Praying with the Vicar
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MAY That Christians may live their faith consistently and so be credible witnesses to the hope of the Gospel. -lissionary: That, with the help of Mary, Most Holy Virgin and Mother, the social and amily vocation of women may be safeguarded and promoted in every country and culture.
OSBOI6E PARK. DL
WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: May 30 2002 Price: $1
Apology for a life I'm sorry I turned up unwelcome, No, my father's not thoughtfulIknow, And he wouldn't take no for an answer, There was no point in telling him so. So no doubt you were right not to tell him There was no way that he'd understand, There'd be time for a child in the future One that arrived when you planned. AndIknow that you couldn't afford me: A child is a dreadful expense; You can't just ignore economics, In the long run it wouldn't make sense. Besides, your career is important, You've worked too hard to let it all go, It's not just a case of promotion, But you've earned recognition -Iknow. And adoption would be so traumatic Social workers, red tape and all that, Nine months with an unasked-for burden, And you'd have to move out (1the flat. And of course there's the feminist angle, "Safe, legal, and" - most of all - "free"; You've a right to control of your body, Although it was connected to me. You've a right to control your own body, And absolute freedom of choice, Unhindered by law or by conscience Or the cry of a small muffled voice. No, I'm sure on the whole you chose wisely, I would have been rather a pest, No, of course you weren't just being selfish, You just did what you thought was best. So I'm sorry Ibled on your carpet, You see, there was part of me left, Perhaps if the knife had been sharper, (Jr the doctor a little more deft. For a short time life brought us together, But you had other futures to seek, Still, you were, for a little, my mother, I'm sorryIruined your week. Lyle Dunne in the May 2002 edition of Quadrant
Dr Jennifer Skerriff, who is also WA's representative on the Commission for Catholic Women, reads Lyle Dunn's poem on the steps of Parliament House.
More than 300 people gathered on the steps of State Parliament last week to protest about Western Australia's abortion legislation. The protest was organised to mark the fourth anniversary of the passing of the legislation that permits abortion in WA. Among speakers to address the assembly was pro-life campaigner, Dr Jennifer Skerritt, who read the above poem. See full report and more pictures from the protest on page 4.
In the last two months The Record has.... • introduced the popular column CONVERSION STORIES written by readers • brought you the NEWS on the Church from the parish level all the way up to that of Pope John Paul II in Rome
The Reconi Commission for women sits in Perth by Bronwen Clune
The Commission for Catholic Women met in Perth on Monday as part of its ongoing dialogue to encourage the participation of women in the Catholic Church. Commission Chair Geraldine Hawkes said the quarterly meetings were a followup to the hearings held around Australia two years ago. ▪For many people that was a watershed moment in the life of the Church: Mrs Hawkes said. 'It meant a lot to people that they could have their deepest fears and hopes for the Church heard without fear of being interrupted. ▪In a sense what we are doing is a continuation of that process by listening to the stories of Catholic women and working with the bishops to build up better relationships within the Church: The commission was appointed by the Mrs Geraldine Hawkes, chair of the Commission for Catholic Women, speaking last Monday with Photos Bronwen Clune Australian Catholic Bishop's Conference fellow commissioner Professor Patrick Duignan. in 2000. The Perth liaison officer for the ComMrs Hawkes said its most recent meetmission. Mrs Sue Larsen (the diocesan ing was focused on encouraging collabofield officer for the RCIA program) said it ration and dialogue within the Catholic was not on the commission's current community in relation to the work the agenda to push for the ordination of commission is doing. women priests. She said the feedback from women in She said the biggest achievement of the the Perth diocese as well as others around commission since its inception in 2000 was the network of women it had brought Australia, was that they felt the institutogether across Australia through its tional church was not open to their frusdiocesan contacts. There are now about trations and pains. 30 contacts throughout Australia. 'One of the main frustrations continualMrs Larsen said one of the resolutions ly relayed to us is the fact that many women feel decisions are made in a vac- Margaret O'Hagan and Clare Pike, two of the to come out of the Perth meeting was to uum without any input from them: Mrs women who attended the reception for the publish a book that profiles the stories of Commission after its meeting last Monday women who have 'broken through the Hawkes said. glass ceiling'. The commission will also 'As well as that there are often concerns evening in Perth. about non-inclusive language used by the groups within the Church the commis- publish profiles on its website. 'There are lots of women out there doing Church and the practice of exclusive ritu- sion was generally met with a positive als. For example, in some parishes, wash- response as it met in different diocese very creative things and making an impact on the lives of the Church and we need to ing of the feet on Holy Thursday is still around Australia. be encouraging others to do the same.' only open to men.' 'Women in particular are very grateful She said some of the concerns and to have a forum where they can talk about Editorial - Page 7 requests raised by speakers at the recep- the Church with the aim of fostering bet- Bronwen Clune's comment - Page 2 tion, held after the Commission meeting ter relations,' she said. and open to parish representatives and 'We are really about building a new invited guests, were outside the mandate church of relationships - a vibrant and of the Commission. alive church that listens to the lived expe'We have a very clear mandate and that riences of ordinary people. is to encourage the participation of `Women have many gifts and virtues to women within the Church,' she said. bring to the Church and this is all about She said despite scepticism from some encouraging those talents.'
• introduced WORDS OF WISDOM, WA author Tony Evans' engrossing guide to the great Catholic and Christian writers • demolished Peter Carnley's views on embryonic life • featured Miss America 2001 Angela Perez Baraquio talking about why Sunday Mass comes
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