Keywords: Catholic Social Services
-
RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 10 October 2013
4 Comments
'When confronted with moral evil in public policy, church personnel have a choice: to be prophetic sticking to the moral absolutes, or to be practical engaging in the compromises needed to temper the evil. At the moment, the only political parties not wanting to embrace a short term shock and awe approach are the Greens, the DLP and the Palmer United Party. And neither Christine Milne, John Madigan nor Clive Palmer will ever be prime minister.' Workshop paper from Catholic Social Services Victoria's Listening, Learning and Leading conference, October 2013.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 03 September 2013
8 Comments
Being born in Australia is a huge advantage. And having parents with money, a good education and connections always helps. Some of us have an advantage before we've even started school. But like the players in American psychologist Paul Piff's 'rigged Monopoly' experiments, those of us who do well tend to think we've earned our good fortune through hard work, talent and creativity.
READ MORE 
-
AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 07 November 2012
2 Comments
Last week, the Federal Government streamlined bureaucracy when it legislated for a single body to regulate charities and not for profits. But it is also pursuing a new charity tax under the guise of cracking down on abuse of the current system, by 'better targeting of tax concessions'. This could force agencies to downsize programs that support disadvantaged Australians.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 08 May 2012
11 Comments
When budgets are tight, governments seek savings by moving people from an expensive payment to cheaper payment categories. By moving a larger number of single parents from parenting payment to the cheaper Newstart allowance the Government will effectively remove $686 million out of the hands of low income families.
READ MORE
-
RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 14 October 2011
Mary visited Rome as a young religious woman when she was being persecuted by local bishops for being too independent. She got a good hearing from the Pope and great assistance from Fr Anderledy who became the Superior General of the Jesuits. If only Bishop Bill Morris could have received the same sympathetic hearing.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 07 July 2011
8 Comments
Two creative housing researchers argue for a 'housing first' approach, that offers permanent housing to homeless people without first putting conditions on their behaviour. The concept flies in the face of politicians and welfare agencies in Australia.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Paul O'Callaghan
- 11 May 2011
7 Comments
The Budget contains a number of positive measures to promote mental health, employment and training. But without greater investment in individualised support for job seekers and those on disability support pensions to assist their transition to work, we are not likely to see major change.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Frank Quinlan
- 11 November 2010
9 Comments
Currently, we have national plans for such things as defence, conservation and management of sharks, national broadband, combating pollution of the sea, and recovery of the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo. It's time we had a national plan to overcome poverty.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Frank Quinlan
- 18 August 2010
11 Comments
This election we consider a PM who is doubted because of her
atheism, an Opposition Leader who is doubted for being too 'Catholic', and the Greens who are
doubted as being anti-Christian. Church social agencies have been involved in important issues with each of these groups.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 12 August 2010
18 Comments
In an election campaign characterised by the avoidance of commitment to any principle that might cost
votes, the Bishops' advice
avoided bagging particular political parties and enunciated broad humane criteria to guide voters. It could have offered more.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Frank Quinlan
- 30 July 2010
7 Comments
The current kind of content-free campaigning, appealing to popular
biases and stereotypes, has real
consequences for the social services sector and the people they serve.
READ MORE
-
AUSTRALIA
- Frank Quinlan
- 12 May 2010
23 Comments
If a 'fiscally responsible Budget' can increase spending on Australia's representatives in elite sports by $237 million, it is hard to imagine that there is not room somewhere for our unemployed to eat a little better.
READ MORE