with Eleanor Roderick as its General Manager, will become a significant part of the palliative care component of St John of God Health Care’s Social Outreach and Advocacy program and will be integral to developing the group’s forthcoming palliative care strategy. “The decision to integrate with St John of God Health Care under their Social Outreach and Advocacy pro-

gram will provide the hospice with new opportunities and take our dreams to reality to enable us to continue to meet the needs of patients and their families,” Mrs Roderick said. Dr Stanford said that while St John of God health Care currently provides palliative care services in a number of its larger hospitals with designated small palliative care units for public and private patients – at Geraldton and Bunbury, the group does not have the scale or the skills embodied by the staff and volunteers of the Murdoch Hospice. “We hope and expect these skills will help us improve palliative care services across the group as well as helping us better advocate for the needs of patients and families and increase our role in undergraduate and postgraduate education for nurses, doctors and other health professionals,” he said. St John of God Health Care is Australia’s third largest private health care group, with 11 hospitals and pathology and medical imaging services in Victoria and Western Australia.

Ready to go: Caritas Perth’s Anne Fairhead gears up for Shrove Tuesday. Photo: A. Genius

Same faces but new identity: Staff of the Murdoch Hospice which is now part of the SJOG healthcare system. The hospice provides the essential but largely unknown service of caring for those with terminal illnesses. Staff include Robyn Halliday (Pastoral Care), Michelle D’Silva (Volunteer co-ordinator), Gail Lilley (Marketing and event co-ordinator) Marleen O’Malley (Administration), Eleanor Roderick (General Manager), and Kathy Brown (Receptionist). Photo: Jamie O’Brien

The lunch will run from 12 noon to 1.30pm at 40A Mary Street in Highgate and bookings are essential. Caritas are asking that a gold coin donation be contributed towards the cost of the lunch. The lunch is part of the buildup to Caritas’s annual Lenten Project Compassion campaign. Shrove Tuesday is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which this year is Wednesday March 1. It takes its name from the Old English word ‘scrifan’, meaning to hear or make confession which, is an important way of commencing the penitential season in the Church. Bookings can be made on (08) 9422 7925.

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February 9 2005, The Record

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Bishop criticises Broome shire condom plan Bishop Saunders blasts Broome condom plan ■ By Paul Gray

B

roome Shire Council lacks the moral authority to introduce free condoms around the local township, according to the Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders. Reacting to a Sydney Morning Herald report that Broome council-

lors are considering a plan to create five “condom trees” as a health project to combat sexually transmitted disease, Bishop Saunders spoke caustically. “I don’t think Bishop Saunders it’s the business of councils to get involved in this sort of thing,” he told The Record.

“They don’t have the expertise to get involved in moral health matters. “They should be looking after the footpaths and drains.” Bishop Saunders dismissed the thinking behind the “condom tree” proposal as “a pathetic attempt at being relevant.” According to the Sydney Morning Herald report, the “condom trees” proposal is to instal a series of plastic pipes filled with condoms and

placed in public places where young people gather. The condoms would then be available to be taken by young people, as a free gift from the Council. The Broome Shire President was reported by the Sydney newspaper arguing that 48 per cent of Western Australia’s sexually transmitted infection occurs in the Kimberley, which has two per cent of the state’s population. The proposal for “condom trees” has been brought before Broome

Council by the Kimberley Public Health Unit and Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service. Bishop Saunders dismissed the proposal as “political gimmickry,” and said if the Council is serious about tackling the problem of sexually transmitted disease, it should consider broader issues. “They’d be better off being concerned about the permanency of relationships, rather than becoming instruments of permissiveness,” he said.

Karagullen tradition is 50 Continued from page 1

much to establish a place for themselves and their descendants in the new country. Half a century later the people of Karagullen and surrounding areas continue to benefit from the work and sacrifice of those first families. And fifty years later, said parishioner Stephanie O’Meagher (whose grandfather had cut the ribbon at the church’s official opening half a century earlier) it is still being strongly supported by the people of the locality. Helen Cotter, a parishioner who teaches at nearby Roleystone Primary School and who has been attending Sacred Heart for the last ten years or so, told The Record the most important thing about the little church and its people was “the fabulous community spirit.” “Everyone knows everyone else; there’s a monthly cup of tea after Mass and everyone gets together for a chat.”

People up here, she said, are close. If someone is sick or if there is a wedding anniversary everyone knows and helps out or gets involved. The Church building may have changed in some respects “but we’ve tried to keep it a small, homely building – built by the people for the people,” she said. Archbishop Hickey conveyed apologies for the occasion from Fr Gaetano Nanni OMI, the first chaplain to the Italian community in Perth and one of the Italian Oblate priests who had served the Karagullen community in its early years. Among the Italian Oblates who served the Sacred Heart community were Fathers Papa OMI and Abramo OMI. In its early days the parish was mainly Italian, Archbishop Hickey said during his homily, noting however “Today it’s much more multicultural – but still a bit Italian.”

Sacred Heart - Karragullen - Priests 1954 1955 1959 July 1960 November 1961—July 1962 July 1962—June 1965 June 1965—January 1966 January 1966—January 1969 1971—March 1977 April 1977—May 1978 May 1978 May 1978 May 1978—1989 February 1989

Fr P Abramo OMI Fr M Papa OMI Fr Gaetano Nanni OMI Fr J Ryan OMI (Senior) Fr J Ryan OMI (Junior) Fr John Dunlea OMI Fr Michael Keane OMI Fr P O’Dwyer OMI Fr Gaetano Nanni OMI Fr Harry Mithen OMI Mazenod Priests OMI Lesmurdie Priests OMI Fr James Sullivan OMI Fr Gaetano Nanni OMI

Marking a birthday: Kelmscott Parish Priest Fr Abraham Sundararajan, above, proclaims the Gospel to the faithful at last Sunday’s celebration. The Church the people built, below, in its idyllic setting surrounded by bush and orchards.

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CURRICULUM CONSULTANT K-7 BROOME REGIONAL OFFICE The Director of Catholic Education in Western Australia invites applications for the above full-time position based in Broome. Applicants must be fully supportive of and committed to the ethos and objectives of Catholic education. All relevant information and documentation can be accessed on the Catholic Education Office website www.ceo.wa.edu.au under employment. Enquiries regarding the position should be directed to Sandra Brogden, Regional Officer, on (08) 9191 3600 or email broome@ceo.wa.edu.au All applications, on the official form, should reach Sandra Brogden, Regional Officer, Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, PO Box 1451, Broome WA 6725 no later than Friday 24 February 2006.

PRINCIPALSHIPS OUR LADY’S ASSUMPTION PRIMARY SCHOOL Our Lady’s Assumption School, Dianella, is a double stream coeducational primary school with an enrolment of 516 students. The school was founded in 1967 by the Dominican Sisters. It has recently completed a total rebuilding program providing excellent facilities for the staff and students. Our Lady’s Assumption School has a comprehensive Literacy Intervention and Support Program that caters for all academic levels. In 2005 the school commenced the RAISe (Raising Achievement in Schools) program. Other specialist areas provided are Physical Education, Music and LOTE (Italian). There is a strong focus in the area of Information Communication and Technology with a network manager employed to oversee this area. The Parish Priest, parish community and school community work together ensuring that the students have an active role in the parish. The School Board and Parents and Friends’ Association are actively involved in the school and its educational programs.

ST BRIGID’S SCHOOL St Brigid’s School, Bridgetown, is a single stream co-educational primary school with an enrolment of 121 students from K-7. The school was established in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy and is located north of the Blackwood River, 94 km south-east of Bunbury, in the heart of the South West’s timber country. The parish, the school and family work together to ensure spiritual development is catered for amongst the wide curriculum offered to the students. Specialist areas offered are Physical Education, Art, Music, Academic Challenge, Library and LOTE (Japanese). The School Board and Parents and Friends’ Association are actively involved in supporting the school with resources and its educational programs. Applicants need to be practising Catholics and experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies together with an appropriate four-year minimum tertiary qualification and will have completed Accreditation B or its equivalent. A current Federal Police Clearance/100 Point Identification Check must also be included. The appropriate Police Clearance Consent Form is available from the Department of Education and Training website www.eddept.wa.edu.au/teaching/ downloads/policeclearance.pdf The official application form, referee assessment forms and instructions can be accessed on the Catholic Education Office website www.ceo.wa.edu.au Enquiries regarding the position should be directed to Helen Brennan, Consultant, Leadership Team on Phone: 9212 9268 or Email: sch.personnel@ceo.wa.edu.au All applications, on the official form, should reach The Director, Catholic Education Office of WA, PO Box 198, Leederville 6903 no later than 15 February 2006.

A taste of heaven ■ By Fr Paul Carey, St Columban’s WA

R

ecently I returned to Korea for the ordination of Hose Kim Tong-Yeong, whom I had baptised with his parents, Nancy and Don Bosco in Christ the King Parish, Yong-Woh. What an occasion! Fifteen young men were ordained by their new Bishop in a huge, enclosed stadium in the centre of Tae-Jon City. A huge crowd, led by a magnificent choir filled the stadium with songs and hymns of joy-filled praise. The liturgy was enriched with ancient Gregorian chant. The names of the ordinands were displayed around the stadium in huge letters. Each had text from scripture alongside. The text chosen by Fr Hose was from Revelations 21:1 “I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth”. The following day Fr Hose celebrated his first Mass in his parish Church. Again the same text was featured in the beautifully decorated sanctuary. The depth of joy in the whole community was extraordinary. It was as if Jesus himself were there in his new young Priest celebrating the marriage feast in the new Jerusalem; a real foretaste of Heaven. ‘Then I saw a new heaven and new earth…. I saw the Holy City and the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband”.

Fr Paul Carey, of Carlisle, with the newly ordained Fr Hose Kim TongYeong, whom he had baptised.

