From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 4th June, 2023

Hi everone!

 
Calvary Hospital Takeover Bid
I am glad to see that many have either signed the online petition and/or sent a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voicing our collective dismay at a forced takeover bid by the ACT Government of the Catholic owned-and-run Calvary Hospital in Canberra.

Make no mistake about it: this is a hostile acquisition by a secular health authority of a well run and Catholic institution 'lock, stock and barrel'. There was an article in the Catholic Weekly both last week and again this week, about this forced acquisition of a competently run Catholic institution. Archbishop Anthony Fisher has expressed his complete opposition to it (please see his letter on page 3). I have both signed the petition, and written a personal letter to Mr. Anthony Albanese, who is actively in support of the takeover, (as nominally ''Catholic' as he claims to be.)
Calvary owns and runs this hospital, has done so competently for the last 44 years, and had been granted another 76 years more to do so by the Federal Government on behalf of the Australian people.

Sadly, despite a massive public outcry - more than 32000 people signed the petition over a period of a few days - ACT state legislation to allow Calvary Hospital’s compulsory acquisition passed the ACT State Parliament this week. A legal challenge will definitely be mounted, but Calvary Hospital desperately needs your own support right now.

The 'handover' is set down for the 3rd of July 2023 (yes, in just one month's time ... without public consultation nor much of an opportunity to mount a defence or protest). The ABC has quoted the Australian Medical Association as supporting the takeover, believing it is “important to deliver public healthcare services without being bound by ideology.” Ideology apparently meaning Catholic faith and morals. This is shameful behaviour not only by the ACT Government, but also by our own Prime Minister, the Honourable Mr. Anthony Albanese MP, who has voiced his complete support of the takeover.

It is extraordinary that such a thing could happen in a nation such as ours which espouses a 'fair go' for all, including faith-based institutions such as Calvary Hospital, or indeed our schools, hospices cemeteries and so forth. You could expect such a thing to happen in a totalitarian regime, but not here. This merits your vocal and written support to counter it as best as you can.

You can hear the well respected Fr. Tony Percy of Canberra Goulburn Diocese explain the situation to you by going to our website at www.rgcp.org.au or watch an interview with him on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ_K9rKebOY. You can write to the Prime Minister here: www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm. And, if these 'links' are of little use to you because you don't have either internet accessor a computer, then a good 'old fashioned' pen and paper response is still a completely viable option: Write to Mr Albanese care of: The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister, Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600.

We need to act now. Remember: there is very little difference to a takeover of a Catholic Institution such as Calvary Hospital in Canberra, or of something local like Calvary Retirement Village in Ryde, should that be the next objective. If this shocking and unjust precedent is allowed to happen, everything is now up for grabs.

Walk for Christ Eucharistic Procession next Sunday 10th
Seems like a very timely opportunity to manifest your Catholic presence (under the RGCP banner) in our own Sydney CBD next weekend at the annual Walk for Christ, led by our own Archbishop Anthony Fisher. I will be present, along with Fr. Steve. We have organised a bus to get you there, but there are now only a few places left, so unless you have your own transport on the day, get in quick at TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CIQBI or ring the Parish Office during office hours early next week. The walk will begin at Martin Place at 2.30 pm, and wind its way towards the forecourt of St. Mary's Cathedral, at which the Archbishop will address us and some time for Adoration and Benediction given. Light entertainment will begin at 1.30 pm, for those who get there a bit earlier.

Rosters Sign Ups for July & August this week,
Lastly, a huge thank you to all our volunteers who regularly give their 'time and talent' to help the Parish out at our weekday and weekend Masses. We need your support - and we rely on your being there when you commit to being there at a specific time, place and date. The new Rosters sign-ups for July and August are going to be posted to your emails this week. So please check your inboxes & spam, and get them back to us as soon as possible, as they are due back by 12th June so as to get the Rosters finalised in good time.

And that's it for now... Please pray pray pray this week, and give the Holy Spirt free reign in your hearts and minds, so that we can bring his Kingdom as best as we can into the places we inhabit.

God bless! Your brother in Christ’s love,

Fr. Greg