DOZENS of refugees held in a Kangaroo Point hotel for up to two years have been granted bridging visas and are being released to live in the community. Twenty three Medevac refugees were released yesterday as well as another two refugees held at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA) detention centre. From Kangaroo Point the refugees were taken by bus ... Read More »
Author Archives: Mark Bowling
Royal Commission recommends “generational” overhaul of Australia’s aged care
MORE than $450m will be invested in Australia’s aged care system to fix the unacceptable “neglect” laid bare in the aged care royal commission. A scathing final report from royal commissioners Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs released today found one in three people in aged care receive sub-standard care, and has resulted in 148 recommendations, including the scrapping of the ... Read More »
Amidst escalating violence, a solitary nun stands her ground.
A solitary, distressed nun stands her ground begging Myanmar police not to shoot at protesting civilians – one of the latest, confronting images shared on social media by the country’s leading Catholic figure, as street clashes claim a rising toll of deaths and injuries. Sister of Francis Xavier, Nu Thawng, appears alone in front of heavily-armoured riot police, in several ... Read More »
Severe shortage of doctors for Australia’s terminally ill patients, ACU study
AUSTRALIA has only half the number of palliative care doctors needed to provide good quality care for chronically and terminally ill patients despite increasing demand, a new academic study has found. Published in the midst of Australia’s hotly contested end-of-life debate, the study by the PM Glynn Institute at Australian Catholic University (ACU), is significant because its bolsters the Catholic ... Read More »
JobSeeker rate increases by $25 a week
The St Vincent de Paul Society is amongst social service groups to condemn a $25-a-week rise in JobSeeker payments announced by the Federal Government today. The Society’s national president, Claire Victory was “dumbfounded” by today’s small increase that amounts to just $3.57 per day – barely more than the old Newstart – when the coronavirus supplement expires at the end ... Read More »
Brisbane’s Rite of Election marks second step for 117 people becoming Catholic at Easter
BRISBANE’S Catholic community will welcome more than 100 men and women into the Church at Easter this year. On Sunday February 21, 117 Catechumens – young, mature and from diverse backgrounds – celebrated the annual Rite of Election liturgy at Brisbane’s St Stephen’s Cathedral. Those invited to take part in the rite will go on to receive the three sacraments ... Read More »
Humble, dedicated priest remembered at funeral Mass
BRISBANE priest Fr Pat Dowd, described as a “real friend” and a humble and dedicated parish priest who served across the Brisbane Archdiocese, was farewelled at a moving funeral Mass in St Stephen’s Cathedral today. Fr Vince Hobbs spoke of his longtime friend and year mate as “an authentic disciple of Jesus, a man of real faith, and hope and ... Read More »
Bishops’ pastoral letter celebrates 200 years of Catholic schooling, pinpoints current challenges.
THE Australian Catholic Bishops’ have issued a pastoral letter urging Church schools to increase the numbers of Catholic students and be “truly Catholic in their identity and life”. As Australian Catholic educators mark the 200th anniversary of the nation’s Catholic schooling, the letter titled “200 years young”, says the school system must “re-examine” how to maximise enrolment of Catholic students ... Read More »
Australian religious body are urging Christians to buy slavery-free Easter eggs this year
A CATHOLIC organisation fighting modern slavery and human trafficking has launched it’s slavery-free Easter Chocolate Campaign. Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) is asking people to name their ‘chocolate change’ in Lent and stick to it beyond Easter. “There’s so much we can do in 2021 to help eliminate slavery or child labour,” ACRATH Executive Officer Christine Carolan said. “Buying chocolate ... Read More »