Gaza crisis and the Australian Catholic Church

August 25, 2025

It is hardly surprising that the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is silent on the genocide in Palestine. Why should the ACBC speak up for those half a world away when it failed to do so for Australia’s Indigenous population? Support the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Yes; support the Voice to Parliament referendum, No.

The Catholic Church has some wonderful moral leaders. A handful are ordained, most are not. Many who identify as Catholic, with the best of that tradition, no longer “practise” the Catholicism of the members of the ACBC. What remains of ACBC moral leadership is negligible and that is tainted by their many failures to practise gospel teachings, to be prophetic, to exercise “Christian” leadership.

What the ACBC is attempting to preserve has become a whited sepulchre. How long can it survive? There are so many now living the gospel outside the Church because of the meagre support within it, where tokenism suffices for action. Kudos to those like Caritas Australia and Catholics for Justice and Peace for Palestinians but they can’t realistically expect huge numbers to join them. We’ve already gone elsewhere. But see you at the next march. We can join together there.