The Catholic Leader - 22 April

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The Catholic Leader, April 22, 2018
Conversations
tions of that identity for me?
The issue of same-sex secular marriages has
been decided by the Australian public and many,
many good people will seek to make such a
commitment.
Many of us will come to know such couples,
through work or other social engagements and
friendships.
The question for Catholics generally is how
do we engage and welcome everyone into this
dialogue, especially those who seek fellowship
in Catholic parishes?
That some Catholics themselves may feel
estranged from the Church they otherwise love,
because of this issue and other questions, is in
itself a scandal we have to address.
From Fr Brennan’s wider writings and talks (I
did not see the Q&A) I think he gives us a way
into such engagements.
Call of the laity
THE call by the youth for
the Church to listen to them
(TCL, 25/3/18) also calls
for the youth to listen to the
Church.
With the rapid advance
in technology an enormous
amount of information is available today.
This requires the setting up of facilities
where this information can be analysed as to its
accuracy.
It is hoped that today’s youth will appreci-
ate the Decree of the Laity (Second Vatican
council), which spoke to the laity (including
the youth) about its role and involvement in the
life of the Church and about the call of the laity
to holiness.
Time to celebrate
APRIL 13 to April 22 was
Youth Week, a week in
which we celebrate the suc-
cesses, goals and dreams of
our young people.
Young people are our
future; it is our job as a
community to nurture them
as they grow into functioning and valuable
members of our society.
I know my organisation Youth Off The
Streets offers exciting and engaging services
all year round, but we take particular emphasis
on giving young people the chance to celebrate
Youth Week.
Our Outreach services are hosting many
Youth Week-orientated activities to bring com-
munity and individuals closer together.
Whether it is at a sporting game at the local
park, a barbecue or just hanging out with youth
workers, I know that the young people in my
services will join in on celebrating this week.
I love being there to celebrate the victories,
but I – more than most – know that we can’t just
be there for the good times.
I have many young people with great success
stories but the young people who need you the
most are the ones who are living a daily struggle
– the young people who leave to go to school
without food, the young people who don’t know
where they will sleep tonight, the young people
who just can’t make it in mainstream schooling.
We need to recognise these young people and
uplift them so that they can make a real differ-
ence to their own lives and to the lives of others.
Some young people live with serious disad-
vantage, these are the kids I work with, and they
need your support.
In celebrating Youth Week – not only would
you be celebrating our young people, but you
would be supporting some of Australia’s most
vulnerable people.
Deep respect
I WRITE reflecting on Dr
Tim Coyle’s letter (TCL,
15/4/18).
Fr Frank Brennan is com-
passionate and through his
calling as priest and lawyer
we, in wider communities,
have indeed been blessed by his engagement and
insights on many issues over many years.
I worry when we, as lay people, all too often
only use the language of sin and condemnation
in reflecting on others’ lifestyles, especially if
they are not Catholic.
We are all called to engage in the secular
world and this first suggests a primary need to
listen deeply and to adopt a deep respect for the
individual.
How do I reflect the compassion of Christ, in
today’s language – when the other party does not
accept my language, and to do this without my
denying my Catholic faith, with all the implica-
Have your Say
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Retweet A disastrous earthquake that shook Papua New Guinea’s remote
highlands has left an estaimed 35,000 villagers displaced. Humani-
tarian aid agencies are continuing to provide food and medicine to
affected communities.
Prayer List
JAMIE ISBISTER
Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade
Humanitarian Coordinator
Bishop donald
lippert
Bishop of Mendi, PNG
Mardi steere
Global paediatric
emergency medicine
physician
RASMII BELL
Papua New Guinean writer
AUSMAT medical staff have
been hard at work treating
patients affected by the
#PNGearthquake, and today
helped deliver the first baby of
their mission #AustralianAid
UNICEF caravan attacked near
Nipa today. A medical doctor
who came to PNG to help our
people was sent to the hospital
himself with injuries. Very poor
reflection on (some of) our
people. After the earthquake
relief perhaps we need to work
on building the character of our
people?
S/O Emma Griffiths (Panel
Facilitator) for highlighting the
limited Aus media coverage
of events in #PNG . Thank
you for informing audience of
#PNGearthquake . Sig. event
with implications for community
conflict.
Makes me happy to see the
AUSMAT team working along-
side local PNG healthcare
professionals to support their
system, instead of in some inde-
pendent medical tent - hopefully
#AustralianAid part of ongoing
system strengthening after the
disaster’s over. #PNGearthquake
This month
pope’s intentions
For those who have Responsibility
in Economic Matters – That econo-
mists may have the courage to reject any
economy of exclusion and know how to
open new paths.
This week
Afghanistan – Armed conflict in Afghan-
istan has killed 763 civilians and injured
1495 in the first three months of this year.
Papua New Guinea – Hundreds of
thousands of people are still in need of
assistance in Papua New Guinea following
earthquakes that have killed more than 150
people.
Mali – Fifteen militants and a UN peace-
keeper were killed in a recent attack on a
UN base in Timbuktu, Mali.
Syria – After the US, France and Britain
launched airstrikes on Syria on February
13, the United Nations called on the inter-
national community to avoid actions which
could escalate the crisis there and deepen
the suffering of the Syrian people.
Br Lindsay
Rust, sac
Kew,
Victoria
Fr Chris
Riley.
Founder of
Youth Off
The Streets
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THE Leader Catholic
from
th i
Some young people
live with serious
disadvantage, these
are the kids I work
with, and they need
your support.
M.F. Buttler
Lismore,
NSW