Toowoomba Bishop Speaks at Major European Conference

Catholic Leader
November 9, 2016

http://catholicleader.com.au/news/toowoomba-bishop-speaks-at-major-european-conference

Monarch: Bishop Robert McGuckin meeting Prince Albert of Monaco.

TOOWOOMBA Bishop Robert McGuckin has returned from Monaco after representing Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania at an international conference.

Bishop McGuckin spoke at the Council of the Conferences of the European Bishops.

“Unlike our plenary assemblies, on the whole it was mainly the presidents of European bishops’ conferences that are involved in the plenaries,” Bishop McGuckin wrote in address to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

“Even then the number at the assembly was approximately eighty.

“Various reports were given and tabled at the meeting: Migrants and refugees; family and gender ideology; Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe.

“Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomes gave a report on behalf of the Latin American conferences. There were also reports from Africa and Asia. I gave a report for Oceania.”

Bishop McGuckin told the delegates that within Oceania there was a wide variety of social, cultural and economic situations.

“Some countries are quite wealthy whilst many in the region live a substance existence,” he said.

“There are social justice issues involving inequality among peoples (health, wages, access to government welfare, etc) dependent upon where you live and at times your ethnic background.

“Of particular concern to us are rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and unusual rainfall patterns. These are affecting many of our communities in a harmful way.

“The protection of the atmosphere and the oceans are powerful examples of the need for political representatives and leaders of nations to take responsibility for the wellbeing of peoples beyond their own particular shores or borders.

“This requires courageous, selfless, far-sighted governance shaped by the principles of justice and fairness that reflect and protect the best of the human person.”

Bishop McGuckin said at the executive meeting in August they echoed the international outcry at what was happening to asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.

Callousness can never be the proper response to human tragedy, he said.

“We applauded Papua New Guinea Supreme Court’s decision that the Manus Island detention centre is unconstitutional and illegal and we trust the Australian and other authorities will act swiftly in implementing a humane plan of rehabilitation for the detainees,” Bishop McGuckin said.

“Border protection is also an issue. Australia’s policy of ‘Stop the Boats’ is not the answer.

“Our Government’s approach to refugees and asylum seekers is less than welcoming.

“Refugees and asylum seekers face very harsh conditions.”

Monaco meeting: Bishop Robert McGuckin and other delegates at the conference in Monaco.

Bishop McGuckin spoke about the growing secularisation with civil jurisdictions open to legalise euthanasia, redefining marriage to equate it with same-sex unions, relaxing further abortion laws.

“The issue of sexual abuse by clergy and religious has been highlighted in Australia with the present Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse,” he wrote.

“This has not only done great damage to the lives of the many victims, but calls for positive steps to put our house in order. This is happening but great damage has been done.”

Bishop McGuckin said that, in many places, there was “a rapid decline in the number of active clergy, with ageing clergy”.

“For a long period of time there has been a very noticeable drop in the number of ordinations and with those entering seminaries in the last 30 or so years.

“A synodal model involving true dialogue and not just passive listening, is a possible way forward.

“This offers great hope for pastoral renewal with genuine dialogue and consultation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Whilst in Oceania we are a gathering of individual particular churches, it is important that we don’t become isolated.

“Our bonds with the particular churches of Europe assists our dialogue and helps us all to remain one universal Church, exercising the mission entrusted to us.”