“We hope for an end to the pain, the hurt and the injustice that has burdened the First Peoples of this land for far too long.” - Photo:canva.com
The Australian Catholic Bishops Statement for 2023-2024 is, Listen, Learn, Love A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Social Justice Sunday is when the Australian Bishops launch a statement to inspire reflection and action. This year’s Social Justice Statement is Listen, Learn, Love A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In his address at the launch event, Bishop Vincent Van Long Nguyen said much of the preparation was spent listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural and regional areas around Australia, to learn from their experiences and feelings as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.
Members of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) are co-authors with the Bishops in their 2023-2024 Social Justice Statement. Members of NATSICC share stories about their people’s situation today both in Australia and the Church, their stories of survival and aspirations for a better future. They speak of painful experiences that have lasting impacts through generations. Despite various government reports and efforts over decades, for the most part their actions to improve the living standards of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people have not worked.
To this end, NATSICC find the upcoming 2023 referendum on the enshrined Voice to Parliament an opportunity for Australia to begin a new chapter, and hope Catholics along with other people of faith will support the Yes campaign. “We hope for an end to the pain, the hurt and the injustice that has burdened the First Peoples of this land for far too long.”
Many Catholic organisations along with those in the wider society have shown support for the Voice. Catholic Religious Australia, the peak body for leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies encourage all Australians to take the time to educate themselves on the Voice so they are able to make an informed choice. Columban missionaries are members of CRA. CRA points to the request for Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, the culmination of a long lead up and consultation process. In April 2021, CRA endorsed the Enshrinement of an Indigenous Voice in the Australian Constitution.
The members of NATSICC acknowledge the slow but growing level of support by Church for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in various ways, and hope to see a strengthening of the commitment to building relationships of trust and respect. NATSICC have developed resources that are available on their website to help Catholics learn about the issues, reflect, discern and pray in readiness for the upcoming referendum.
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Office
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon
Related links
- Read: Bishop Vincent Long’s Address at the Social Justice Statement Launch 2023
- Read: Media Release - Bishops’ statement calls for ‘new engagement’ with First Peoples
- Read: CRA calls for Enshrinement of an Indigenous Voice in the Australian Constitution
