The Catholic Weekly 3 May 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 3 3, May, 2020 Looking for a new Job? www.catholicjobsonline.com.au IT WAS described as ‘Super- hero stuff’ when, earlier this month, a brave Parish Priest, MonsignorBrunoLefèvre-Pon- talis of St Francis Xavier parish in Paris climbed to the roof of his enormous Church to bless the city with the Blessed Sacra- ment. With no guardrail for sup- port on thewindy rooftopof the six-storey building, Monsignor Bruno held the Blessed Sacra- ment aloft over the beautiful city skyline, asking for God’s protection during the Corona- virus pandemic. Incredible photos of the blessing were posted online to the delight and joy of Catholic’s around the world who offered their thanks and support for the heroic gesture, commending the Monsignor for his efforts, his commitment and the pow- er of the Blessed Sacrament. ANNA KROHN P10 ¾ ¾ Benjamin Conolly A rooftop blessing for Paris Rosary Relay launched THE ARCHDIOCESE of Sydney has launched a Family Rosary Relay for May topray for Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP’s inten- tions. A video of Archbish- op Fisher inviting families and Catholics to join in the Relay was released on the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney website this week. One of Archbishop Fisher’s specific intentions is issued for every day of the Relay throughout the month. The month of May is traditionally devoted to Mary and many Catholics already are in the habit of praying the rosary at home during themonth. The Relay also honours Mary with a specific title each day as well. Families are invited to register their intent to pray at least one decade during the month of May for the intentions of the Archbish- op. The registration form asks them to choose a spe- cific day of the month and a specific mystery of the Rosary to pray. All those participating can register here. A decade of the Rosary will be livestreamed each day at 4.00pm on the Life Family andOutreach Face- book page with an intro- duction to the day’s prayer intention and the title of Our Lady being used. A free supplementa- ry 31 Ways to love Our Lady more throughout the Month of May PDF will also be available to be downloaded. The Australian promo- tor of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, Fr James Baxter OP, has writ- ten a personal invitation to all those who register, to consider joining the Con- fraternity. This week, Pope Francis wrote a letter to all Catho- lics asking them to make a special effort in May to pray the Rosary, including praying for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. POPE’S LETTER P24 Bid to protect freedom NSWMLCMark Latham launches amendments aiming to stymie vexatious activists PROPOSED CHANGES to the state’s anti-discrimination laws that wouldprotect religious be- lievers frombeing unfairly pur- sued could be brought to Par- liament as early as June. Mark Latham MLC intro- duced the privatemembers bill in the NSW Legislative Council in February to amend the han- dling of complaints by the An- ti-Discrimination Board. He said it will prevent its processes being abused to potentially financially ruin anyone in the country who expressed views on social me- dia that individuals sought to punish. Mr Latham was prompted in part by the experiences of Catholic blogger Bernard Gay- nor and a former Newcastle taxi driver with an acquired brain injury, John Sunol, who have each had multiple com- plaints brought against them by political activist Garry Burns. In April the Board’s pres- ident Annabelle Bennett ruled that complaints Mr ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Burns lodged last December against Israel Folau’s com- ments on social media and during a church sermon re- lating to homosexuals and same-sex marriage were vex- atious and an abuse of the process. Mr Lathamtold The Catholic Weekly that while hewelcomed that outcome “it should never have got to that stage and the reason for my private mem- ber’s bill is to ensure that it nev- er happens again”. He said the bill is aimed at bringing NSW into line with other states, which all have higher thresholds at which complaints may be accepted. It would increase provisions for the Board’s president to de- cline complaints as frivolous or vexatious if necessary, and remove the requirement for the President to refer rejected complaints to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. “There’s been a very clear pattern of activists using the anti-discrimination laws of NSW for political purposes, in particular gay activists target- ing Christians but also other vulnerable people in the com- munity,” Mr Latham said. Mr Gaynor told The Catholic Weekly that it is “an absolute disgrace” that the Anti-Dis- crimination Board “has al- lowed a vexatious ‘anti-free speech’ activist to target Catho- lics and Christians simply be- cause he wants them silenced”. “I am very grateful to Mark Latham for his hard work to address this issue,” Mr Gaynor said. Currently the law allows for complaints to be lodged at no cost. If the complaint is deemed frivolous or vexatious by the Board president, an ap- peal can be lodged with the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where penalties of up to $100,000 can be award- ed, and it can also be pursued through the courts. “In the case of Bernard Gay- nor it’s got to the ridiculous point where we’re spending le- gal affairs money in NSWpurs- ing a Queenslander where he lives,” saidMr Latham. “People then have to defend themselves, hire lawyers and engage in this dreadful process of lawfare that can drag on for years, destroy them financially and in the pressure and public- ity that’s applied to them. “It is plainlywrong. Discrim- ination is an important matter and resources be wasted in the political pursuit of anyone who has done nothingwrong, not to mention often people who live in other states, which is even more absurd.” BERNARD GAYNOR In a feud between Queens- land father- of-eight Bernard Gaynor and Garry Burns, who described himself as a defender of homosexuals, 37 complaints have been filed with the Board against Mr Gaynor since 2014. He has not once been found guilty. The Catholic blogger was forced to sell his home to pay for legal bills. “Distressing” cases JOHN SUNOL Former New- castle taxi- driver John Sunol has an acquired brain injury and uses social media to post his views in a “random and incoherent fashion” against homosexual people, said Mr Latham in his second reading speech. Mr Sunol is said to owe Mr Burns more than $50,000 that he cannot pay as he was bank- rupted in 2014. There are now moves to access the trust fund that controls Sunol’s $400,000 compensation payment for his accident in 1978. NEWS