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
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