The Catholic Weekly 23 August 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 23, August, 2020 FROM P1 The findings coming to light during this pandemic have shockedmany. Professor Ibrahim told the Commission that aged care residents were being treated like ‘second class citizens’ and that attitudes of futility towards those most vulnerable are fuel- ling a disaster that will prema- turely kill hundreds. “This is the worst disaster that is still unfolding before my eyes and it’s the worst in my entire career,” said Professor Ibrahim. “I didn’t think we would sink any lower following the Royal Commission findings from last year and yet we have. In my opinion, hundreds of residents are, and will, die pre- maturely because people have failed to act. “There’s a level of apathy, a lack of urgency. There’s an at- titude of futility which leads to an absence of action.” In the same hearing, Mi- chael Lye Deputy Secretary for Ageing and Aged Care within the Commonwealth Depart- This response ‘is a disaster’ ment of Health, conceded to the Commission benefits of a national expert panel body to advocate for those in aged care in light of the overwhelming crisis. “There is a role for or- ganisations to get very practi- Our elderly are being treated like ‘second class citizens” says Monash University’s Prof Joseph Ibrahim. cal benefit from clinical excel- lence-type people who are, for the most part, in the State and Territory health systems,” said Mr Lye. “And so I do think, going forward, we need to look at that as an issue.” In response to the crisis, Health Minister Greg Hunt has insisted that all hospitals must admit infected COVID-19 patients who re- quire clinical care regardless of age. I n this edition 24 DEAR AUSSIES, NO WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT OK EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 David Ryan (02) 9390 5408 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5145. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a Helping build a brighter future for children and families in crisis. Dunlea Centre 35A Waratah Road Engadine NSW 2233 Phone 02 8508 3900 AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL BOYS' TOWN A place for change... www.dunleacentre.org.au Celebrating loved ones for over 90 years Trevor Lee & Son is a family business that has helped families celebrate and remember their loved ones for over 90 years. ♦ Intimate and personal funeral services ♦ Professional, compassionate staff, available 24 hours a day ♦ On site or in the comfort of your own home ♦ Servicing all areas of Metropolitan Sydney and Country NSW ♦ Pre-Paid Funerals available Contact Bernadette (nee O’Hare), Trevor or Darren Lee on 9746 2949 to arrange an appointment. IN A move to help the Aus- tralian community – many of whom are suffering under COVID-19 social distancing and lockdown - the Australian Catholic Historical Society has made available a catalogue of online resources for leisurely browsing. The catalogue contains re- cords of unique events in the history of the Catholic com- munity in Australia. Founded in 1940, the ACHS has a long tradition of ¾ ¾ David Ryan Society offers history online talks, journals and newslet- ters as well as a program of monthly talks in Sydney and quarterly talks in Melbourne – both of which have since been suspended due to the pandemic. ACHS President Dr John Carmody welcomed the re- sources. “We have recently refurbished our website and diversified its contents. It is an important and enduring part of our mission that, thereby, we will enthuse a new and younger generation about the value and pleasure of our his- tory,” he said. “We are what our history has made us: we cannot understand any aspect of ourselves without under- standing our history and that understanding is important for us all.” A page of podcasts and vid- eos include links to newsreel footage of major events from the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Melbourne 1932 to Mary MacKillop’s Canonisation in 2010. To view the resources visit: https://australiancatholi- chistoricalsociety.com.au/ history-resources/ We have recently refurbishedourwebsite anddiversified its contents. It is an impor- tant and enduringpart of ourmission.” Dr John Carmody, ACHS President News Streaming Archbishop’s homily World Opinion, comment 1-7 8-9 14-15 11,17-19 20-21 A litmus test of age THE “ETHICAL tone” of a society is not determined by how it treats its most powerful, strongest, most affluent members, but by how it treats its weak- est, most in need, most vulnerable members ... What does our appalling treatment of them, in par- ticular in the COVID-19 pandemic, tell us about ourselves and the “ethical tone” of our contempo- rary Australian society? Read Margaret Somer- ville online at: www. catholicweekly.com.au NE