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February 9 2005, The Record

Page 5

Professor Quinlivan charts a historic course Students at the University of WA in the late 1980’s could not help but notice Julie Quinlivan. She was the high achieving medical student who bagged a swag of academic medals and who also delved into campus politics as president of the Student Guild. a nanny for their children Ingrid, 7, and Tomas, 3. Julie also says her personal assistant is a tremendous help. “We have had our nanny since Tomas was born,� she explains. “It’s also about multi-skilling and good communication. I have been lucky in some ways because both my children have been really easy, good, happy children. My husband is very supportive. If things clash we sit down and work it all out. “When you get married there are compromises. For example, when I was half way through my doctoral thesis, my husband was selected into sub-specialty training and he was going to Queensland. I still had to finish my doctoral thesis and I was pregnant. I had to juggle pregnancy, going back and forth to Queensland and WA, and writing my thesis. But every time I have compromised for his career it has worked to my advantage and every time he has compromised for my career it has work to his advantage too. “What I am lucky about is that my marriage is an even playing field and that can be missing in some relationships.� She again laughs when asked if she feels like a role model for Catholic career women. “With my research students I have quite a few who keep coming back for mentoring advice and I encourage them to go ahead,� she says. “There has been a bit of a backlash saying women can’t do everything and if you do you will end up not married or without children. But I think you can still achieve what you want in life but don’t leave the children too late. Remember

Archdiocesan Planned Giving Office

Youngest Dean: Professor Julie Quinlivan is one of UNDA’s star performers, and Australia’s youngest medical Dean. Photo: courtesy UNDA

to put them in a little bit earlier.� As NDA achieves each milestone toward Federal Government accreditation of the full Sydney medical school and the clinical school in Melbourne, Prof. Quinlivan says more staff will be employed and she will be able to delegate some of her tasks. She explains that UNDA’s concept of a national school of medicine and nursing is vital to ensure strong, committed lay leadership in Catholic hospitals over the next 20 years. “There are certainly fewer nuns and priests around in Catholic hospitals and having strong leadership over the next 20 years is going to be important - to have new, young leaders coming up through nursing and medicine to take their place. “The Catholic Church has some of the best hospitals in Australia

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and we have very strong primary and secondary Catholic schooling. Yet schooling stopped at tertiary education. We have the Australian Catholic University but compare that one university to how many Catholic secondary schools there are. “It is clear that there are a number of students who want to continue their tertiary education in a Catholic university because we have a very strong mentoring focus and pastoral care of students, and that is very appealing. It seems silly that when we have a very strong education background and a very strong health background to not be teaching medicine and nursing. It is great now that we will have ACU and Notre Dame with nursing courses and then Notre Dame with two medical schools and the clinical school in Melbourne to bring it all

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I

t was clear to everyone that the young Quinlivan had very high standards and that she was going to achieve great things in whatever career path she chose. So it was not surprise when last year, at age 38, she became the youngest person to be appointed Dean of Medicine at an Australian university – the University of Notre Dame Australia. One of her tasks is to set up a new medical school at UNDA’s Darlinghurst campus in Sydney and a clinical school for UNDA at a site in Melbourne, most probably the Druids’ Building on the St Vincent’s Hospital site on Victoria Parade. The schools were originally due to open in 2007 but due to logistical problems, 2008 is now the target. A part of Prof. Quinlivan’s role with UNDA is to also establish a medical research institute on the Fremantle campus (see Page 1 story) as a collaboration between the existing NDA College of Medicine and the College of Education. As well as her work with UNDA, she is also Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Western Hospital in Sunshine in Melbourne’s west. In 2001 she was awarded a PhD in maternal foetal medicine from UWA. Today Prof. Quinlivan laughs when challenged about being an over-achiever and how she juggles her various medical roles with that of wife and mother-of-two. “I have got lots of frequent flyer points,� she jokes in reference to the time she spends travelling between Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Importantly, Prof. Quinlivan and her husband Rod Petersen, who is an oncologist gynaecologist, have

together.� Prof. Quinlivan says secular tertiary institutions can produce graduates without necessarily bringing out their higher thinking skills. The UNDA medical schools want to change this. Every course at UNDA requires the study of theology, ethics and philosophy. Medical students also study bioethics which covers embryo to end-of-life issues. “This is to make sure that students are debating all the issues, hearing all the arguments and learning how to articulate all the arguments,� she says. Prof. Quinlivan attends meetings of the International Society of Catholic Bioethicists to learn more about this vital area of health care. “It is fantastic to go along to hear Catholics really articulating bioethics. I find I learn something all the time. I never stop learning. It would be great to expose tertiary students to that level of debate. The Church has a very rich tradition. People bring up articles which were written 500 years ago and they are still relevant today. A lot of thought has gone into them over centuries and lots of people would benefit from hearing these debates.� But she says there is opposition to the UNDA vision for national medical schools. “There certainly are some people who are opposed to the whole concept of the Church being involved in health care, ‘full-stop’,� she says. “They are opposed to Catholic hospitals. They don’t appreciate the tradition that we have and that we have been doing it for centuries.� Prof. Quinlivan says the accreditation process will ensure the UNDA medical school facilities are among the nation’s best. “The plans that are before the Government are really excellent. We are going to have state-of-theart simulation laboratories, simulated wards for teaching, research labs. We are investing a lot of money to make sure these are one of the best sets of teaching facilities in Australia.�

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February 9 2005, The Record

Page 6

Perspectives editorial

Prostitution cannot be made to work

Perth to assist Hanoi

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olice Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan has reportedly challenged the new Police Minister John D’Oratio to legalise prostitution or stamp it out. It sounds like a fair enough challenge on the face of it, provided we are willing to ignore two things: firstly, organised prostitution is already illegal, and secondly, it is the responsibility of the Commissioner, not of the Minister, to stamp it out. Given the stand-off between the Police and the Government over many years about the implementation (or the existence) of prostitution policy, the Commissioner’s current position is not unreasonable. The problem rests with the Government and it should have the integrity to tell the Commissioner to get on with the job of stamping out organised prostitution. (Sole person prostitution is not illegal.) The argument that it is not possible to stamp out illegal organised prostitution is an admission that it is impossible to establish a squeaky clean system of licensed brothels. If the Police cannot stamp out organised prostitution now, they will not be able to stamp out the illegal brothels that would flourish alongside the legal ones. There is no doubt that illegal brothels flourish when organised prostitution is legalised. Both Victoria and New South Wales legalised brothels in the last two decades amid promises to their people that they would eradicate all the unsavoury problems associated with prostitution – health problems, drugs, violence, child prostitution, and organised crime. Both States have failed utterly and there are more illegal brothels than there are legal ones in both States. There are higher levels of enforced prostitution, the sexual enslavement of illegal migrants, and child prostitution than ever before. A great deal of the same sort of evil has flourished in Western Australia since all attempt to control prostitution was abandoned in 2000 when the Police refused to continue to be part of the old ‘containPO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902 ment policy’, a more-or-less practical but Tel: (08) 9227 7080, thoroughly unprincipled attempt to limit Fax: (08) 9227 7087 the number of brothels. cathrec@iinet.net.au When the Police took the principled stand that they would no longer be involved in the illegal containment policy, they also took the totally unprincipled stand of refusing to implement the law at all. The result is the terrible mess we have today, a mess that will not be improved by legalisation. The notion that governments can legalise prostitution and make it a healthy and acceptable form of employment is a dangerous fantasy. It is a fantasy that has been adopted by too many politicians and journalists, and no amount of evidence to the contrary is allowed to dispel the myth. Prostitution is a corruption of human nature, and it attracts to itself many other forms of corruption. Nothing will change that. One of the first Conventions adopted by the United Nations was the Convention against profiting from the prostitution of others and trafficking in people. Unlike some later Conventions, it was a very sound document. The Labor Party, which prides itself on its support for the UN, used to understand the principles on which that document was established. It is more than a mystery why State Labor Governments have turned their backs on these principles and tried to pretend that organised prostitution is a healthy form of employment for women and girls and a satisfactory form of personal relations for the clients of brothels. The only attempt to legalise brothels in WA was in 2003 and it was abandoned. Attorney-General Jim McGinty says the stumbling block was that the Liberals and the Greens in the Upper House were not happy with the Bill. Good for them. However, it would be closer to the truth to say that when it was all written down in plain English it was absurd to maintain the pretence that this was a reasonable thing to inflict on the community. Among its many faults, the Bill provided that the insatiable demands of brothel owners would have overridden the right of every local government to refuse to accept them in their communities. We can only hope that a Premier with a wife and four daughters will have the courage to say that the depravity now going on in our midst cannot be tolerated any longer.

Christians don’t count Thank heavens for Christians, especially Catholics, ought to be the heartfelt prayer of all editors and broadcasters who are getting uneasy or downright frightened about the behaviour of easily offended Muslim fanatics. Unfortunately, the latest burnings are not likely to teach them wisdom about their responsibility for what they publish or who they offend. Public broadcaster SBS is still, as far as we know, planning to air an unspeakable caricature involving menstruation, the Virgin Mary, and the late Pope John Paul II – all in the name of freedom of expression, of course. When someone tells them they ought to be hung, drawn and quartered for their depravity, they lose their interest in supporting free speech. Perhaps the sponsors (Lion Nathan through Tooheys, we understand) could reconsider their position.

Scholarships from Notre Dame University will help a struggling Vietnamese archdiocese train its personnel he University of Notre Dame, in association with the Ciara Glennon Scholarship, will provide two scholarships each year for the Archdiocese of Hanoi in Vietnam.

Vietnam in 1997. In 1999, he was appointed Bishop of Lang Son diocese in the north of the country, bordering China, an area that had been largely destroyed during the war. There was no

present there was room only for 245 seminarians and many others were waiting to enter. The seminary was training priests for eight dioceses. Archbishop Kiet said he hoped to build a new seminary by next year. A major problem was the lack of suitable formators and

Benefitting from Notre Dame in Fremantle: Archbishop Joseph Kiet Ngo of Hanoi, at left, speaks to The Record during an interview at its offices on Tuesday February 7, as Fr Vinh Dong of Lockridge looks on. Photo: Peter Rosengren

The arrangements were finalised last Tuesday when Archbishop Hickey took Archbishop Joseph Kiet Ngo, of Hanoi, to UNDA to meet Vice-Chancellor Peter Tannock. Archbishop Kiet said that a priest and a nun would come to Perth to begin further studies as soon as administrative matters could be sorted out, possibly by the middle of the year. Each scholarship would be for three years’ study and there would be a new scholarship each year. Archbishop Kiet said that the scholarship was a wonderful gift that would be a big help in solving the shortage of suitable formators for seminary training in Hanoi. The Archbishop’s personal story is almost an encapsulation of the recent history of his country and the difficulties created for the Church by communist control. He was born on September 4, 1952 in the North of the country, but when Vietnam was partitioned in 1954 his family moved to the South. He entered a minor seminary at the age of 11 and completed his training in the major seminary at Long Xuyen in 1975. North and South Vietnam had been combined under communist control by then and he was not able to be ordained. He kept himself alive with many jobs, ranging from beekeeping to repairing electronic equipment. After the fall of the Soviet Union, religious restrictions were eased and he was ordained in 1991. In 1993 he went to France for further studies and returned to

cathedral and no house for the Bishop when he arrived, and the seminary and most of the churches in the diocese had been destroyed. There was only one priest, who was 95 years old, and one nun, who was 100. In 2003 he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, and in February 2005 he was appointed Archbishop of Hanoi while continuing to be administrator of Lang Son. He said Hanoi was a big Archdiocese with more than 300,000 parishioners, but it was not well resourced. The majority of Catholics were poor farmers, and life was even more difficult for the minority group, the Montagnards, living in the mountains. At present there were only 50 priests in the Archdiocese. After the 1954 partition, only three Religious congregations remained in North Vietnam – one Redemptorist priest, five Daughters of St Paul, and about 100 nuns of the local order, The Lovers of the Holy Cross. A major seminary had been established in Hanoi in 1930, but it was closed in 1954. It was not until 1986 that it was allowed to re-open and at that time the Government would allow the Bishop to recruit candidates only once every six years. In 1989 this was relaxed to every three years and 1990 to two years, but throughout this period numbers were very limited and there were many candidates waiting to enter. In 2005 annual recruitment was allowed and limitations on numbers were withdrawn. At

he had to invite lecturers from the south. This cost a lot and they were not always available for sustained periods, which was important in formation. He hoped to send many priests

UNDA Vice Chancellor, Peter Tannock, gave Archbishop Kiet of Hanoi, Archbishop Hickey and Lockridge Parish Priest Fr Vinh Dong a tour of the Fremantle campus during Archbishop Kiet’s visit on Tuesday.

overseas for further study so that they could become formators for yet more priests. The Notre Dame scholarship would be a big help in that regard. Archbishop Kiet and his Hanoi diocese recently roused worldwide interest when a record 57 priests were ordained. Cardinal Sepe, chief of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Missions, became the highest Vatican official to visit Vietnam when he went to Hanoi to lead the ordinations. Archbishop Kiet said that the ordinations had required long and detailed discussions with the government about the candidates, the ceremonies, the visitors and even the location, but by Continued on Page 12


Vista

February 9 2005

Page 1

Getting to know...

