The Catholic Weekly 18 October 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 18, October, 2020 FROM PAGE 1 “We know that we can do this safely. “It’s not just an equity is- sue, it’s also a wellbeing is- sue because for many of the people who attend church or places of worship this is so es- sential to their wellbeing. “This is a simple adjust- ment that can be made safely to treat people fairly.” The petition is supported by a variety of faith groups including the Islamic Coun- cil of Victoria, Hindu Council of Australia, the Brahma Ku- maris, Greek Orthodox Arch- diocese of Australia, Knights of the Southern Cross, Fam- ily Voice Australia, Australi- an Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga, Australian Catholic Medical Association and The Catholic Weekly . It comes amid growing concerns about the effect of the pandemic restrictions on mental health and an appeal to world leaders from the World Health Organisation to stop using lockdowns as a primary coronavirus control method. Nearly 300 Victorian church pastors and leaders separately wrote an open letter on 8 October urging Premier Andrews to allow churches to open for indoor worship. Although daily new COV- ID-19 cases in Victoria are at the lowest in months, the state entered its 11th consec- utive week of severe restric- tions in Melbourne since the beginning of its second wave of the pandemic in August. Currently, third step re- Victorian believers demand Premier abandons discrimination Faiths demand equal treatment strictions apply throughout regional Victoria while sec- ond step restrictions are in place in metropolitan Mel- bourne. Last week Premier An- drews also extended the state of emergency and state of dis- aster until 8 November. “The 2016 national census indicates that approximately 60 percent of Victorians iden- tify as religious,” the petition reads. “There is no logical rea- son for this discrepancy. “People of faith are able to attend a service in a place of worship whilst wearing a face Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral remains empty after Melbourne’s 11th consecutive week of severe restrictions. PHOTO: UNSPLASH mask; physical distancing is not a challenge in what are of- ten very large venues; services are time-limited and rigorous infection-control measures are able to be implemented. “A place of worship can and should be accessible in a COVID-safe way. “Religious organisations should be afforded the same opportunity to open for in- door worship with density quotients equivalent to those seen in other parts of the community such as hospital- ity. “We were afforded the op- portunity as we emerged from the first lockdown; we deserve to be afforded the same op- portunity again as we emerge from the second lockdown.” The Australian Christian Lobby also called on the Vic- torian government to remove pandemic restrictions. “The church leaders’ con- cerns further highlight the negative impacts raised for months by many Victorian health professionals, warning the government against a pro- longed and strict lockdown,” it said. Sign the petition at www. equalityforfaith.com.au MONICA DOUMIT P11 I n this edition 7 UNDA INVOKES SPIRIT OF NEWMAN 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 5155. 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. News Movies, streaming Archbishop’s homily Opinion, comment Opinion, comment 1-7 8-9 22-24 11, 25-27 28-29 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. NEWS