Brisbane Justice Advocate Promotes Bishops Statement

Media Release

Brisbane Justice Advocate Promotes Bishops' Statement



Brisbane Catholic justice advocate, Tony Robertson has given the “thumbs up” to this year’s social justice statement from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

The statement, A Crown for Australia, Striving for the bestin our sporting nation was released for Social Justice Sunday, 28 September 2014

Mr Robertson attended the Brisbane launch of the statement by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at St James Coorparoo on Wednesday September 17 . He took the opportunity to have a promotional photo taken with both of them giving a “thumbs up’ to a document he describes as  “ the best piece of sport commentary to come from a pulpit”.

Mr Robertson said: “As a youngster in Geelong our family ritual was Mass followed by World of Sport, one of the TV shows for which we all had a passion. “

My introduction to sport was on the parish tennis courts of Ss Peter and Paul’s in Geelong West. My Catholic primary and secondary schools had sport teams with the tribal loyalty that the Bishops speak of in this statement” he said.

Mr Robertson applauded the statement’s social inclusion with its references to women, Indigenous and athletes with disability. ‘The connection between community, justice and sport is a relationship we need to affirm more and more in this anxious times” he said.

“Not only is the statement a great document for all Australians, it is accompanied by a video clip which is probably one of the best uses of new technology I have ever seen by the Bishops he said.

Mr Robertson acknowledges that the Catholic Church and its Bishops have been challenged by the dark history of clergy abuse and its cover up. “A generation or even two have been lost to the Church and now it needs to restore faith in the Australian  community if it wishes to become a credible voice in building our civic community; he said.

Mr Robertson said: “I believe this statement has the potential to begin a new conversation with  Australians from a Church that is better attuned to the protection of the vulnerable, the power of sport to build community and the grace of team work.”

“This statement is couched in accessible language and accompanied by iconic sport images that will fire the imagination of readers” he said.

Mr Robertson also thanks the Conference of Bishops for making access to the statement, the video and  support materials available online at http://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/


26 September 2014
Contacts
Tony Robertson
M: 0417 792 509
E: robertsontony@yahoo.com


Comments