The Good Book ...is getting to know the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit... ■ By Karl Schultz and Lorene Hanley Duquin

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f you’re like most Catholics, you probably have a Bible somewhere in your home. Maybe it’s an heirloom. Maybe it’s a paperback that your children used in religious education classes. Maybe it’s a Bible you received as a gift. Or maybe you bought one for yourself. You probably want to read the Bible, but you’re not sure how to begin. Some Catholics make the mistake of starting at the beginning, but get bored when they reach the book of Leviticus. Some open the Bible at random places for inspiration and end up confused. Some start with Revelation and get frightened by the powerful images. Some are intimidated and never get started at all. It doesn’t have to be that way. All you need is a little basic knowledge and some helpful tips. Why you should read it You probably have more experience with the Bible than you realise. There are four Scripture readings during Sunday Mass: an Old Testament reading (except during the Easter season, when the reading is from the Acts of the Apostles), a responsorial Psalm (which is not always from Psalms), a reading from a New Testament letter or Revelation, and the Gospel. In the homily, the priest explains the Scripture readings and offers insights on how to apply the message to your life. So, if you go to Mass every day for three years, you will hear readings from almost the entire Bible. Additionally, if you also begin to study the Scriptures or add Scripture reading to your daily prayer life, your understanding of the Bible will deepen.

Pope John Paul II assured us: “Learning to read Sacred Scripture is fundamental for the believer: it is the first step of a ladder, which continues with meditation and thus, with real prayer. Prayer based on biblical reading is the principal way of Christian spirituality. Those who can dedicate the necessary time and commitment to it gather abundant fruits.” Good Book’s origins The word “Bible” comes from the Greek phrase ta biblia, meaning “the books.” These books contain stories, poems, history, songs, letters, proverbs, prophecies, parables, miracles and advice on how to live your life. You will discover saints and sinners, heroes and cowards, the powerful and the weak, the clever, the cunning, the silly and the stupid. Some stories are filled with adventure, intrigue and romance. Others tell sad tales of jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Sometimes, Scripture is encouraging, as in St Paul’s assurance that we all play important roles as members of the Body of Christ (see I Cor 12). Sometimes, Scripture is challenging, as in the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (see Mt 5:43-48). The more you read the Bible, the better you will know Jesus, and through Jesus, you will come to know God the Father. You will begin to understand the workings of the Holy Spirit in your life. Who wrote the Bible? Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical writers. But inspiration is a mysterious process. It’s not as if God dictated, and the authors wrote Continued on Vista 2


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February 9 2005, The Record

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February 9 2005, The Record

Getting to know the Good Book Bible Reading Plan (61 Days)

How to pray using the Bible: Praying with the Bible is different from reading or studying it. The official Catholic model for praying with the Bible is known as lectio divina, a Latin term meaning “divine reading” It is composed of five stages: ●

Reading (Lectio): Read slowly and reflectively, aloud if it will not disturb others. Read until you come upon a word, phrase, image or verse that speaks to you. Meditation (Meditatio): think about your chosen passage of Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply it to your life.

Prayer (Oratio): Share with God the emotions, thoughts and experiences evoked by the passage.

Contemplation (Contemplatio): Sit quietly with God, just as you would with a loved one. Listen to the movement of the Spirit.

Action (Operatio): It is not enough to hear God’s word; we must act upon it in our own lives.

Jump in to scripture Continued from Vista 1

what they heard. Instead, God instilled in human beings divine insights, which they described in their own words using images from their own culture to help their readers understand the message. God inspired kings, teachers, poets, prophets, fishermen and ordinary people, “who made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things that He wanted” (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation). In this way, the divine origin and the human input are seamlessly entwined. Catholics also believe that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church in interpreting and handing on the truths contained within the Scriptures. How to read it It’s a good idea to start with the New Testament. Begin with the Gospel of Luke and continue with Luke’s account of the early Christians in the Acts of the Apostles. It will give you an overview of the life of Jesus and His followers. If you’re interested in the Old Testament, begin with the first two books of the Bible - Genesis and Exodus - that trace the early history of the Jewish people. Before you start, read the introductory material at the beginning of each book. It will help to put what you read into a historical perspective and give you an overview of the audience, cultural setting and literary form. A biblical commentary can also be

helpful in understanding the background of the text. Read each book as a whole. Don’t pull out individual phrases and try to attribute meaning to them. Instead, look at the deeper levels of meaning. For example, ask yourself what the Scripture says to you personally, what message the writer was trying to convey, and how you can respond to this message. Always examine Scripture in light of Catholic teachings. Look for a Catholic Scripture study group in your parish. Choosing a Translation Not all Bibles are the same, either: The books of Tobit, Judith, and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach Baruch are included in Catholic Bibles but omitted in protestant ones. If you plan to study the Bible, you may want to invest in one like the Catholic Study Bible, which has supplementary notes, maps, cross-references and commentaries to help you better understand all of Scripture. The New American Bible also has helpful footnotes and background information. Another good choice is the Revised Standard Catholic Edition, which is one of the most accurate translations. Growth and knowledge St Jerome warned, “To be ignorant of the Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.” If you want to grow in your faith of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him as a Catholic, pick up your Bible! Open it, up and begin to read, study and pray.

Reading the highlights from every book of the Bible doesn’t take long! Day 1 Genesis 1-3, 12, 15, 22 Day 2 Exodus 1-5 Day 3 Exodus 12-14, 20 Day 4 Leviticus 1, 10, 16, 25 Day 5 Numbers 3-4, 6, 11-14 Day 6 Deuteronomy 5-8, 28-31, 34 Day 7 Joshua 1-6, 23-24 Day 8 Judges 1-4, 13-16 Day 9 Ruth 1-4 Day 10 1 Samuel 7-10, 12 Day 11 1 Samuel 15-20, 28, 31 Day 12 2 Samuel 5-8, 11-13, 15, 18 Day 13 1 Kings 3, 6-12 Day 14 1 Kings 17-19, 21 Day 15 2 Kings 1-2, 6-7, 11-12 Day 16 2 Kings 17-23 Day 17 1 Chronicles 15-17, 21-22, 28-29 Day 18 2 Chronicles 5-10, 14-16 Day 19 2 Chronicles 24-26, 29-35 Day 20 Ezra 3, 6-7 Day 21 Nehemiah 1-2, 4, 6 Day 22 Esther 1-4 Day 23 Job 1-3, 38-42 Day 24 Psalms 1, 8, 19, 23 Day 25 Psalms 51, 100, 103, 139 Day 26 Proverbs 1-3 Day 27 Ecclesiastes 1-5, 12 and Songs 1-2 Day 28 Isaiah 1-2, 6, 40, 52-55 Day 29 Jeremiah 1-5 and Lamentations 3 Day 30 Ezekiel 1-3, 18, 33 Day 31 Daniel 1-2, 4-6

Day 32 Hosea 1-4 and Joel 2 Day 33 Amos 3, Obadiah, and Jonah 1 Day 34 Micah 1-2 and Nahum 1 Day 35 Habakkuk 1, Zephaniah 3, Haggai Day 36 Zechariah 1-2 and Malachi 1 Day 37 Matthew 1-2, 5-7 Day 38 Matthew 17, 26-28 Day 39 Mark 1-4, 10, 15-16 Day 40 Luke 1-2, 4-6 Day 41 Luke 8-10, 22-24 Day 42 John 1, 3-4 Day 43 John 13-17, 19-21 Day 44 Acts 1-4 Day 45 Acts 8-10, 12-15 Day 46 Romans 5-8, 12 Day 47 1 Corinthians 1-2, 13 Day 48 2 Corinthians 4-5, 8-9 Day 49 Galatians 5-6 Day 50 Ephesians 4-6 Day 51 Philippians 2, 4 Day 52 Colossians 1, 4 Day 53 1 Thessalonians 2, 4 and 2 Thessalonians 3 Day 54 1 Timothy 1, 3 Day 55 2 Timothy 3-4 Day 56 Titus 2 and Philemon Day 57 Hebrews 10-13 Day 58 James 1-3 Day 59 1 Peter 1, 5 and 2 Peter 1 Day 60 1 John 1-2, 2 John, and 3 John Day 61 Jude, Revelation 19-22

Books in the Bible: 66 Books in the Old Testament: 39 Books in the New Testament: 27 The longest book of the Bible is Psalms. The shortest book is the 3rd of John. Chapters in the Bible: 1189 Chapters in the Old Testament: 929 Chapters in the New Testament: 260

Odd Bods Earliest: Adam, world’s first human being. Gen. 2:7 Oldest: Methuselah, son of Enoch, who lived to be 969. Gen. 5:27 Strongest: Samson, carnal Nazarite whom God used to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Judg. 14:6, 15:5 Wisest: Solomon, king of Israel and son of David. 1 Kings 3:12 Richest: Solomon. 1 Kings 10:23 Tallest: Goliath, over nine feet tall, killed in battle by David. 1 Sam. 17:4

Middle chapter of the Bible: Psalm 117

Shortest: Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Luke 19:3-4

Shortest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 117

Fattest: Eglon, Moabite king killed by the judge. Ehud Judg.3:17

Longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119

Meekest: Moses, Israel’s great lawgiver and author of the first five books of the bible. Num. 12:3

Verses in the Bible: 31,173 Verses in the Old Testament: 23,214 Verses in the New Testament: 7,959 Shortest verse in the Bible: John 11:35 Longest verse in the Bible: Esther 8:9 Words in the Bible: 773,692 Words in the Old Testament: 592,439 Words in the New Testament: 181,253 The best-selling book of all time.

Cruelest: Manasseh, who shed blood from one end of Judah to the other but later repented. 2 Chron. 33:1-13 Fastest: Asahel, described in Scripture as “light of foot as a wild roe.” 2 Sam. 2:18 Greatest of the Prophets: John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ. Matt. 11:11 Guiltiest: Judas, who betrayed the Saviour for 30 pieces of silver. Matt. 27:3-5 Proudest: Nebuchadnezzar, Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem and was later humbled by God himself. Dan. 4 Most Beautiful: Esther, Jewish queen who saved her people from the first holocaust attempt in history. Esther 2:7 Most Traveled: Paul, the great theologian and missionary. Acts 13:4, 15:36, 18:23 Most Sorrowful: Jeremiah, persecuted by his own countrymen for preaching on sin and who saw his beloved Jerusalem destroyed. Jer. 9:1, Lam. 1:12 Most Persecuted: Job, attacked by Satan, totally misunderstood by wife, and criticised by his friends. Job 1-2 Most Lovestruck: Jacob, who agreed to work seven years for the hand of Rachel. Gen. 29:18-20 Most Frightened: Belshazzar, whose knees knocked as the handwriting in the wall appeared. Dan. 5:6 Most Rash: Jephthah, who vowed to offer a special sacrifice if God would allow him to win a battle; the sacrifice turned out to be his daughter. Judg. 11:30 Most Doubtful: Thomas, who said he could not believe in Christ’s resurrection until he saw and touched the Saviour. John 11:16, 20:24-29

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Bird’s eye view of main players ■ By Karl A. Schultz

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ike human development, the Bible’s evolution is varied and complex. Given its ancient origins, there is much we can only speculate. Still, in order to know the Bible on an intimate basis, you must know something of its roots and development.

