The Catholic Weekly 7 June 2020

$2 There is also a need to discern how and when various recommendations might best be considered, not least in light of the upcoming ... Plenary Council.” ACBC 2 June Statement A CONFIDENTIAL adviso- ry report to Australia’s bish- ops and religious superiors has been leaked to a French Catholic newspaper after the bishops were criticised for not publishing it immediate- ly. The document on Church governance titled Light from the Southern Cross, which was published online by La Croix on 1 June, is an incomplete report said the Australian Catholics Bishops Confer- ence which commissioned it along with Catholic Religious Australia last year. The 200-page report was commissioned to review the Church’s governance and management structures, fol- lowing a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Implementation Advi- sory Group (IAG) responsible for the reviewpresented the re- port including 86 recommen- dations to the bishops just days before the opening of their biannual plenary conference from 7-14 May asking that it be published immediately. Among its proposals are greater transparency in some areas of Church life such as publishing diocesan and parish financial reports and being more open about how bishops are selected and ap- pointed. Following the plenary, president of the ACBC Arch- bishop Mark Coleridge said that to do it justice, the bish- ops would consider the report in depth, take advice, and discuss it at their November plenary before publishing it along with their response. Victoria-based organisa- tion Catholics for Renewal ac- cused the bishops of keeping the report “secret” and called for it to be published before June, with its President Dr Peter Wilkinson saying it “be- longs to all the People of God“. In a 2 June statement the ACBC said that given the ver- sion that had been published by La Croix is not the final document and still required “some corrections and clarri- fications” was one reason for the delay. “That process has com- menced, and is likely to take several weeks,” said the bish- op’s statement. “There is also a need to discern how and when various recommenda- tions might best be consid- ered, not least in light of the upcoming assemblies of the Plenary Council. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ACBC report leaked Bishops stand firmon decision to review confidential document before its release ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues FIVE SYDNEYSIDERS proudly number amongAustralia’s new- est Catholics thanks to the work of theHoly Spirit and thepeople who have helped them along their faith journeys. The coronavirus pandemic delayed their reception of sac- raments at St Mary’s Cathedral but on Pentecost Sunday Fin- sen Alexander, Merry Cen, Eve SmithandSidaZhaowerefinal- ly welcomed for baptism, con- firmation and first communion by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OPwith “great joy”. So too was Bonny Chen, who, already baptised, was received into full com- munion with the Church. Traditionally, catechumens whoarenotbaptisedattheEast- erVigil but are ready forbaptism were baptised on Pentecost. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Late, but still they enter the Church 7, June, 2020 IS CATHOLICISM JUST ... BORING? COMING TO GRIPS: PLENARY PAPERS P18 Compassionate, holistic aged care, delivered with Catholic values. 1800 778 767 | [email protected] | www.svcs.org.au If your loved one needs additional support, talk to us – one of Australia’s leading Catholic aged care and retirement living specialists. P24 Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP lays his hands over a catechumen at St Mary’s Ca- thedral on Pentecost Sunday. PHOTO: PATRICK J LEE