ALWAYS WITH US: Looking at the greatest gift He has VISTA 2-3 left us - the Eucharist FOR THE BEST DEAL ON A NEW HONDA, ACCESSORIES, PARTS, FINANCE OR FROM OUR RANGE OF QUALITY USED VEHICLES.
RECORD READING Start 2007 on the right foot. God Owns Our Business Also now available from The
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Record.
‘DEALER OF THE YEAR’ 1996 ❙ ‘WA OVERALL EXCELLENCE’ 1996, 1998, 2003 ❙ ‘WA SALES EXCELLENCE’ 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
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The Parish. The Nation. The World.
Thursday January ,
Western Australia’s Award-winning Catholic newspaper
Perth, Western Australia ● $2
Covered crosses OK Bishop Bianchini defends practice: it’s not a denial of Faith
St John of God Hospital practice is a witness to compassion and tolerance regarding others’ beliefs, says Bishop.
CHRISTMAS CROWDS
Whitfords draws thousands, many non-Catholics, to worship Him
■ By Anthony Barich
Geraldton Bishop Justin Bianchini says his local St John of God hospital is not denying its Catholicism by covering up crucifixes at the request of Muslim patients. Tammy Batten, chief executive and director of nursing at Geraldton’s St John of God hospital, last week admitted to covering crucifixes at the request of Muslim patients, despite Jesus Christ being a high-ranking prophet in the Muslim faith. The Catholic hospital also makes special arrangements for Muslim prayer services. Bishop Bianchini told The Record that the “powerful and visible” crucifix that symbolises the healing love of Christ remains in every room and every main area of the hospital. He adds that Geraldton, located 450km north of Bishop Bianchini Perth, has a Muslim population of about 300, mostly Indonesian or from the Cocos Islands, and barely a handful would use such a private hospital, so it is extremely rare that such a case would arise. The bishop says covering up crucifixes, if patients desire, is about good Catholic health care – ministering to their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. St John of God staff are versed in Aboriginal cultural training and other beliefs so they understand other people’s faiths and cultures. “The fact that we are Catholic means we do respect people, we are more open, not narrow-minded,” Bishop Bianchini said. “It’s not denying our beliefs. “Its not political correctness, it’s accommodating a need occasionally on request in a room, even if it’s someone that believes nothing and they see this tortured body on the cross, the visual image can be distressing if they don’t understand it,” the bishop said, also highlighting the Sisters of St John of God’s motto, St Paul’s letter which says, “The love of Christ urges us”. Continued - Page 3
LESS RIGHTS THAN DOGS? Women in most Arab Muslim societies have few rights. Well, practically none, according to a new report from the UN that has thrown a spotlight on the problem.
VISTA 4
Bringing it alive: Fathers Benedict Lee, left, and Joseph Tran of Our Lady of the Missions Church in Whitfords-Craigie present Xavier Prentice during the outdoor Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Over 5000 people attended the Mass, many of them non-Catholics. The parish pulled out all stops to make the celebration meaningful for everyone who attended, including real camels bearing wise men and, the following day, a visit from Santa via a helicopter landing on the Catholic school oval. Full report by SYLVIA DEFENDI - Pages 6-7. PHOTO: PAULINE EGAN
Pregnancy counselling move raises lobby’s ire Health Minister Abbott criticised over decision to award contract pregnancy counselling to Church agency ■ By Paul Gray
There is no cause for fuss over the payment of Government money to a Catholic Church agency to provide pregnancy counsel-
ling, the head of the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute has told The Record. “The churches have been doing health and welfare work for so long, and this is entirely in keeping with that,” Dr Gregory
INDEX Letters Opinion The World Book Review Classifieds/Panorama
Pike, Director of the Adelaidebased Institute said. “This is merely putting some money into the hands of people who have been doing this for a long time. Why the fuss now?” Controversy arose this week
after it was reported that the Church’s health and welfare arm, Centacare, had been awarded part of the Australian Government’s $51 million pregnancy counselling contract. Continued - Page 5
COME AND SEE - Page 8 - VISTA 4 - Pages 9-11 - Page 14
Protestants used to point out that Catholics didn’t read the Bible. And the Protestants were right. But Acts2Come Bible College can change all that. Enrolments are open now.
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