The Catholic Weekly 6 June 2021

6, June, 2021 Rather than accepting [our] proposals, Minister Pavey has decided to consolidate all ... operators into a single operator, OneCrown ... to be frank, the decision makes no sense at all” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP ARCHBISHOP ANTHONY Fisher OP has written to all NSWMPs asking for support for his call on the state government to reverse its decision todismiss faith-based operators from the management of cemeteries. The request came as a groundswell of support saw more than 9000 people sign a petition to Premier Gla- dys Berejiklian in three days. The Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT), which manages cemeteries at Rookwood, Liverpool, Kemps Creek and North Rocks, had its 28 May termination delayed for one week following the shock decision. In his letter, the archbish- op wrote that for four years, religious groups including the Catholic Archdiocese of Syd- ney, have been in consultation with the Government in rela- tion to the issues currently fac- ing Sydney cemeteries. They include an urgent lack of burial space, the need for sufficient funds for ongoing maintenance, and the need for affordable funerals and burials. The Catholic Church “has offered solutions to theGovern- ment that would address these issues immediately and at no cost to the Government or tax- payer”, the archbishopwrote. “These solutions were sup- ported by other Christian, Is- lamic and Jewish faith groups, who have, for generations, trusted CMCT to offer buri- als that respect their religious rituals, show reverence to the bodies of their deceased, and offer solace to the grieving. “Rather than accepting these proposals, Minister Pavey has decided to consolidate all Crown operators into a single operator, OneCrown, to be ad- ministered by a new Govern- ment bureaucracy. “This decision has the long- est lead time, comes at thehigh- est cost and with the least expe- rience inmanagement of burial grounds. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Archbishop bypasses Premier Thousands signpetitionon cemeteries asArchbishopalertsMPs to implications of government’s plan ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues FOR THE first time in Sydney’s history, two brothers have been ordained to the priesthood on the same day. Siblings Dan- iel and Stephen Drum were or- dained last weekend by Arch- bishop Anthony Fisher OP at St Mary’s Cathedral in front of more than 700 people including 90 of their closest family. And incredibly the fami- ly’s vocations don’t stop there, younger sibling Rosie has been a Sister with the Missionary of God’s Love for over 10 years. Known to friends as the “Holy Trinity”, the spiritual siblings are the beating drums of the Catho- licChurchinAustraliaandprove that a family that prays together … stays together. The brothers are both members of the Ver- bum Dei Missionary Fraternity, a new approach to Christian life which is an institute of conse- crated life whose mission is to propagate the Kingdom of God through praying, proclaiming and giving life-testimony to the Word of God. CONTINUEDONPAGE13 ¾ Debbie Cramsie Brothers become priests Double standards on death reveal a deeper moral failure NEW marriage retreat comes to Sydney P16 P7 $2 PAUL KELLY