Old Testament The Old Testament took shape through a long and complex process. Here are summaries of major individuals and groups involved. ● The Patriarchs and Matriarchs: God spoke to and was active in the lives of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Rachel (the patriarchs and matriarchs). He was also active in the lives of Jacob’s sons, particularly Joseph. The accounts of their experiences and interactions with God were handed down for centuries within the Hebrew tribes and were recorded in chapters 12-50 of Genesis. ● The Tribes: The 12 tribes of Israel (see Gn 49:1-28) became a nation, albeit still a loose conglomeration of clans, under Moses, and settled throughout the Promised Land. ● The Scribes and Storytellers: During the reigns of Kings David and Solomon, scribes refined and recorded stories and revelations that had been handed down. They also chronicled the activities of David and Solomon and their predecessor, Saul. These were handed down and edited and became part of the books of Samuel and Kings. The tradition of storytelling would continue in Israel through the postexilic period down to Tobit and Judith in the second century BC. ● The Sages: Inspired by King Solomon, the Bible’s consummate wise man (see I Kings 3:3-15;4:2934),the sages taught and compiled instructional material on effective and wholesome/moral living. It eventually became part of the wisdom books of the Old Testament. ● The Psalmists: Although we lack details on the precise nature of Israel’s public worship and liturgical rituals, we know that music was a big part of it. The Psalms likely began taking form under David and evolved for centuries afterward. ● The Prophets: When the Jewish people and leaders strayed and followed the way of the polytheists, the prophets called them back. Although Samuel and Moses were identified as prophets and esteemed ones, the most famous prophet was Elijah, who lived during the ninth century BC, and was succeeded by another prophet, Elisha. The prophetic books came from the prophets and their disciples, beginning with Isaiah and Hosea in the eighth century and ending with Joel in the late fifth or early fourth century. ● The Priests: When the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were exiled to Babylon (587 BC) the Jewish priests organised and refined the Torah

(the first five books of the Old Testament) and the books chronicling the conquest of the promised land and the exploits of the Jewish Kings (Joshua through 2 Kings.) These were assembled from the oral and written materials that had been handed down. ● The People: With the primary mode of religious expression eliminated (temple worship), and being surrounded by polytheists, the Jewish people turned to the biblical materials to preserve their faith. The word of God assumed greater prominence in Jewish spirituality than burnt offerings, which was the way God had intended it all along (see Hos 6:6; Mt 9:13). ● The Politicians: In the midfifth century BC, the priest and scribe Ezra and his disciples, empowered by Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, chronicled the activities of Israel after the return from Babylon, and compiled something close to a final version of the Torah. ● Potpourri: A potpourri of wisdom books, short stories and accounts of later Jewish history known as the deuterocanonical books became the final books included in the Old Testament. New Testament Because the New Testament has fewer authors and was written over a period of less than 80 years, its canonisation process (determining which books were inspired and should be included) was simpler. Still, the list of books in the New Testament wasn’t stated definitively until a letter of St Athanasius in AD 367, and later at the councils of Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397. The earliest New Testament documents, the letters of St Paul, were written between AD 50 and 64. Other letters written by Paul and mentioned in his letters (see 2 Cor 2) have not survived. The apostles spread the word about Jesus, initially through oral preaching and teaching and healing. Eventually, four evangelists organised and edited oral and written materials that were based on the apostles’ preaching and teaching. Beginning with Mark and ending with John, the Gospels were published between the years 60 and 100. Leaders of the early Church, whether the apostles or their disciples or scribes (see I Pt 5:12), composed letters to unnamed communities. Known as the catholic (universal) or general letters, these eventually became regarded as inspired. Role of councils The list of books included in the Bible was determined based on the opinions of influential leaders and usage within the communities of believers. Final decisions were made at official gatherings known as ecumenical councils. Councils and synods continue to be a forum through which the Church gathers to resolve issues related to the Bible, Church practices and doctrine and contemporary life.


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February 9 2005, The Record

i say, i say

Fathers must do their best and trust God “We should introduce our children to the world with the knowledge that God is love.”

■ With Mark Reidy

I

greatly appreciate Pope Benedict delaying the timing of his first encyclical to coincide with my four-year old’s first steps into the big, wide world. In the same week Benedict issued Deus Caritas Est, my son Joseph attended his first day at kindergarten. The Holy Father must have known that I would seek comfort in his words as Joseph made the transition from the protective nest to the jungle outside. “God is love”, he emphasised in his first sentence, “And he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16). As Joseph begins his journey on the obstacle-ridden path of independence, I too must begin my own

journey of letting go. I must accept the reality that the world is only going to get bigger for him, as is his marketplace of choice. He will inevitably come to know that there are pathways outside the faith of his parents. He will one day arrive at a cross-

road where he will have to decide for himself which direction to go. What I must now choose is to cling to the love of God that Pope Benedict depicts so beautifully and continue to teach Joseph that this love is far more important than anything else the world has to offer.

If this understanding becomes the foundation of his life, then I must trust that he will be able to recognise God’s truth in all that he will encounter. That he will understand that the teachings of the Church are not oppressive, but seek to free him

from shackles of self gratification. They offer him an opportunity to transform his focus from self to others. To recognise that reaching out beyond oneself is not an optional extra, but the fulfilment of God’s love. Subsequently he will be able to discern people, whether peers or politicians, who are operating outside of this love. He will know in his heart that laws that do not value the sanctity of life are born outside of God’s love. He will instinctively recognise behaviour and situations that are motivated by selfishness, and respond accordingly. In the words of Padre Pio, I must learn to pray, hope - and not worry! If the seeds of God’s love are consistently sown in Joseph’s heart throughout his childhood and adolescence, I must learn to trust that love. As I begin to share the moulding of my little boy with influences outside of my control, I must continually remind myself that he is firstly God’s child and I am only his earthly custodian. I must then seek refuge in His promise for Joseph, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). responses: reidyrec@iinet.net.au

The gifts we receive are not only for us, but others Catherine Parish

@ home

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t a seminar recently on Gifted and Talented education the speaker explained the difference between a child who is ‘gifted’ and one who is ‘talented’. The gifted child shows an unusual amount of potential, but it is the development and focussing of the giftedness that makes them talented. Just like the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14- 30). Every person is full of potential, but unfortunately we don’t all get the same opportunities to develop it, or choose to use fully those opportunities. It is up to us as parents to help our children discover the gifts they have been blessed with, be they many or few, and also to help them to develop their gifts into talents. Along the way, you may find you have been blessed with hitherto unsuspected gifts yourself. One of the most wonderful (and often hair-raising) experiences in the world is watching your children grow up and continually discover things they can ‘do.’ To be able to assist with that blossoming is the greatest privilege and the most fascinating process. And it is intrigu-

ing to speculate where their talents may lead them in the future. It is important in the midst of all this to remember where our gifts come from in the first place. It is not as if we have done anything ourselves to earn the many or few gifts we have been given; God scatters these about according to his own (mysterious) purposes, and we have a corresponding God-given duty to do our best with the gifts we have, firstly in discovering and developing them, but secondly in using them not only for our own benefit, but for the greater good of those around us. Remembering that we don’t merit any of the gifts we are endowed with is a healthy attitude to engender in any of our children who happen to have been blessed with many. Smugness and complacency are to be avoided at all costs! We are not given these gifts only for ourselves, but to help us fulfil God’s plan for us and for His world. Part of the development of gifts is discerning where they might best fit in this divine plan, and learning to use them always to good purpose, and not for destructive ends. An improperly directed talent for words can become a scathing and nasty tongue, razor wit can cut to ribbons, scientific research can venture into unethical practices, a born leader can become an oppressive dictator, an artist can paint beauty or ugliness, a good writer can write corrupt rubbish to make the bestseller lists, a brilliant business head can be brilliantly dishonest in new and exciting ways. Our use of our gifts should be inspired by grace, that free and unmerited gift of God. We don’t

“The trick is not just to develop our gifts but to do it with God’s plan for life and love in mind.”

deserve grace, we haven’t earned it, and yet He pours it out for us at the least request - or with none at all. We should give of our talents in

the same way, unstintingly. They don’t get used up; quite the contrary. The more we use our talents, the better they become. If we “bury

our talents” and don’t use them we diminish ourselves and our world, and they remain merely rejected gifts and not talents.


February 9 2005, The Record

Page 7

‘You can’t follow a double path’ If one were to play back the eyewitness accounts of history stored in the mind of Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, it would make enthralling viewing. ■ By Edward Pentin

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or almost 22 years the Spanish doctor, psychiatrist and journalist has been the chief spokesman for the Pope and the Roman Curia. In that time - the longest period any Holy See press director has served - he worked closely with John Paul II, consulting him daily on press issues, accompanying him on papal trips and, most memorably, mediating to the world the former Pontiff ’s deteriorating health during those dramatic days last April. “I’ve seen history up close on many occasions,” he says. “History written in capital letters.” Now, in his 70th year, Dr Navarro-Valls is as busy as ever (this interview took almost a year to arrange). He has a new Pope to bring to the world’s attention but, providentially for him as he nears retirement, the present Holy Father is another masterful communicator, albeit with a different style. “In Benedict XVI, there’s an extraordinary conceptual capacity yet at the same time he has this ability to express those difficult concepts in a way that everybody understands,” Dr Navarro-Valls keenly explains in his Vatican office. The press office’s work, that of helping transmit the deep concepts of life, love and salvation, is, he says. “being done already by the Holy Father”.

“I’ve seen history up close on many occasions,” he says. “History written in capital letters.” The papal changeover was not difficult for him. Pope Benedict was already an established and central figure in the Curia and represents continuity with John Paul II. Then, he says, there are always the 20 centuries of papal tradition to fall back on. “Nothing changes,” he remarks with some amusement. “The basic points of the Catholic Church are always there.” Dr Navarro-Valls’s career history is well known. A qualified doctor and psychiatrist, he entered journalism as part of his medical career to analyse how the media contribute to personal anxiety. But in 1984 he was unexpectedly head-hunted by John Paul II to bring the Vatican’s press machine into the 21st century. When asked about the high points of his career, that bolt from the blue stands out just behind the last days of the Polish Pontiff. Yet his time as papal spokesman has not always been easy. The mass media have often been hostile to the Pope, to the Vatican, and to him personally. Some say the Church suffers disproportionately from such criticism because of an ever-more sensationalist and liberal-leaning media which fails to grasp the Church’s purpose and mission. Is this a source of irritation, I ask him? “No. I wouldn’t be so pessimistic,” he replies. “There are a set of [Catholic] values which, in different languages, may not be expressed in the press with great clarity, but which are, nevertheless, there. Certainly, if you want to get the complete picture, nobody just goes to the papers or public opinion, they go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or whatever. But with respect to the general picture, I don’t feel

The public face: Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls gestures during a news conference at the Vatican, the way most people around the world know of him. He has, he says, seen history close up and written in capital letters on many occasions. Photo: CNS

pessimistic about it, which is why I don’t get irritated.” He adds: “There will always be people who will say, okay, I’ve understood it but I don’t like it and I will write just the opposite,” he promptly chuckles, throwing up his hands in mock despair. In any case, he says, “the Catholic Church is not, in essence, interested in succeeding in a battle and imposing values. She is offering values.” He sees his work as a mission, but only in the sense that it must be carried out with the utmost professionalism. Does this attitude owe itself to his membership of Opus Dei, which emphasises the importance of professionalism in the workplace? “Yes, Opus Dei, of course,” he replies. “But also just being a Christian. I feel there are so many people who feel a tension between their Christian vocation and their professional life. At a certain point, they can and should be mixed together. You cannot follow a double path in your life.” Throughout the interview, Dr NavarroValls is animated and candid. Like any media spokesman, his words are measured and he can be equivocal at times, but he speaks informally and in good humour. We return to the state of the Church in the world, and his mood lightens still further. I ask him if he agrees that there is a resurgence in Church influence in the world.

