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
Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday September 17 2008
Papal Honours to Perth trio n By Anthony Barich
Perth, Western Australia $2
The media report on it every day. Sometimes it seems as if it talks about little else. Even elections around the world are being partly won and lost on the issue of global warming. But for decades a potentially far more important and alarming new phenomenon has been emerging that the media and policy makers seem to have entirely missed:
Archbishop Barry Hickey has bestowed Papal Honours on three Perth Catholics, Peter Tannock and Denis and Ann Cullity, for their significant contribution to society and the Church in the name of Christ. The Papal Honours recognise a special bond with the Pope. It is one of five pon-
Bright occasion: Denis and Ann Cullity with Archbishop Barry Hickey, Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton and Vicar General Fr Brian O’Loughlin at St Thomas More College Chapel.
Photo: Archdiocese of Perth
tifical orders of Papal Honour in the Catholic Church, bestowed on Catholic men and women in recognition of their service to the Church, unusual labours, support of the Holy See and the good example set in their communities and country. Dr Peter Tannock, who was appointed as a Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great, received his award at Notre Dame University. Dr Tannock’s Knighthood is in recognition of his unique contribution to the life of the Church and for his contribution to the betterment of society. In awarding the Knighthood, the Archbishop noted that Dr Tannock’s contribution to Australian society has been in university life as a Professor of education at State level, in edu cation policy formation at national level with the Australian government and in football administration, “a pursuit which goes to the very heart of our identity”. The Archbishop also noted that he was director of Catholic education for a number of years, during which time he guided “enormous expansion” of the Catholic school system in WA, framed and implemented forward-looking policy for our schools, encourContinued on page 8
New rector for St Charles Seminary n By Anthony Barich
The long-time rector of St Thomas More College, Fr Kevin Long, has been appointed rector of St Charles Seminary in Guildford for a six-year term. He will take over next Easter from Fr Don Hughes OMI, whose three-year term as rector is coming to a close. Continued on page 8
CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF POPULATION
Have the experts been looking in the wrong direction?
I
f you believe overpopulation and global warming are the key challenges facing the future of the globe, be prepared for a shock. After analysing demographic trends from the last century, particularly from the 1960s onwards, increasing numbers of demographers, economists, sociologists, politicians and others are beginning to conclude we are on the cusp of a ‘Demographic Winter’ - in fact, it has already begun. Their projections are alarming: because of plummeting birthrates across entire continents, by the year 2050 almost all European countries, to take one example, will be facing catastrophic economic and political problems that dramatically compound as fertility continues to decline. Whereas most countries in Europe currently have about 25 people of pensionable age for every 75 of working age, many highly respected institutions including fiscally hard-headed international banks and economics thinktanks believe that by approximately the same year these ratios will have equalised - one pensioner to one worker - and continue to reverse. The UN estimates that in the decade of the 2040s alone, Europe will lose approximately 28 million people. Unbelieveable though it may sound, some demographers are
now talking seriously about the possibility of whole nations, such as France, becoming effectively extinct - well within this century. Countries such as Australia are not immune either. The problem is, the social, political and economic implications are staggering: there are no known taxation or social welfare systems that can cope with the tectonic pressures that will begin to rip societies and nations apart as they age. Our current societies, if such experts are correct, will be populated by increasingly elderly populations whose working young are unable to support - or care - for them. Economies will continue to collapse or decline and be unable to be resurrected. There’s more bad news: because of the time-lags involved, immigration will not solve the problem. If such experts are correct, even if global warming is happening it won’t really matter: for these nations there’ll be fewer and fewer people left to be affected. The anti-marriage, anti-child policies of the 60s, designed to liberate us from the burdens of having children, are now looking likely, for many nations, to be the end of all of us.
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