The Revolution of Tenderness

In this first part of the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement - Respect: Confronting violence and abuse, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference denounces domestic and family violence. The Bishops highlight the staggering prevalence of domestic and family violence and the groups most affected by it. We also hear directly from women affected, Shirleen Campbell and Rosie Batty. Download the Statement and associated resources here. David Brennan reads the statement.

In the second part of the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement - Respect: Confronting violence and abuse, the Bishops examine the drivers and enablers of domestic and family violence - the inequalities between men and women and attitudes such as condoning violence, dominance and control over women by men. Sherry Balcombe, manager of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria shares her views, including how colonisation has affected Aboriginal communities. Finally, the Bishops call for changes in the church's own culture and state that the misuse of religious teachings to justify violence and abuse against women and children is sinful. Download the Statement and associated resources here. David Brennan reads the statement.

In the third part of the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement - Respect: Confronting violence and abuse, the Bishops examine how Jesus rejects any use of religious teaching to condone violence and the need to address the direct violence taking place as well as indirect violence. The Bishops state that indirect violence, made up of cultures and attitudes condoning violence, abuse and control are structures of sin and must be changed. The Bishops directly address beliefs held by some Christians that men are the 'head of the household' who can control women and children and they state that this is wrong. The relationships between spouses should reflect their equality in Christ and all family members deserve to be treated as Christ would. Perpetrators should take responsibility and transform themselves using the support available.  Download the Statement and associated resources here. David Brennan reads the statement.

In the final part of the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement - Respect: Confronting violence and abuse, the Bishops highlight the current resources, programs and advocacy movements working to eradicate domestic and family violence. Building community capacity to support the change in attitudes needed is key, and many Catholic services are working in this area through practical supports for victim/survivors and children, and reformation programs for perpetrators. They conclude that the roots of violence lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others. They acknowledge the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that cultural factors within the church have enabled abuse in the church and call for the reformation needed to enable us to be true to the Good News of Jesus.  Download the Statement and associated resources here. David Brennan reads the statement.

Fr Khalid Marogi, Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office shares with Dr Sandie Cornish how Scripture inspires and guides his work. He reflects on the story of Hagar in Genesis and how 'strangers' help us to become one big family in our journey with God. Fr Khalid encourages us not to be afraid but to embrace the privilege of meeting and welcoming others. 

Sr Veronica Lawson is a Sister of Mercy and Biblical scholar based in Ballarat. In a wide-ranging conversation with Dr Sandie Cornish of the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, she explains what it means to adopt an ecological hermeneutic, or interpretative stance, in relation to Scripture, and the meaning of deep incarnation. Veronica was the first woman President of the Australian Catholic Biblical Association but is probably best known for her Weekly Reflections on the Sunday Gospel, which have a global circulation. Her book, The Blessing of Mercy: Bible Perspectives and Ecological Challenges, published in 2015 proved to be a valuable resource for the Year of Mercy. Veronica shares the story of her love for Scripture and how it is a part of her work for ecological justice.

Dr Emmanuel Nathan of Australian Catholic University joins the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace's Dr Sandie Cornish to kick off a series of conversations on Pope Francis' second social encyclical Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship. One year after it's publication they ask: What is the encyclical about? Is the title a barrier to its reception? What are the sources and perspectives that it draws on? Sandie and Emmanuel will be joined by guests in future episodes in the series to dig deeper into Fratelli Tutti.

Today (3 October 2021) is the first birthday of Pope Francis’ second social encyclical Fratelli Tutti– on fraternity and social friendship. At The Revolution of Tenderness we are celebrating by partnering with the Australian Catholic University to produce a podcast series exploring the encyclical. Dr Sandie Cornish, from the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is joined by Dr Emmanuel Nathan of ACU as co-host for the series. They will be speaking with a range of guests. Racism, hostile responses to migration, the exclusion of people with disabilities, popularism, and the need for what Francis calls “a better kind of politics” (n 154) are key themes along with the need for more effective international institutions, a culture of dialogue and encounter, peacebuilding and reconciliation, war and the death penalty. Please join us at The Revolution of Tenderness over the coming months as we explore Fratelli Tutti.

David Brennan reads the first part of Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement 2021-22.  In this section, the Bishops recount the signs of the times through the eyes of those who are most affected. They listen to the voices of fire fighters, farmers, members of communities reliant on extractive industries, the First People and young people. They pay attention to the voices of our neighbours in the Pacific and to the voice of creation.  Download the Statement and associated resources here.

