In the lead up to the referendum to be held later this year, Catholic Social Services Australia and Catholic Social Services Victoria are pleased to present a Webinar Series – Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Moments for healing this country.
This series will be an opportunity, particularly for those who feel unsure of the way forward, to learn from experts and hear from First Nations Australians on their hopes and concerns for the Voice to Parliament referendum – in light of faith, history and practical realities. While the referendum question will have a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, there is complexity in understanding the process that has led to this referendum, and the implications that a Voice to Parliament may have for all of us in Australia.
Part 2: The Church, Catholic Social Teaching and engagement with First Nations Peoples
Hear from Fr Frank Brennan SJ, Australian Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic.
Fr Frank will speak from his extensive experience on how the Church has engaged with First Nations Peoples over time and what particular work is required now. He will unpack how Catholic Social Teaching might be applied to the questions before us in 2023 regarding the Voice referendum, and reconciliation more broadly. He will also share about how First Nations spirituality has contributed to the Church thus far and how it might enrich all Australians, Church liturgy and ways of being in the world. Fr Frank will also discuss how the Voice (if successful) may enhance this further.
About Fr Frank Brennan SJ
Fr Frank Brennan AO is a Jesuit priest and Rector of Newman College at the University of Melbourne. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the PM Glynn Institute at Australian Catholic University, an Adjunct Professor at the Thomas More Law School at ACU and research professor at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
He chaired the National Human Rights Consultation for the Rudd Government and was a member of the Turnbull Government’s expert panel which conducted the Religious Freedom Review. The Morrison Government appointed him to the Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group to help guide the Co-Design process to develop options for an Indigenous voice to government.
Fr Frank is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to Aboriginal Australians, particularly as an advocate in the areas of law, social justice and reconciliation.
Fr Frank serves on the boards of Jesuit Social Services and the National Apology Foundation for Indigenous Australians and on the Advisory Council of the Global Foundation.
More information on the Webinar Series is available here.
Register to attend this, and other sessions – Free of charge for members of CSSA and CSSV, $12 per session or $30 for all sessions for non-members.
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