BARNABY Joyce (CL 26/9/04) expressed his concern at reading a pre-election flyer produced by the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC).
This document was certainly not a ‘how to vote card’ and it was not handed out by the ACSJC in parishes as Mr Joyce has stated. It was available to all socially-minded Catholics for use as they saw fit.
Mr Joyce criticised this material for not addressing the issue of abortion.
However, the ACSJC flyer highlighted the first priority of ‘our responsibility to respect the sanctity of life’ as a basis for considering the policies of all political candidates.
In doing so, it reflected the same emphasis given in the Australian Catholic bishops’ pre-election statement, ‘Having Faith in Our Democracy’.
Respect for the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of the person is foundational to the life of the Church, our families and the broader community.
Those same values underpin the Church’s concern for the common good and distributive justice as reflected in numerous magisterial statements made over many decades.
The particular concerns raised by the ACSJC included the impact of poverty in Australia, the detention of asylum seekers and their children, the need for national reconciliation and the likely impact of free trade on vulnerable citizens.
It is regrettable that these issues were hardly debated in an election campaign that paid little attention to the needs of the poorer and more disadvantaged members of our society.
The passing of the campaign period will reveal they remain significant issues for many citizens and for the future of our nation.
BISHOP CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS
Chairman
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Broome, WA