“The Catholic Church is not, in essence, interested in succeeding in a battle and imposing values. She is offering values.” “I think that the vitality, to use a neutral word, of the 27-year pontificate of John Paul II is evident,” he says. “The result is that Christian values are clearer now, even among people who are not Catholic. The curiosity towards Christianity has increased”. He refers, as an example, to the recordbreaking crowds regularly attending Pope

Benedict’s audiences. “1 would say there is something at the root of all this and this is something I’ve been reflecting upon these days - and not only these days,” he goes on. His slightly wizened face turns serious for a moment. He leans forward and clasps his hands in anticipation of an important announcement. “The anti-Christian prejudice of modernity,” he declares, “is now dissolving, it’s crumbling. The idea that modernity is equal to an anti-Christian prejudice is disappearing.” He believes that the key to this seachange in public opinion is that John Paul II and now Benedict XVI have put the human being, and human dignity in particular, “at the centre of the discussion”. Added to this is the clarity of Benedict’s teaching. “Maybe this is exactly what our time is needing,” he says. “There is a great confusion in basic concepts that we use every single day: What is life? What is the meaning of suffering? What is the meaning of human dignity? What does it really mean? He is explaining what they are.” But I put it to him that only the previous day, the European parliament unanimously passed a resolution warning EU member states they must approve civil unions between same-sex couples, and that Pope Benedict was roundly criticised by some MEPs for his position on this issue. Does that not show there is still some way to go? Such actions, he believes, are nothing new. Moreover, he says the protest merely serves to confirm his point. “What is happening here is that people are getting nervous,” he argues. “They’re not setting the agenda, it’s being set somewhere else.” We move on to the Holy See press office. For some time there has been speculation that the Vatican’s communications, spread between some departments, will be streamlined into a single, unified voice. Dr Navarro-Valls says he is unaware of any changes and insists the press office continues to “represent the official position” of the Holy See. But would he, personally, like to see changes made? “The structural changes in any organisation are very easy,” he answers equivocally. “The difficulty is

changing the mentality.” I ask him if he is concerned when cardinals express opinions that seem to run contrary to established Church teaching. He responds: “Do you think a situation like that can put into doubt the position of the Church?” I say it adds to confusion. “The position of the Catholic Church is clear,” he says. “To obtain a complete answer to this question, I would need to go to the journalist and ask him, did he say that?” He also advises checking the Catechism and the Bible, but stresses that believing what journalists write is risky, a fact that “everybody understands”.

“The anti-Christian prejudice of modernity,” he declares, “is now dissolving, it’s crumbling. The idea that modernity is equal to an antiChristian prejudice is disappearing.” The interview draws to a close on the subject of John Paul II. The highlights of that pontificate, he says, are too many to mention, but his abiding memory of the late Pontiff was his “good humour” which made working for him “wonderful” and “very easy”. He adds: “Certainly, if we got into the sanctity of his personal life we could go on for hours, many hours.” Like working for a saint, I ask? “Yes,” he promptly replies. There has been speculation that Dr Navarro-Valls might retire this year, but he will not be drawn on precise dates. “Benedict XVI has asked me to remain for some time,” is all he will reveal. What he intends to do after leaving the Vatican is also a mystery. He says he still has nostalgia for medicine, his “first professional love”, and could return to the field. He also indicated that he might write his memoirs. If he chooses the latter, and decides to make public such precious and unique recollections, many anticipate an instant best-seller.


February 9, The Record

Page 8

The World

Cartoon violence condemned Catholic, Muslim leaders condemn Beirut riots against cartoons ■ By Doreen Abi Raad

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atholic and Muslim religious leaders condemned the riot that erupted in Beirut when an estimated 30,000 Muslims protested against the publication of satirical cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in European newspapers. The Danish Consulate was set ablaze, a Maronite Catholic church and the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox archbishop were vandalised, and numerous roadside shrines were smashed in the February 5 violence. Many of the protesters wielded pipes and various weapons; many wore headbands and waved flags imprinted with the slogan “Prophet’s soldiers.” Archbishop Paul Youssef Matar of Beirut told Catholic News Service he believed the motivation behind the violence was political. Religious and political leaders in Lebanon denounced the violence, attributing it to outside interference to instigate chaos in the country. Many Lebanese believe that Syria, which ended its 30-year occupation of Lebanon in April, was behind the incident, and the Archbishop speculated that many of those involved in the disruption were paid to participate and were incited to be violent. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, a Sunni Muslim, said “what happened today was an attack against Islam and the principles of the Holy Quran.” He pointed out that “the protesters took a definite stand by taking arms; consequently, they came for war.” Siniora visited Archbishop

Jordanian women hold up a banner that reads “Boycott Danish and European Products” during a protest outside the Danish Consulate in Amman, Jordan, on February 6. Photo: CNS

Matar and Beirut’s Orthodox Archbishop Elias Aoude before inspecting damage at St Maron Catholic Church. Later, in an interview on Voice of Lebanon radio, Siniora said intruders “came to stir strife among the Lebanese themselves and between the Lebanese and the world.” More than 29 people were wounded in the violence and one was reported killed. Lebanon’s An Nahar newspaper reported that of the 192 protesters arrested by security forces 77 were Syrian, 42 were Palestinian and approximately 25 were Bedouin, members of an Arabic nomadic people. Father Elias Feghali, pastor of St Maron Catholic Church, said he was in the sacristy preparing for the 10.30am Mass on February

5 when he first heard the mob. Moments later, he heard glass shattering from inside the church and became even more frightened when he heard shooting coming from the streets. Some of the demonstrators attempted to climb up the exterior of the church. “I thought, ‘These are not people. These are monsters,’” Father Feghali told Catholic News Service. He said it was impossible to celebrate Mass, because parishioners could not make their way to St Maron’s in the violence. The church is in the same neighbourhood as the Danish Embassy; the cartoons originally were published in a Danish newspaper last fall. The cartoons are considered blasphemous because,

first of all, Islam does not allow depictions of Mohammed, and, second, they show Mohammed in a number of disrespectful ways. One cartoon, for example, shows Mohammed in a turban shaped as a bomb. One Muslim cleric was reported to have shouted from a loudspeaker, “Do not harm the holy church; the anger is against Denmark and not Christians.” Three windows in St Maron’s were broken. “It’s not a matter of the damage. It’s a matter of symbol,” Archbishop Matar said. He said one of the protesters was seen climbing up the building and trying to pry open a window to plant a bomb in the church. “Thank God, the window didn’t open, but the danger was very present,” the Archbishop

said. “The government’s role was blatant and unacceptable when it comes to protecting churches and worshippers,” said Archbishop Matar. “They knew 24 hours in advance” that the demonstration would take place. “This represents a weakness in the government,” he said, particularly in light of violence in Syria the day before, in which demonstrators set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies. Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, Maronite patriarch, said he was “greatly disturbed” and called upon all Lebanese to “adhere to a national unity that is strongly needed.” A delegation of Muslim clerics met with the patriarch late February 5 and urged Lebanese citizens not to react “because we are all Lebanese who are keen to create national unity.” Archbishop Matar commended the residents of the predominantly Christian neighbourhood around St Maron’s for remaining calm. “They were very wise; they didn’t react. It was very dangerous. They saw their cars burned, their houses broken into,” he said. “I think the Lebanese people have shown that they don’t want to come back to the war,” said the Archbishop. “They don’t want a fight between Muslims and Christians. If we were to have responded in the same way (as the protesters), we would have a civil war,” said Father Feghali. Michel Aoun, a Maronite Catholic member of Parliament and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, speaking from St Maron Church said, “What happened is a plan to instigate strife in the country” and demanded the resignation of Lebanon’s government for its failure to protect its citizens. If the rioters were Syrian and Palestinian, he said, “Isn’t Lebanese law applicable to CNS them?”

Freedom of expression should rise above mockery Vatican says freedom of expression does not mean offending religions ■ By John Thavis

The Vatican, commenting on a series of satirical newspaper cartoons that have outraged Muslims, said freedom of expression does not include the right to offend religious sentiments. At the same time, the Vatican said, violent reactions are equally deplorable. “Intolerance - wherever it comes from, whether real or verbal, action or reaction - always constitutes a serious threat to peace,” Vatican

spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement on February 4. The cartoons, which make fun of the prophet Mohammed, were first published in a Danish newspaper last fall and have recently been reprinted in several European papers. Islamic anger has grown, along with popular demonstrations. In early February protesting Muslims burned or vandalised Western embassy buildings in Indonesia, Syria and Lebanon. The Vatican statement, without getting into the details of the cartoons, said “freedom of thought or expression ... cannot imply a right to offend the religious sentiments of believers,” no matter what the religion. Certain forms of ridicule or

extreme criticism can constitute an “unacceptable provocation,” the Vatican said. It said governments and their institutions cannot be held responsible for the offensive actions of an individual or a newspaper. Violent protests never reflect “the true spirit of any religion,” it said. The Vatican suggested, however, that where free speech crosses the line and becomes offensive to a religion, national authorities “can and should” intervene. The cartoons are considered blasphemous because, first of all, Islam does not allow depictions of Mohammed, and, second, they show Mohammed in a number of disrespectful ways. One cartoon, for example, shows Mohammed in a turban shaped as a bomb.

