ROCKHAMPTON Bishop Michael McCarthy has spoken out in support of hundreds of Aurizon workers told they would lose their jobs with the closure of the city’s railway workshops. “I stand with the workers,” Bishop McCarthy said. “Workers who support families, have bills to pay, support our local businesses and are an integral part of our central Queensland family. “The workers ... Read More »
Author Archives: Mark Bowling
Australian barrister Colin McDonald is examining a new legal pathway to free the Bali Nine
A PROMINENT Australian barrister has vowed to renew a fight to free Brisbane Catholic Scott Rush and the remaining members of the Bali Nine in jail in Indonesia. Scott Rush’s lawyer, Colin McDonald QC, has pinpointed a new legal avenue to fight for the Bali Nine, who are serving life sentences for their part in smuggling more than eight kilograms ... Read More »
Brisbane Catholic school parents assured of no major fee increase next year
BRISBANE Catholic Education has reassured parents they will face “no major increase” in school fees next year. In a letter to parents in 139 schools across the Brisbane archdiocese, executive director Pam Betts wrote: “… next year’s fees will be similar to this year’s, with a projected increase of somewhere around the three per cent mark, in line with the ... Read More »
Coptic Christians in Brisbane offer words of love not hate to attackers who killed 29 people in Egypt
WORDS of love, despite intense pain and grief, are on the lips of Brisbane priest, Fr David Mahrous, after masked gunmen attacked a bus of Coptic Christians south of the Egyptian capital, killing 29 people and injuring dozens more. Speaking to Fr Mahrous, parish priest at the Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Calamvale, is to be reminded of the ... Read More »
Passionist living in Brisbane who survived a machete attack and met the Queen talks life as a devoted missionary priest
FR Paul Mercieca has experienced many challenges and adventures during 50 years as a Passionist missionary priest. Quietly spoken and with an infectious sense of humour, Fr Mercieca has survived a machete attack, suffered three bouts of malaria, and has travelled to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. Now working in Brisbane as an aged-care priest, he is beloved by ... Read More »
There’s no ‘I’ in Teams: The international lay movement building stronger marriages
PRESSURE in a fast-paced world is one of the biggest challenges to building a strong marriage, one of the Brisbane organisers of an Oceania conference on marriage says. “Even just having time together – we can easily be robbed of that,” Susie Jones, who together with husband Tim will be hosting the Teams Oceania 2017 conference entitled Marriage beyond the ... Read More »
Gold Coast Centacare receives over $1m to help women escaping domestic violence
CENTACARE has received more than a million dollars to operate a mobile support service for women fleeing domestic violence on the Gold Coast, amidst claims that there is an accommodation crisis for survivors. At least 280 Gold Coast women fleeing domestic violence are being forced to stay in motels, which Queensland Opposition domestic violence spokesperson Ros Bates has described as ... Read More »
‘Our people are struggling simply to survive’: Horn of Africa experiencing worst famine since WWII
Overseas help: Caritas Australia chief executive officer Paul O’Callaghan visiting Kitui, Kenya, where he met communities and families impacted by drought. Photo: Caritas Australia. FAMINE in the Horn of Africa is shaping as the biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, an Australian Catholic aid expert says. “It is unnerving when you see the scale of the disaster,” Caritas ... Read More »
Vinnies CEO says “fake refugee” claims lack fairness and justice
CHURCH groups have condemned a Federal Government ultimatum to thousands of asylum seekers to lodge their claims to stay in Australia within four months, or have their welfare axed and face deportation. “This latest announcement is cruel, morally reprehensible and a fundamental repudiation of the Government’s moral and legal obligations to those seeking asylum in Australia,” the St Vincent de ... Read More »