24 FEBRUARY 2022
www.therecord.com.au
Edition #371
KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION TO CATHOLIC FAITH, LIFE AND CULTURE
Supreme Knight of Australia, Dr George Sekulla speaks to the congregation during the Mass to celebrate the Centennial Mass on Saturday 12 February at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: RON TAN.
By Eric Martin
The Knights of the Southern Cross Western Australia joyously commemorated a rich history of immense contribution to WA at their Centennial Mass and celebration, on Saturday 12 February 2022, at St Mary’s Cathedral, taking the opportunity to reflect on the momentous changes that have occurred over the last 100 years. “One hundred years ago, when the Knights of the Southern Cross were established in Australia, the social and religious context in which the Catholic Church found itself was very different to that of today,” Archbishop Timothy
Costelloe SDB said to the gathered Knights, family and invited guests. “We are all aware, for example, of the fact that so many job advertisements at that time included the phrase ‘Catholics need not apply’.” In early twentieth-century, Australia historical competition between religions (sectarianism) meant that colonial society was spilt in two - one side was British in origin and Protestant in faith, the other Irish, working class and Catholic – and conflict between these groups sometimes erupted “into a roaring blaze over issues such as home rule for Ireland, state aid for Catholic schools, socialism and conscription for overseas service in World War I.” (1).
For example, in 1905 the Australian Bishops were accused of supporting the socialist reform policies of the Labour Party (which at the time represented “nine out of 10 Catholics”), and in 1919, during WWI, then Prime Minister Billy Hughes claimed that “the Catholic Church was secretly against recruiting and that its influence killed conscription.” (2). Historians write that at this time “Catholics saw themselves as a separate group in Australian society, Catholic and Protestant children went to separate schools and joined separate clubs to pursue sporting or cultural interests.” (3). Full Text available at
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