The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has drawn up a list of key issues that are of 'vital concern to the entire Australian community,' as the Federal Parliament session resumes this week.
With a federal election looming later this year, the peak-representative body of the Australian Catholic Church released a statement outlining 8 key issues on Tuesday; which urged Catholics to take their democratic freedoms seriously and participate in the political process.
The statement urged Catholics to look beyond their own individual needs and instead apply a 'test of common good,' which they said was: "… Underpinned by the promotion and protection of human dignity. Implicit in seeking the common good is the desire to serve the poor, the marginalised, the sick and the forgotten in our society."
It was not surprising therefore that the top issue of concern for them was, "The respect for life and fostering of the inherent dignity of the person underpins what it is to be human. All human life is to be respected, particularly the most vulnerable, including the unborn…"
In relation to the stem cell debate that flared up across the states, especially in NSW where the Sydney Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell was heavily criticised for his involvement in the debate; the document stated the Church was not opposed to stem cell research, but on the contrary it strongly supported adult stem cells research, as well as those which are derived from umbilical cord blood.
Straying into the controversial issue of industrial relation, the 42 bishops who signed the statement said that the industrial law must support Australian families; where they proposed suggestions to achieve this aim.
"Industrial laws must also support family life by ensuring a fair wage fixing system, an adequate minimum wage, proper protections for workers' conditions and fair compensation for the working of unsociable and un-family friendly hours."
"The proper balance between the rights of the employer and the rights of the employee always needs to be maintained. We call for a 'fair go' for all and an industrial relations system which supports the nation's greatest asset – its families."
The other 6 key issues mentioned were: Indigenous Australians, Education, Health, Environment, Immigration and refugees, and Peace.