The Catholic Weekly 23 January 2022

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 23, January, 2022 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years FROM P1 “It probably is not healthy, and I think this bill addresses that in a really positive way.” The ACBC representatives replied to questions for al- most an hour on 13 January, ranging from the straightfor- ward, to the aggressive and bizarre. Committee chair, Nationals MP Dr Anne Webster, asked the Archbishop for examples of discrimination against Catholic schools. Archbishop Comensoli cit- ed the 2021 amendments to the Victorian Equal Opportu- nity Act, which limited prefer- ential hiring to roles in which “conformity with religious beliefs is an inherent require- ment of the job”. “We’ve always sought to employ those who will follow the mission, identity and val- ues of our schools,” Archbish- op Comensoli said. “This comes down to amat- ter of a religion or an institu- tion with religious values hav- ing a better sense of its own policies and understanding and values,” he added, before the deputy chair, Labor MP Graham Perrett, interjected. “Are you putting the Pope before the minister of the Crown?” Perrett asked. “I’m not Thomas More—or in that case St [John] Fisher,” Archbishop Comensoli re- plied. The bill would also create the office of the Religious Dis- crimination Commissioner in the Australian Human Rights Commission, which Arch- bishop Comensoli addressed in his answers. “I think there is a serious question when a [proposed Church wants bipartisan solution, Archbishop Comensoli says ‘Faith law is a good balance’ religious] commissioner, who is likely to be a political ap- pointment, is making judge- ments in areas that may not be their areas of expertise,” he said. “We could have a broader discussion around whether there is a need for commis- sions and commissioners, but I think that’s not necessarily the point that you’re wanting to get at.” “Just to be clear: you sup- port a religious commission- er?” Perrett replied. “We are open to having one,” Archbishop Comensoli said. Labor Senator Louise Pratt vigorously questioned the ACBC representatives on the effect of the new legislation on the existing patchwork of reli- gious exemptions to anti-dis- crimination law, in response to Archbishop Comensoli’s position that the new legisla- tion was an improvement on the status quo. Stuparich noted that the MelbourneArchbishop Peter Comensoli, at left, told the Parliamenta- ry Committee that Catholic employment practices focus on“conduct more than attributes and character more than characteristics...”. PHOTO: CNS/PAUL HARING role of avoiding unintended consequences ultimately falls to the future Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry, to take place a year after the legislation is passed. “The frustration so far has been that the Law Reform Commission has had to be sit- ting on its hands for the past couple of years, waiting for this work to start,” he said. Momentary confusion en- sued toward the end of the hearing when Greens Sena- tor Janet Rice pressured the Archbishop to take a position on the vaccination policy of an organisation called the “Church of Ubuntu”. The “Church of Ubuntu”, which describes itself as “a non-dualistic all embracing multi-faith philosophy and way of life” was recently men- tioned in reports for allegedly sacking a Byron Bay woman who had received the COV- ID-19 vaccine. “So you would support the position of the Church of Ubuntu to sack someone on the basis of being vaccinated if that’s their statement of be- lief?” Rice asked Archbishop Comensoli. “I don’t know what it is. I am just seeing this now. It is the kind of thing we cannot comment on because we ha- ven’t actually seen this,” the Archbishop replied. “The High Court has been very careful about examining what is a tenet and belief, and it doesn’t go to just personal whims or any sorts of state- ments,” he added. Archbishop Comensoli said the Catholic Church has been “working very hard to try and find a bipartisan way through all of this, and the leaders of both the major par- ties are aware of the conversa- tions that we’ve had to try and bring something around that”. The ACBC submission and statements to the public hear- ing have emphasised the rea- sonableness of the bill, with Professor Reynolds saying that it has “found a good bal- ance” in protecting the rights of religious believers to ex- press “hard truths” that may be perceived as offensive, but aren’t intimidatory or threat- ening, while also disallowing harassment and vilification. The committee also heard evidence from Jacinta Col- lins on behalf of the National Catholic Education Commis- sion, from other faith organ- isations, as well as a range of legal experts, think tanks and lobby groups. A second inquiry into the bill, at the Senate Standing Committee for Legal and Constitutional Affairs, will hold hearings on 20 and 21 January. I n this edition News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-11 8-9 17 20-21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 Adam Wesselinoff (02) 9390 5400 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au 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 5218. 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