The first of two statements made by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) on social justice in the country has been released. The President of the ACBC, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, described the statement as an invitation “to reflect deeply on the challenges facing our nation and to respond with faith, hope and love.”
Throughout the nation, Archbishop Costelloe lamented, many people are struggling with the rising cost of living. “For some, this means skipping meals, delaying medical care or living without secure housing”, he noted.
But he warned against letting these people become simply numbers or statistics. Rather, we should see them as they are: “human stories of struggle and resilience.”
The Archbishop stressed that the Gospel calls each and every one of us to accompany those who suffer, and this statement is an invitation to that mission. The Australian bishops draw on Catholic social teaching and four of its seven principles: the dignity of every person, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity and the preferential option for the poor. These, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted, “challenge us to share generously, to advocate for justice, and to build communities where no one is forgotten.”
