• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Australian Aboriginal elder Aunty Marie Taylor conducts the Welcome to Country at the opening Mass of the First Plenary Council at St. Mary's Cathedral in Perth Oct. 3, 2021. (CNS photo/Ron Tan, courtesy Archdiocese of Perth)

Plenary members consider how to bridge gap with Australia’s Indigenous

October 6, 2021
By Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, Racial Justice, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn
On the third day of Plenary Council assembly in Perth, Australia, Indigenous Catholic Toni Janke said the historic gathering is already showing signs that the church can “bridge the gap” with First Nations people. Janke is pictured in a Sept, 6, 2021, photo. (CNS photo/courtesy The Catholic Leader)

BRISBANE, Australia (CNS) — Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge has signaled that the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia will offer Catholic Church backing for an Indigenous voice in the nation’s constitution.

“One very particular outcome I am certainly hoping for is that the Plenary Council will offer a very clear public endorsement of the Uluru Statement From the Heart — I think that would be symbolic, and powerfully symbolic,” Archbishop Coleridge, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said Oct. 5.

“I think the need is enormous, and I think this issue of an awakening to the reality of our Indigenous peoples is not only at the heart of the nation in ways that are not always recognized, I think it is also close to the heart of this Plenary Council.”

In late September, Archbishop Coleridge endorsed the Uluru Statement on behalf of the Brisbane Archdiocese.

One of the key demands in the statement is for a national referendum on whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should have a voice to parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution. This would not mean a third chamber, but rather an advisory body to parliament that would give Indigenous people a say on the policies and laws that impact their lives.

On the third day of the Oct. 3-10 Plenary Council assembly, Indigenous Catholic Toni Janke said the historic gathering is already showing signs that the church can “bridge the gap” with First Nations people.

Janke is one of the 278 members of the council meeting virtually and has been participating in a small group praying, discussing and reflecting on the question, “How might the church in Australia open in new ways to Indigenous ways of being Christian in spirituality, theology, liturgy and missionary discipleship?”

“I think there was a real sense of hope. People spoke about working together, walking together, the need for the church to really look at new ways of engaging with First Nations families and communities,” said Janke, who works across southeast Queensland providing support through Centacare Family and Relationship Services.

“Probably the biggest thing that came out of the discussions was the need for the church on a broader level to look at things like the Uluru Statement From the Heart,” she said. “But also there were a number of discussions around the smaller things that could be done in different diocese and parishes.”

Some Catholic communities have already committed to reconciliation action plans, introducing protocols such as the traditional Acknowledgment of and Welcome to Country, and encouraging Indigenous people to share their culture and understanding of country.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, president of the Australian bishops’ conference, is pictured in an image taken from Vatican television. The archbishop has signaled that Australia’s Plenary Council will offer Catholic Church backing for an Indigenous voice in the nation’s constitution. (CNS photo/Vatican television)

The Plenary Council had an Aboriginal Welcome to Country before its opening Mass, and each day, the plenary has a traditional Acknowledgment of Country, an opportunity for anyone to show respect for the country’s traditional owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Australia.

“As a church, we’d like people working together in meaningful ways that address and heal some of the past relationships, in the past, I guess, trauma that people have suffered over the years,” Janke said, adding, “We have a beautiful, rich culture that is in excess of 60,000 years old and a lot to teach, not just the church, but the community at large.”

Archbishop Coleridge said he was in favor of all dioceses across Australia introducing reconciliation action plans.

“I might even put that forward to the Plenary Council before the week’s end,” he said.

Somewhat like a national synod, a plenary council is called to consult on issues facing the church in a specific country; but, unlike a synod, it can issue decrees that, once approved by the Vatican, are binding on the church in that country.

The Plenary Council was being held virtually because of the pandemic, although some areas of Australia were allowed to gather in small groups. The same delegates will meet again — they hope in person — July 4-9. 


Also see

Juneteenth

Juneteenth seen as day to reflect on freedom, ending racism and Black Catholics’ contributions

Is immigration history in the United States cyclical?

Our heart of darkness

Dean of Georgetown Law says interim U.S. attorney’s DEI threat attacks its Catholic mission

Rev. King’s legacy involves ‘uniting our nation as one community of hope,’ cardinal says

Pope calls for inclusion of Romani people in the church

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Catholic News Service

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hope rises from ashes for St. Rita parishioners

  • Archbishop Lori and Supreme Knight Kelly meet with Pope Leo

  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue

  • ‘Big Boss’ begins first day visiting Catholic Charities programs

  • Jurassic World Rebirth Movie Review: Jurassic World Rebirth

| Latest Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Latest World News |

Russia Ukraine Vatican peace

Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine

Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass

Planned Parenthood

Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops

school choice

ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do

Notre Dame prepares to reopen towers’ tour with return of famed statues of saints to rooftop

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors
  • Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass
  • Judge blocks, for now, Planned Parenthood defunding provision backed by bishops
  • ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gives school-choice advocates partial victory with more to do
  • Notre Dame prepares to reopen towers’ tour with return of famed statues of saints to rooftop
  • After 12 years, locals welcome pope back to his summer home
  • Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students
  • Synod office provides guidelines to help local churches, bishops implement synodality

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en