the Record
“Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ.”
-Bishop Matthew Gibney 1874
the Parish. the Nation. the World.
www.therecord.com.au
Perth, Western Australia $2
Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday October 1 2008
Hart throws down the gauntlet over VIC abortion law push n VIC abortion law poses “real threat”
to key Catholic health services, Melbourne Archbishop warns
October Synod aims at rediscovering...
His Word
Bishops from all over the world will gather in Rome in October for a key Synod on Scripture. One of the synod’s fruits they are clearly hoping for is that Catholics begin reading the Bible regularly again, listening for the voice of God in their daily lives.
n Former Australian Ambassador to
Vatican urges wave of prayer support for Archbishop’s stance
n By Anthony Barich
Victorian Catholic hospitals’ maternity and emergency units may need to shut down if legislation legalising abortion passes through the State’s Legislative Council, says Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart. Meanwhile, the former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See and Dublin, Sir Peter Lawler, says the effects of the Victorian legislation could, if passed, extend throughout Australia. In a comprehensive attack on the Abortion Law Reform Bill that was introduced into Victoria’s Legislative Assembly in August, Archbishop Hart called for urgent action by Catholics and “all people of good will” in a six-page pastoral letter issued on September 19.
Hearing His voice: A young woman holds a Bible study guide during a Catholic scripture class. Bishops are hoping the forthcoming October Synod on Scripture will help increase the average Catholic’s understanding of the importance of the Bible. Catholics have long been outpointed by Protestants in familiarity with God’s Word in Scripture and seeing it as of relevance to daily life. photo: cns Warning: Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne has issued a six-page pastoral letter and warned that Catholic hospitals may have to close maternity and emergency units rather than co-operate in the killing of the unborn.
He included the names, region, contact numbers, faxes, email addresses and websites of every Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for people to address their concerns to. The Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly on September 11, will be debated in the Upper House on October 7 and, if passed through the Legislative Council, could become law by October 15. Archbishop Hart said the Bill poses a “real threat” to the continued existence of Catholic hospitals. “Under these circumstances, it is difficult to foresee how Catholic hospitals could
O
ur faith and the entire Church are based on Scripture. Jesus Christ, of course, is the foundation of the Church, but Scripture sets out the history of God’s relationship with the human race and conveys the timeless truths of his plan of life and love for us. It also records the most astonishing events in history - how God became one of us, died for us and then conquered death so that we might be with the one who created us and loves us divinely - forever. In other words, the anwer to the meaning of our lives is found in the one book most of us hardly ever look at.
Reports, analysis: Vista 1 - Page 9
Continued on Page 6
In Mackillop’s steps
A young Catholic in Adelaide has successfully launched a pilgrimage to Penola in the footsteps of our first saint, that has the potential to be a Page 7 smash hit.
protecting minors
Kids Free 2B Kids director Julie Gale hopes to whip up a storm over magazines freely available in milkbars and servos that promote sex with Page 6 minors.
Marriage Matters
In its first national conference in Perth in 17 years, the Australian Family Association has brought in the big guns to discuss solutions for the assault on marriage currently underway. Page 4