In separate statements, two Vatican officials also denounced the cartoons. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, told Vatican Radio that the ongoing demonstrations show how deeply Muslims have been offended by the depictions of their Prophet. “We shouldn’t diminish the love and respect Muslims have for their prophet Mohammed. This is very important for them and therefore cannot be the object of derision or ridicule,” he said. The Archbishop added that violent reactions to such offences are not justified. Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, a leader for many years in the Vatican’s diplomatic service, said the cartoons had offended mil-

lions of Muslims and demonstrated a growing trend to make fun of religious symbols in general. “Freedom of satire that offends the sentiments of others becomes an abuse - and in this case it has affected the sentiments of entire populations in their highest symbols,” the cardinal told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on February 3. The cardinal said Christianity has similar sensitivities. “One can understand satire about a priest but not about God. With reference to Islam, we could understand satire on the uses and customs and behavior, but not about the Quran, Allah and the Prophet,” he said. The cardinal said secular societies should not assume a right to offend religious sentiments. CNS


February 9, The Record

Page 9

The World Trafficking initiative

Human dignity equal for all

■ By Bronwen Dachs

Don’t kill mentally disabled person to save genius, says bioethicist ■ By Agostino Bono

Because human dignity is equal for all, doctors cannot take the life of a severely developmentally disabled person to harvest organs to save the life of a scientific genius such as Albert Einstein, said Franciscan Brother Daniel Sulmasy, a medical doctor and bioethicist. There are not different levels of “inalienable dignity,” he told the President’s Council on Bioethics on February 2. The intrinsic dignity of every person is the “foundational bedrock of a moral system” and should be the guiding force in bioethics, said Brother Sulmasy, professor of medicine and director of the Bioethics Institute of New York Medical College. The Franciscan was one of two guest speakers discussing the meaning of human dignity at the council meeting. The council advises President George W. Bush on bioethical issues. The other speaker was Patricia Churchland, philosophy department chairwoman at the University of California at San Diego. She said that historically there has been a lot of religious opposition to medical advances but that this tended to subside once the health benefits became apparent. Churchland expressed hope that

Pope Benedict XVI greets a physically disabled person at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican on January 18. Photo: CNS

the same would be true of current moral and ethical opposition to embryonic stem-cell research. “With all the best will in the world, you are not going to stop stem-cell research,” she said. “So let’s regulate it.” As an example, she cited stem-cell research currently going on in England with government approval and regulation. Churchland said that religious leaders were divided centuries ago over the use of vaccines and the use of anaesthesia in childbirth, with many religious leaders express-

ing sharp reservations about such procedures. The argument against anaesthesia for some religious leaders came from the Bible account of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, she said, citing Chapter 3, Verse 16, of the Book of Genesis, in which God tells Eve: “I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.” In the 19th century some people didn’t even want women to have anaesthesia for Caesarean deliveries, she said.

The bioethical issue today is “to regulate and regulate well” biotechnical research, she said. “We must respect the points of view of others and be able to compromise but let’s not prohibit all of it,” she said. During a question-andanswer session, Brother Sulmasy, who is also chairman of the ethics department at St Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Centre in New York, discussed the equality that human dignity gives all people. Robert George, a professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University and a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics, asked if the inalienable equality of all humans is “a noble myth” and that in reality there is a tendency to believe that someone considered inferior can be killed to harvest organs to save the life of someone considered superior. “Is it true that a severely retarded person is the equal of Michael Jordan or Albert Einstein?” he asked. Brother Sulmasy answered: “Yes, it is true. But if we behave in a manner consistent with this is another thing.” Council member Dr Leon Kass, professor of social thought at the University of Chicago, asked Brother Sulmasy if medical attention would be required at the end of a human life when a person is losing all his human capabilities. Brother Sulmasy said that there is a natural finality to life in which a person loses his human capabilities. In such situations “one is not obliged to do everything possible” CNS to prolong life, he said.

Putting ‘Deus Caritas Est’ into action against AIDS Church Aiming to Improve Efforts in AIDS Fight As Benedict XVI’s first encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” was being made public in Rome, representatives from Catholic organizations worldwide were in Geneva trying to put his message into action. In particular they discussed ways of scaling up resources and improving cooperation in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The January 23-26 meeting, convened by Caritas Internationalis,

the Vatican-based confederation of Catholic charities, came about through a growing interest within the UN system of the Church’s involvement in caring for people with HIV and AIDS. The UNAIDS estimates that 25% of the care institutions for people living with the virus are run by Catholic Church structures, many of which are Caritas projects. The four-day meeting brought together representatives from Church hierarchy, the Caritas confederation, Catholic organizations, ecumenical faith-based organiza-

the world in brief Human life is God’s creation The more people set aside belief in God the creator, the greater the danger that they will lose respect for the value and dignity of human life, Pope Benedict XVI said. Celebrating Mass on February 5 in the Vatican’s parish church, the Church of St Anne, and marking Italy’s pro-life day, Pope Benedict said that when people stop thinking of human life as a creation of God they begin to think they have complete control over it. In a mostly ad-libbed homily at the morning Mass, Pope Benedict said Jesus came to earth as a human being in order to heal people of the “fevers” of ideologies and idolatry and of forgetting God. “The Lord gives us his hand, he helps us up and heals us,” the Pope said.

tions, and international agencies, including UNAIDS and the World Health Organization. They shared experiences and strategies for how to promote collaboration, and to examine what the UN system can offer the Church in terms of training, technical skills and expertise. According to Duncan MacLaren, secretary-general of Caritas, the conference yielded fruitful exchanges between the UN system and the Church. In particular, he said, it helped to lessen stereotypes about the Catholic Church regarding pre-

Referring to the Gospel story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, the Pope said it is important to notice that as soon as she was healed she got up and began serving others.

Priest gunned down Pope Benedict XVI condemned all forms of violence as he mourned the death of an Italian missionary priest gunned down while praying in a church in Turkey. The Pope noted the “generosity and apostolic zeal” with which Father Andrea Santoro carried out his work as a missionary priest “in favour of the Gospel and in service of those marginalised and in need.” The Pope made his remarks in a telegram addressed to Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia, the Asian part of modern Turkey. In the

vention of HIV/AIDS. It also raised awareness of the Church’s key role in promoting a compassionate, education-focused response to the pandemic. “The faith side of HIV/AIDS was stressed to the UN as a positive element in combating stigma and discrimination and in aiding the person living with the virus to cope better,” said MacLaren. “As one person in the meeting stated, ‘The UN now realizes that the Catholic Church is the heart and nervous-system of our comZENIT munities,’” he added.

telegram released on February 6 to journalists, the Pope assured Father Santoro’s small Catholic community of his spiritual closeness to them “at this moment of sorrow” as he “firmly deplored” every form of violence. The 60-year-old Italian priest was part of the Vatican’s “Fidei Donum” program, which sends priests to help in the missions for a fixed period of time.

Chicago hurry-up A contrite Cardinal Francis E. George promised changes on February 2 in the way the Archdiocese of Chicago handles allegations of sexual abuse by priests after removing two pastors from their parishes in the past month. The archdiocese pledged to find a way to temporarily take priests who are accused of sexual abuse out of parish situa-

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) - The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is establishing an office at its Pretoria headquarters to address human trafficking. Conference officials said they are “acutely aware” that the countries they represent - Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland - are affected by international trafficking in women and children, particularly for the sex trade. “The trafficking in the vulnerable will not be challenged until women and children are treated, not as goods or possessions to be bought, used and sold, but as unique and valuable individuals,” the bishops said in a February 1 statement after a plenary meeting in Pretoria. “Society’s strength is measured not in its strongest, mostprivileged members, but in its most vulnerable members,” the bishops added, noting that “women and children have the right to family and nurturing and security.” The bishops acknowledged “with gratitude” the efforts of churches and nongovernmental organisations throughout Africa to combat human trafficking. The tasks of the new office will include lobbying for the criminalisation of human trafficking and working with other anti-trafficking agencies. According to the Genevabased Internat ional Organisation for Migration, South Africa is the regional centre of an intricate trafficking network that recruits women and children from Mozambique, Angola, Malawi, Thailand, China and Eastern Europe. A 2004 study by Molo Songololo, a South African children’s rights group, found that women and children, mostly from rural communities, are lured to South Africa with the promise of jobs. They are provided with accommodation and passports and then are forced to work as prostitutes to pay off debts to those who smuggled them into the country.

tions before officials even evaluate whether the charges are credible and to work with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services every time a priest is accused - even if the abuse allegedly occurred decades earlier. The cardinal said at an earlier news conference that the archdiocese had no mechanism to remove Father Daniel J. McCormack as pastor of St Agatha Parish after police launched an abuse investigation against him because the alleged victim did not make a statement to church officials. Another Chicago priest, Father Joseph Bennett, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in South Holland, was “temporarily withdrawn” from his parish in early February while the archdiocese’s independent Professional Responsibility Review Board continued its inquiry into his alleged sexual misconduct 35 years ago with minor girls. CNS


February 9 2006, The Record

Page 10

A pilgrimage to contemplate the Lord A

rchbishop Barry Hickey will lead a prayerful pilgrimage, in the path of God and His revelation to the Holy Land. The pilgrims will travel from Egypt, following the Exodus journey of Moses to Mount Sinai where God revealed His name and where He gave us His law, the Ten Commandments of the Covenant. Here he will celebrate Mass on Sunday 1 October. The pilgrimage will then pass through Jordan, stopping at Petra, the lost city carved in stone, then onto Amman, before crossing into Israel. From there they will follow the life of Jesus, the Son of God, sent to redeem us. The Eucharist will be celebrated at Nazareth, where Mary was told

by the Angel Gabriel that she would “conceive and bear a son and you shall give him the name Jesus… He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God” (Luke 1:31-32); likewise at the place of the Visitation, Ein Karem, and also at Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Time will be spent in Galilee following in Jesus’ Ministry; to Capernaum where He preached the coming of the Kingdom of God; Cana where He performed His first miracle; the Mount of Beatitudes; the River Jordan where He was baptised; Mt Tabor where He was transfigured and the Lake of Gennesaret where He calmed the storm and where He told Simon Peter, James and John that “from now on you will be fishers of men.” The Holy-Land pilgrimage

will conclude with three days in Jerusalem, where there is so much to see in this great city steeped in history. It will follow the agony of Jesus from the Cenacle; the place of the Last Supper; the Garden of Gethsemane; the Flagellation and Condemnation Chapels; the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, to the Church of Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Every day the Archbishop will celebrate Mass. This memorable journey of faith will conclude with a flight to Rome to celebrate Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, attend the audience of the Holy Father and see much of the Eternal City. The Pilgrimage will leave Perth on 26 September 2006 and fly to

Steeped in history: the pilgrimage will focus on the love of God in human history.

Cario in Egypt, concluding in Rome on 13 October.

Brian Peachey, who assisted in organising the pilgrimage, said that the Archbishop does not want the number of participants to exceed 40. “He wanted the pilgrimage to be a compact, prayerful community. If it became too large some could be separated in accommodation and transport.” Mr Peachey said. He advised those who were seriously considering going to contact Northline Travel at 256 Fitzgerald Street Perth, telephone 9328 6100, Email: anna@northlinetravel.com. au To avoid dissapointment they should complete an application form and pay the required deposit. Every effort has been made to keep the price as low as $5395 (twin share).

What a wonderful day! Aussies troubled by ‘abortion tension’ rare event was A celebrated at the Marriage Tribunal recently when Fr Geoff Beyer and his wife Dorothy were honoured with an afternoon tea to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The venue was very appropriate as Fr Beyer has been a member of the Marriage Tribunal since 1979. In more recent years he has been a judge for the Appeal Tribunal of Australia and New Zealand. All this in addition to being Parish Priest of Attadale. Mrs Beyer is well known for her work and as an office holder of the Catholic Womens’ League. Bishop Sproxton joined with Fr Geoff and Dorothy to celebrate a Jubilee Mass with the family and parishioners, and a commemorative papal blessing on a parchment scroll was presented to the jubiliarians. Fr Geoff was an Anglican minister

New research “broadly confirms” abortion findings ■ By Paul Gray

ew research to be released later N this year is likely to confirm the findings of the 2005 Give Women

Wonderful milestone: Fr Geoff Beyer and wife Dorothy have marked 50 years of marriage.

who was received into the Church in 1968 and ordained to the

Catholic priesthood in October 1969 under Archbishop LJ Goody.