David Brennan reads the second part of Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor the Social Justice Statement 2021-22 of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. In this section, the Bishops draw on Scripture, the theological tradition, Catholic Social Teaching, and human wisdom - including the insights of First Peoples - to inspire and ground authentic Christian responses. Download the Statement and associated resources here.

David Brennan reads the third section of Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference's Social Justice Statement 2021-22. In this section the Bishops commit to a seven-year journey towards total sustainability guided by the Laudato Si' Goals. They encourage Catholic families, parishes, schools, dioceses and organisations to join them by signing up on the Laudato Si' Action Platform. Download the Statement and associated resources here.

This the second episode in our series for the Word of God Sunday in which we are exploring passages of Scripture that appear in Catholic Social Teaching documents. In this episode Dr Emmanuel Nathan will be helping us to explore Luke 4:18-19. This is the passage in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus reads from the scroll and announces that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, for he is sent to bring good news to the poor. This passage is often quoted in the foundational documents of social justice organisations, and it is frequently associated with mission statements. In fact it appears at the beginning of the mandate of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.

The Word of God Sunday is devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.  So The Revolution of Tenderness is reflecting on Scripture as a source of Catholic Social Teaching. In Episode 1 Professor Mary Coloe helps us to explore the parables of the laborers in the vineyard and of the good Samaritan. Along the way we pick up clues on how to reflect on Scripture, and the meaning of The Word of God.

In this episode Dr Sandie Cornish speaks with Sr Myree Harris rsj OAM about homelessness, mental ill-health and disability. Myree is a Josephite Sister who has worked for over thirty years with people experiencing homelessness and mental ill-health. She is the Coordinator of the Gethsemane Community which provides secure housing in a family-like setting for women and men with mental ill-health and intellectual disability who have been homeless. Myree was part of the working group that prepared the 'Do Not be Afraid' Mental Illness and Outreach Guidelines for Parishes on behalf of the Australian Catholic Disability Council. To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today is the Social Justice Sunday Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for 2020. You can access a print version here. The Statement encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. It is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities.   Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Statement encourages us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community.

To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today is the Social Justice Sunday Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for 2020. You can access a print version here. The Statement encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. It is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities.   Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Statement encourages us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. In this episode, Sandie Cornish speaks with Eamon Pollard about young people and mental health, concepts of well-being, and the importance of meaning and purpose for good mental health. Eamon is a school principal and is conducting doctoral research in this area.

To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today is the Social Justice Sunday Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for 2020. You can access a print version here. The Statement encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. It is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities.   Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Statement encourages us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. In this episode, David Brennan reads the third and final section of the Statement. Section Three: We are All in this Together, points to the action needed by faith communities, governments, and all of us to make mental health a priority.

To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today is the Social Justice Sunday Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for 2020. You can access a print version here. The Statement encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. It is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities.   Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Statement encourages us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. In this episode, David Brennan reads the second of three sections of the Statement. Section Two: The Great Project of Community Integration, recalls the history of mental health care in Australia. It affirms the objective of deinstitutionalisation but points to gaps in community care.

To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today is the Social Justice Sunday Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for 2020. You can access a print version here. The Statement encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. It is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities. Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Statement encourages us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. In this episode, David Brennan reads the first of three sections of the Statement. Section One: The Mental Health of our People and Communities provides an overview of the challenges that we face.

Dr Sandie Cornish shares reflections on Catholic Social Teaching in the current world context. The COVID-19 pandemic takes place in the context of several interconnected crises: an ecological crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a crisis of political authority and governance, and a crisis of meaning and purpose. So, what does Catholic Social Teaching have to do with all this? Sandie argues that Catholic Social Teaching encourages us to pay attention to our world, motivating us to care, and to build up the Reign of God on earth as it is in heaven. Second, it helps us to discern our responses. She introduces the Catholic social justice tradition and suggests the pastoral spiral methodology as a way of bringing together contemplation, analysis, and theological reflection to support authentic Christian action in the world. More information about Catholic Social Teaching from the Office for Social Justice can be found here: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/catholic-social-teaching/ Sandie's tips for students on how to find out what Catholic Social Teaching says on particular issues can be found here: https://social-spirituality.net/podcast/how-to-find-teachings-on-issues/