AUSTRALIA’S Catholic bishops will release a statement of repentance on Ash Wednesday this week to mark the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ.
It will coincide with Pope John Paul’s release of a similar statement of repentance for the universal Church. expected on the first Sunday of Lent.
Bishop Michael Putney of Brisbane. who is convener of the Bishops’ Committee for the Year of Great Jubilee. has been working with the bishops’ conference to prepare the statement.
‘It will be only a brief and simple statement.’ he said. ‘but is intended to acknowledge our failure in a number of areas to live up to the Gospel we profess.’