Choice survey, which revealed a powerful feeling of moral tension within the Australian population over the abortion debate. The new research, commissioned by the Adelaide-based Southern Cross Bioethics Institute and conducted by an independent market research company, Sexton Marketing, is the continuation of a four-stage national investigation into social attitudes towards abortion. Between 64 and 73 per cent of Australians think the abortion rate is too high, with 87 per cent believing it would be good if the number were reduced while at the same time protecting legal rights to freely choose abortion, according to findings in stage one of the investigation. The Institute’s research is an attempt to chart popular Australian attitudes on the abortion issue, independent of political colouring from either the pro-life or prochoice lobbies. Dr Gregory Pike, director of

PANORAMA Sunday February 12 FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES WORLD DAY OF THE SICK St Catherine’s Gingin. Program: 12noon BYO lunch. 1-2.00 pm Exposition and Benediction. 2.00 pm Procession, Holy Rosary and blessing of the sick. 3.00 pm Holy Mass at the Grotto and guest speaker. Afternoon tea provided. For more details phone Sheila 9575 4023 or Fr Paul 9571 1839.

Tuesday February 14 CARITAS AUSTRALIA  PROJECT COMPASSION 2006 Invites Parish Representatives/Speakers to a Commissioning Seminar. Where: Seminar Room 40A Mary Street, Highgate: Entry to car park from Harold Street. Morning: 9.30 – 11.30 (includes Morning Tea) or Evening: 6.30 – 8.30 (includes Light refreshments) RSVP Tues 7 Feb. Tel: 9422 7925 Email: perth@caritas.org.au

Friday February 14 ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE MONICA AND AUGUSTINE PRAYER GROUP If you are concerned that your adult sons & daughters have lapsed from the faith you are invited to attend. Meeting Tuesday February 14 at 7.30pm. Parents are invited to bring their bible and rosary

beads. There will be a period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the evening will conclude with a cup of tea or coffee at 9pm. RSVP to Fr Brian O’Loughlin on 9384 0598 or email claremont@perthcatholic.org.au

Thursday February 16 HEALING MASS A Healing Mass in honour of St Peregrine, patron of Cancer sufferers and helper of all in need, will be held at the Church of SS John and Paul, Pinetree Gully Rd., (off South St) Willetton, on Thursday, at 7 pm. There will be Veneration of the Relic and Anointing of the Sick. For further information contact Noreen Monaghan on 9498 7727.

Friday February 17 CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL  PRAISE AND WORSHIP On Friday at 7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton, there will be a Praise and Worship evening followed by Holy Mass. A talk will be given by Fr Greg Donovan titled “I am who I am – Who is God to you?: There will be light refreshments after Holy Mass. You are all welcome to attend and we encourage you to bring your family and friends to this evening of fellowship. We look

the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute, told The Record there are four stages in the project. The first stage, released last year, was the result of surveys carried out in December 2004. “The fourth stage is currently being carried out. The results are in from stages two and three, and broadly speaking they confirm what we found in stage one,” he said. “We’re looking in the near future to release the complete four-stage work, with all of the questions that were asked during that first stage.” In the work published last year, one of the most interesting findings was that “there appears to be this ambivalence in the average Aussie’s mind,” about abortion, Dr Pike said. “The ambivalence runs along the lines that people want to maintain legal access to abortion, and that’s based on a women’s rights kind of mentality, which is quite understandable. “But at the same time, they are morally troubled by abortion, and that goes along the lines of affirmation of the value of human life. “These two things are in tension. That’s a moral ambivalence, but it’s also a recognition of the complexity of this issue.” Mr Pike added that the Institute’s research reports the views not of the church-going population, but

of the general Australian population. “It was actually conducted along market research/social research lines,” he said. “Twelve hundred people were interviewed. It was done as a cross-section of the Australian community, and the company that conducted that chose that number so that it would be representative broadly of Australians. “That’s why we’re confident to say that everyone in the Australian community has been represented in this sample.” Included in the final stages of the project are focus group research and a second large survey, “probing in different directions, and (probing) deeper on some issues.” Mr Pike added that the Institute’s research was conducted by an independent research company “so that there was some distance between researchers at the Institute and the actual running of the work.” In stage one of the research project, 62 per cent of respondents said yes when asked if they supported abortion on demand. However, this in-principle support for abortion rights softened when particular circumstances were considered. Sixty-three per cent either opposed, or were not strongly supportive of abortion on demand.

a roundup of events in the archdiocese forward to seeing you there. Enq: Rita 9272 1764, Rose 0403 30 0720 or Gertrude 043 323 1305.

Friday February 17 GROW STREET APPEAL Please support the people in our community who are suffering from mental illness by donating to GROW Mental Health Movement Street Appeal. Money raised from our Street Appeal goes directly to the recovery process of people who are suffering from mental and emotional illnesses. GROW provides regular friendly support and a program of personal growth to aid recovery. Attendance at GROW also lessens the possibility of return to hospital. We are desperately short of collectors. If you can assist on Friday please contact GROW centre on 9321 7333 and ask for Irene. We will be collecting in Perth, Fremantle, West Perth and Subiaco. For Enquiries about the work of GROW phone 9321 7333.

Saturday Feburary 18 CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL CSJC Archdiocese of Perth: You are invited to attend: “Journey to Justice: Seeking the Kingdom of God” A one-day formation retreat consisting of prayer,

reflection, a talk and discussion on the justice tradition of the Church concluding with the celebration of the Eucharist by Fr Peter Toohey, Prison Chaplain and member of the CSJC. Place: Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40/A Mary St HIGHGATE (Plenty of parking from Harold St). Date & Time: 10.30 AM – 4.30 PM SATURDAY February 18 2006. Cost: small fee to cover the lunch provided. RSVP: Catholic Pastoral Centre Reception by Feb 16. Ph: 9422 7900 or Email: reception@highgate-perthcatholic.org.au

Thursday 23rd February ALPHA FOR CATHOLICS Imagine 100 Churches inviting Perth to dinner to discuss the meaning of life! Come to our FREE Breakfast Launch, where we will explain to you exactly how the Alpha Invitation will work, and what your parish can do to be involved. We will also hear from Alpha leaders, who will talk about what a difference Alpha has made to the life of their church, and the lives of the people of Perth. What: Launch Breakfast. When: Thursday, February 23rd. Time: 7am – 9am. Where: Claremont Baptist Church 324a Stirling Highway, Claremont WA 6010. Please email Miranda Miller, Alpha Invitation Coordinator, on waoffice@alpha.org.au to advise how


February 9 2006, The Record

Page 11

Classifieds

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■ EMPLOYMENT WANTED Catholic lady with comprehensive admin/reception skills seeks job in Catholic organisation south of river. Some flexibility available with hours, pref 24-38 hours per week. Tel: Mary 9337 1749.

FURNITURE REMOVAL ■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

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NOVENA ■ TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I am asking you for a very special favour. Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it in your own broken heart, where the Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three, your favour will be granted. AA

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ■ DENMARK Holiday House 3bdr x 2bath, sleeps up to 8. BOOK NOW. Ph: Maria 0412 083 377.

Shop 16/80 Barrack St (Inside Bon Marche Arcade) Perth WA 6000. Trading Hours: Monday-Closed,TuesFri-10am-5pm, Sat-10am-3pm, Ph/Fax 9225 7199, 0421 131 716.

■ RICH HARVEST  YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, baptism/communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at, 39 Hulme Court (off McCoy St), Myaree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am, Mon-Sat). We are here to serve.

Thank you Saint Joseph for helping me kickstart my career in Australia, for your help always in me getting better jobs, and for protecting me at work. My family and I humbly ask for your continual help and protection. We attest the power of Saint Joseph in protecting families and securing employment. GO TO JOSEPH!

TRAVEL COMPANION ■ TRAVEL COMPANION

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS Tydewi Bindery offer a reliable service to repair your Liturgical books, missals, bibles, to bind homilies and favourite prayers. Ph. 9293 3092.

Lady mid 60’s seeks similar for 3 weeks Trafalgar Tour to Italy in September. Prefer from Perth – Ballajura. Ph: Pat 9276 5054.

OFFICIAL DIARY FEBRUARY

19

Multi-Faith Observance for Members of Order of Australia Association, Trinity College - Archbishop Hickey Founders Day Service and Scouts Australia Youth Awards, Government House - Fr Dat Vuong

14

Opening Mass and blessing of buildings, Corpus Christi College - Bishop Sproxton

14-16

Central Commission and Media Launch of ACBC Pastoral Letter, Sydney - Archbishop Hickey

21

Mass for Communion and Liberation Movement at St Thomas the Apostle, Claremont - Archbishop Hickey

17

50th Anniversary Reunion Celebration Mass and Dinner, St Thomas More College - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Sproxton

22

Rite of Election, Applecross - Archbishop Hickey Opening Mass for Mater Dei College, Edgewater - Bishop Sproxton

many from your parish are attending. (There is a limit of two people per parish). Or alternatively contact the Alpha for Catholics Representative, Carol Wright on 0419 948 411 (email: clwright@bigpond. net.au) who would be more than happy to provide additional details.

Friday February 24 HEALING FIRE  BURNING LOVE Come and experience the healing power of Jesus through the Word and sacraments with Father Joseph Tran in the celebration of the Mass and to follow praise and workshop with healing prayer. Friday 7.30pm – 9pm Our Lady of the Missions Catholic Church, 270 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie. Every last Friday of the month thereafter. For more information please contact Jenni Young 0404 389 679.

March 3 – 6 GOD’S FARM God’s Farm welcomes you to enjoy quietly a relaxed long weekend in the Presence of God and Nature. Father Brian Morgan will be in residence offering daily Mass in the glorious stone Chapel, with the Blessed Sacrament reserved, plus prayers of the Church, and Our Blessed Lady awaits our visits in her Grotto. Father will be available for reconciliation and or consultation. Mass and mealtimes will be programmed but it is not a preached retreat, leaving more free time to walk or swim or enjoy the peace, wonder and healing of the 200 acre bushland environment. Venue: God’s Farm, Gracewood, 40kms south of Bussleton. From Friday evening March 3 – 6. Contact Betty Peaker s.f.o. Ph/Fax 9755 6212. PO Box 24, Cowaramup WA 6284.

Saturday March 4 DAY WITH MARY St Anne Church, 6549 Great Northern Highway, Bindoon 9am – 5pm. A video on Fatima will be shown at 9am. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the messages of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, sermons, Rosaries, procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. Please BYO lunch. Enq: Fanciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. Bus Services contact Nita 9367 1366.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Daily Monday to Thursday 8.30am Holy Mass. 9am – 10am Adoration. Every Thursday night 11pm to midnight Adoration. Every Friday 8.30am Holy Mass followed by Benediction. Adoration continues till 6pm. Every Saturday 8.30am Holy Mass. 9am – 9.15am Adoration. Every Monday Divine Mercy Chaplet after Holy Mass. Enq: 9721 5528.

