"It is hardly an exaggeration", says a Vietnamese-born former boat refugee, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and Paramatta Bishop, Vincent Long.

There's an "unprecedented momentum for deep reform, the model of the Church based on clerical hegemony has run its course", the bishop said, 30 June, while delivering the Dom Helder Camara Lecture at Newman College, Melbourne.

For the Church to flourish, "it is crucial that we come to terms with the flaws of clericalism and move beyond its patriarchal and monarchical matrix," he says.

"We have struggled under the weight of the old ecclesial paradigm of the clerical order, control and hegemony with a penchant for triumphalism, self-referential pomp and smugness."

It has to change "into a more Christ-like pattern of humility, simplicity and powerlessness as opposed to worldly triumphalism, splendour, dominance and power."

He says he agrees with Gerald Arbuckle that we need to re-found the Church rather than renew it, going to the very cultural roots in a hope-filled journey under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

"What is urgent is that we need to find fresh ways of being Church and fresh ways of ministry and service for both men and women disciples. New wine into new wineskins."

Long says the tone for sweeping Church reform in Australia was set in 2016 when Archbishop Mark Coleridge proposed a Plenary Council to discuss "the critical issues of the times".

Concerns in Australia include dwindling Mass attendances, a decline in priestly and religious vocations and the critical and damaging public fallout of the royal commission into child sexual abuse.

Cosmetic changes, mediocrity or restorationism dressed up as renewal won't work anymore.

It will not be a simple restoration project or doing old things better; the Church needs to focus on new horizons says Long.

He says it will be a Church in which women and men are aware of their baptismal dignity.

"So long as we continue to exclude women from the Church's governance structures, decision-making processes and institutional functions, we deprive ourselves of the richness of our full humanity.

So long as we continue to make women invisible and inferior in the Church's language, liturgy, theology and law, we impoverish ourselves.

"Until we have truly incorporated the gift of women and the feminine dimension of our Christian faith, we will not be able to fully energise the life of the Church.

Long is of the view that the Church in Australia is uniquely positioned to move into a new fresh future.

The painful Royal Commission brought about a heightened level of consciousness and an unprecedented momentum for deep reform.

"The Church cannot have a prophetic voice in society if we fail to be the model egalitarian community where those disadvantaged on account of their race, gender, social status and disability find empowerment for a dignified life."

As he notes, Australians are offering goodwill, enthusiasm and hope in the Plenary Council.

"Could we be a leading light in the struggle for a more fit-for-purpose Church in this place and in this time?"

"Could Australian Catholics rise to the challenge and co-create the synodal Church that Pope Francis has envisaged?"

In October 2021, the Catholic Church in Australia will gather for the first Assembly of the Plenary Council.

The initial phase of listening drew nearly 220,000 people across Australia and 17,500 individual and group submissions.

These submissions were distilled into the six national theme papers and then further distilled again into the working document and finally the agenda.

Momentum for the Plenary Council ebbed and flowed during this process, which has been disrupted by the pandemic but by and large, there has been considerable goodwill, enthusiasm and even a sense of hope for the future of the Church in Australia

Submissions have been distilled into six national theme papers, which were further distilled into the Council's working document and agenda.

Source

• CathNews
• The Tablet
• Image: The Australian

Targeted at families, children, young people and faith communities, The Well - www.thewell.org.au - was initially designed as a solution to supporting the diocese during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

The Diocese then realised the initiative's longer-term potential.

The reason for The Well being nicknamed Netflix for Catholics is apparent - there are already 80-plus videos, podcasts and other online resources on offer, including:

• High-energy children's shows;
• Information and reflections on the sacraments;
• Recordings of young musicians around the Diocese leading praise and worship;
• Thought-provoking discussions from local and international speakers;
• Inspirational sharing from young people and young women.

Bishop Vincent Long, who is the Bishop of Parramatta, says various diocesan ministries and agencies contributed to The Well in response to the "growing need for a strong Catholic presence online."

"Through our work with our youth, with our parishes, and our councils, we have understood the importance of offering a relevant and engaging online space, and what is being offered seeks to support and complement the work of our faith communities, as we work together to share and grow our faith in Jesus Christ.

"In launching The Well, we recognise the Patron of the Diocese, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, and her call to ‘never see a need without doing something about it'.

"Our hope is that it will be another way that people can connect ... particularly at the current time of the pandemic."

"Our desire is for the content to both feature local communities as well as relate to the needs of our local people," Bishop Vincent said.

One of The Well's creators says: "The fact that we can have an even better presence, or another chance of presence of God in homes, among families, in schools and at workplaces - that's what it's all about."

Another contributor says collating resources appropriate for her ministry has been really important. Having them produced locally is an added bonus.

"We've had quite a bit of feedback already from parishes. They are so grateful to have resources available that speak to them, that are appropriate, and that parents enjoy as well."

A contributor who works in a youth ministry says: "We've all had to do something a little differently this year. But we dug deep, and a new digital space was born."

"This is about bringing faith, joy and hope into a digital space, and then into your living room, workspace, or on the go."

Richard McMahon, Director of the Diocese's Pastoral Planning Office, the describes the new service as a means to speak to a "mission field."

It is "vital for us to be meaningfully present in the online world," he says.

Source

• CatholicOutlook
• Image: Rollercoaster.ie

In a pastoral letter published on the Catholic Outlook website last week, Nguyen said "when voting there must be a deep sense of respect for all concerned, and for the opinion and decision that each person is free to make."

Regardless of the survey outcome or any legislation that follows, Nguyen says the church's view that God established marriage to be a permanent union between a man and woman will not change.

However, for many Catholics, "the issue of same-sex marriage is not simply theoretical but deeply personal," his letter says.

"These may be same-sex attracted people themselves or that may be the case with their relatives and friends. In such cases, they are torn between their love for the church and their love for their same-sex attracted child, grandchild, sibling, cousin, friend or neighbour.

"As your Bishop, I wish to reiterate the commitment I made at my installation: I am committed to make the church in Parramatta the house for all peoples, a church where there is less an experience of exclusion but more an encounter of radical love, inclusiveness and solidarity."

Nguyen added that "as a community of disciples, we seek to accommodate, accompany and care for one another irrespective of sexual orientation, marital status and situation."

The survey, which focuses on civil rather than sacramental marriage, will provide the Australian government with a feel for the nation's opinions. There is no obligation for the government to change the law as a result of the survey outcomes.

Source

• Yass Tribune
• La Croix
• Image: Vice