If I could believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, I would crawl over broken glass if necessary to be with him.

These are the words of a minister from another Christian church to a friend of mine. Sometimes, when I think of these words, I wonder if our practice and behaviour, including in Church, suggests that we Catholics may have come to take the Eucharist at times for granted.

 To read the pdf version of this Statment click here

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

In April last year, Pope John Paul II launched a world-wide renewal of Catholic belief and practices in the Eucharist. He published an Encyclical letter to all Catholics, Ecclesia de Eucharistica (‘The Eucharist in the Life of the Church’). The climax of this renewal will be a Synod of Bishops from every part of the world on the Eucharist, to be held in Rome next year.

   To read the PDF version of this Statement click here

Each Australia Day invites us to reflect upon how well we are living our shared national values. My reflection this year is on how to support parents who are trying to protect our young from violent and pornographic internet web sites.

A current controversial media question is Catholic teaching on the ordination of women to the priesthood. This is associated with the reported allegation by a university lecturer that Archbishop Hickey was not consistent in speaking out about the need for women’s dignity to be recognised, and remaining faithful to the Church’s teaching on this question.

To read the full Statement, click here