PERPETUAL HELP NOVENA Every Saturday 4.30pm - 5pm at Redemptorist Monastery Church, 190 Vincent Street, North Perth.

REDEMPTORIST RETREAT HOUSE 190 Vincent Street, North Perth. Bookings now open for 2006 - 2007. Manageress: Mrs Janice Broderick. Fax/Phone (08) 9328 9736.

GRAND RAFFLE DRAW RESULTS Result of St Emilie’s Parish Grand Raffle Draw are: Ticket numbers: 1st, 1045, 2nd 1820, 3rd 0318, 4th – 10th 1881, 1168, 0488, 1923, 0925, 0740, 0614. Congratulations to all those with the winning tickets.

CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY Term 1 for: Family & Friends Support Groups of Substance Abusers are on Wednesdays 7–9pm, Substance Abusers Support Groups are on Tuesdays 5.30 to 7.30pm & Fridays All day Group for Substance Abusers is from 9.30am to 2pm including Healing Mass on Friday’s @ 12.30pm during term. Ladies Groups are on Tuesdays 11am to 1.30pm. Rosary is from Tuesday to Thursday 12.30 to 1pm.

BULLSBROOK SHRINE SUNDAY MASS PROGRAM 2pm every Sunday Pilgrim Mass is celebrated with Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Rd. Bullsbrook. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. A monthly pilgrimage is held on the last Sunday of the month in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation. Anointing of the sick is administered for spiritual and physical healing during Holy Mass every second Sunday of the month. The side entrance to the Church and the Shrine are open daily between 9am and 5pm for private prayer. For all enquiries contact SACRI 9447 3292.

CATHOLIC BIBLE COLLEGE Enrolments are now open for fulltime and parttime study at Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation. Orientation commences 13 Feb, Term 1 commences Monday 20 Feb. Day courses (9.30 -12.30): Bible Timeline (Mon); Saints of God/ Actions of the Holy Spirit (Tues); Life Skills (Thurs); Pastoral Ministry 1 (Thurs); Gospel of Matthew (Fri). Night Courses: Finding New Life in the Spirit (Mario Borg, Wed); Apologetics (Thurs, Paul Kelly); Bible Timeline (Thurs, Jane Borg). Contact Jane Borg 9202 6859; 0401 692 690. Website: www.acts2come.disciplesofjesus.org

TUESDAYS WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING 7pm at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre, 450 Hay Street, Perth, WA. Take time to pray and be united with Our Lord and Our Lady in prayer with

others. Appreciate more deeply the heritage of the Faith. Overcome the burdens in life with the Rosary, Meditation, Scripture, praise in song, and friendship over refreshments. Come! Join us! Mary’s Companion Wayfarers of Jesus the Way Prayer Group. Experience personal healing in prayer.

ALL SAINTS CHAPEL Lending Library of a thousand books, videos, cassettes at your service. Tel: 9325 2009. www.allsaintschapel.com

SCHOENSTATT FAMILY MOVEMENT: MONTHLY DEVOTIONS An international group focussed on family faith development through dedication to our Blessed Mother. Monthly devotions at the Armadale shrine on the first Sunday at or after the 18th day of the month at 3pm. Next event: February 19. 9 Talus Drive Armadale. Enq Sisters of Mary 9399 2349 or Peter de San Miguel 0407 242 707 www.schoenstatt.org.au

INDONESIAN MASS Every Sunday at 11.30am at St Benedict’s church Alness St, Applecross. Further info www.waicc.org. au.

PERPETUAL ADORATION Christ the King, Lefroy Rd, Beaconsfield. Enq Joe Migro 9430 7937, A/H 0419 403 100. Adoration also at Sacred Heart, 64 Mary St Highgate, St Anne’s, 77 Hehir St Belmont. Bassendean, 19 Hamilton St and Mirrabooka, 37 Changton Wy.

THE DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth – each first Sunday of the month from 1.30pm to 3.15pm with a different priest each month. St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor Street, East Perth - each Saturday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, main celebrant Fr Marcellinus Meilak, OFM. Saints John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Drive, Willeton - each Wednesday from 4pm to 5pm. Enq John 9457 7771.

ST CLARE’S SCHOOL, SISTERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD A short history of St Clare’s School is being prepared to celebrate 50 years of its work in WA. Any past students, staff, families or others associated with the school - from its time at Leederville, at North Perth, at East Perth or at Wembley - are invited to contact us with photographs, or memories. Privacy will be protected, in accordance with your wishes. Please contact Nancy Paterson on 0417 927 126, (email npaters@yahoo.com.au) or St Clare’s School, PO Box 21 & 23 Carlisle North 6161. Tel: 9470 5711.

PERPETUAL ADORATION AT ST BERNADETTE’S Adoration: Chapel open all day and all night. All welcome, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough, just north of

the city. Masses every night at 5.45pm Monday to Friday, 6.30pm, Saturday and the last Sunday Mass in Perth is at 7pm.

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATION Holy Family Church, Alcock Street, Maddington. Every Friday 8.30 am Holy Mass followed by Blessed Sacrament Adoration till 12 noon. Every first Friday of the month, anointing of the sick during Mass. Enq. 9398 6350.

SUNDAY CHINESE MASS The Perth Chinese Catholic Community invite you to join in at St Brigid’s Church, 211 Aberdeen St (Cnr of Aberdeen and Fitzgerald) Northbridge. Celebrant Rev Fr Dominic Su SDS. Mass starts 4.30pm every Sunday. Enq Augustine 9310 4532, Mr Lee 9310 9197, Peter 9310 1789.

CONFRATERNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Confraternity of the Holy Spirit has been sanctioned in the Perth Archdiocese, our aim is to make the Holy Spirit known and loved, and to develop awareness of His presence in our lives. If you would like more information please call WA Coordinator Frank Pimm on 9304 5190.

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY WALKERS MPH walkers - walking across Perth Outdoors wearing the White band is a message that we want poverty to be stopped. For info on the walk contact Teresa at tgrundy@westnet.com.au or tel. 9458 4084. For info on the worldwide campaign and what is happening this week in Perth look at www. makepovertyhistory.com.au.

Please Note The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment it considers improper or not in unison with the general display of the paper.


February 9 2005, The Record

Page 12

The Last Word A national plan to support fathers Fathers in Families, the policy document currently being serialised in The Record, aims at supporting all dads without distinction to fulfil their role as effective fathers

Undiagnosed mental illnesses Higher rates of suicide ● Alcohol and drug abuse ● Addictive anti-social behaviours ● Addictive gambling problems The National Fathering Forum seeks to promote fathers’ health and well-being and to reduce the health disadvantage of being male. This needs the assistance of the Government through increased government-funded initiatives. 12. The National Fathering Forum emphasised that a large number of deaths, injuries and illnesses that men experience are preventable. In addition, the health and well-being of men and fathers is closely associated with social and economic disadvantage such as unemployment. This requires responses from both the government and non-government sectors. The National Fathering Forum supports the national strategies for the prevention of: suicide, accidents, substance misuse and gambling addictions. We urge that these strategies be implemented with greater emphasis to the unique needs of men and fathers. ● ●

T

he National Fathering Forum has formulated a Twelve Point Plan to strengthen and support fatherhood and turn the tide of fatherlessness in Australia. This is divided into 3 major categories: I. Government That all levels of government: 1. Acknowledge the importance of fatherhood by establishing an official body to support and strengthen Australian fathers, such as an Office of the Status of Fatherhood or a Ministry of Fatherhood. 2. Increase funding for fatherbased family initiatives. The focus of government funding needs to be on prevention rather than on cure in order to achieve long-term cost effective benefits. 3. Address the gross inequity in funding for men’s issues compared to that currently available for women’s issues. 4. Recommend that a national campaign be initiated to promote fathers and fathering, that is to be run annually. 5. Reduce inequality for low socio-economic fathers by increasing their employment opportunities. 6. Acknowledge that after divorce or parental separation, every child has a fundamental right to equal contact with both the mother and the father, unless there are proven mitigating circumstances. 7. Examine all current and future legislation both federal and state in terms of how it impacts on fathers, marriages, families and children and make adjustments accordingly. This includes such things as the Family Law Act, Tax reform for families, Child Support legislation and much more. 8. Include the word ‘father’ in government department language along with the word ‘mother’ bringing a resultant positive change of attitude within governmental bureaucracy towards fathers. When the word ‘parenting’ is being defined, it should be emphasised

that the word means both mothers and fathers. II. Education Training 9. Education of Boys and Male Adults The National Fathering Forum affirmed the view of a recent report to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training that: ● While at school, more attention must be paid to the differing needs of boys and girls and their tendency to favour different learning styles. One should not be pursued at the expense of the other. ● From primary school through to tertiary education, the nature and importance of fathering should be recognised (and if needed, introduced) within the relevant curriculum standards framework. ● Boys need male role models and mentors who may be both (a) teachers or lecturers, and (b) peers. To facilitate this, there is a need to increase the participation rates of males as educators. 10. Education of Fathers.

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● Death by unnatural causes such as suicides and accidents

Fathers in Families is available from The Record. Tel: (08) 9227 7080. Cost $5+postage. For further information on the Fatherhood Foundation phone (02) 4272 6677 or go to www.fathersonline.org

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III. Fathers’ Health and Well-Being 11. Being male is associated with a number of health disadvantages. For males, this results in higher rates of: ● Hospital admissions for most injuries and illnesses

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the last minute the government gave its approval for all 57 candidates. “Finally, everything went very well, it was very successful,” Archbishop Kiet said. Only 12 of the priests were for Hanoi and the rest for the other seven dioceses served by the seminary. There are no Catholic schools in Hanoi. The most the government will allow is nuns teaching kindergarten and pre-primary students, but the Archbishop is in dialogue with the government about re-opening a Catholic school system, particularly secondary schools and a university. When? “I would like it tomorrow, but I have no idea when,” the Archbishop said. In the beginning, the communists made it very difficult for people to practise their faith, but since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 there had been a lot of changes. There were still a lot of rules and regulations, but they were inconsistent: easier in the metropolitan area, harder in the countryside, and most difficult for the Montagnard people. “In general, things have improved a lot,” he said. Archbishop Kiet arrived in Perth last Saturday and celebrated Mass with the Vietnamese Catholic Association in Westminster on Saturday and Sunday. He also met the Vietnamese clergy in Perth. He left on Wednesday for Adelaide and will then move on to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, meeting Vietnamese priests and people, visiting seminaries and discussing his country’s needs with Australian Bishops.

The Parish The Nation The World Find it in The Record

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Fathers, at various stages, need to be equipped and empowered through education programs that will enable them to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills that they need to be effective parents. The National Fathering Forum believes that: ● Just as boys benefit by men positively modelling appropriate behaviour and respectful relationships with other men and women, fathers also benefit from the support they can receive from mentors in their communities. ● There is a need for education programs that focus on strengthening the father/mother relationship due to the effects of marital quality on fathering and child adjustment.

Editor’s note: The comprehensive policy document being serialised here which contains the Twelve Point Plan makes an ideal resource for parents, families, schools and advocates of the family in our society. See details below.

A hand for Hanoi

Signature: ____________________________


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