Record
W E S T E R N A U S T R A L I A’ S A WA R D - W I N N I N G C AT H O L I C N E W S P A P E R S I N C E 1 8 7 4
the
We d n e s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 3
the
Parish.
the
N at i o n .
the
World.
therecord.com.au
THE PAPAL INTERVIEW
OUR MAN IN ROME:
Papal biographer George Weigel unpacks the deeper meaning of Pope Francis’ interview - Pages 10-11
Seminarian Mark Baumgarten writes from Rome - Page 8
GETTING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT
$2.00
THINGS CHANGE
Purple power takes over, naturally enough, at Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s staff and students got behind the Dockers this week for the coming Grand Final. The Dockers played like men possessed of everything good in their winning showdown with Sydney last week.
Editor of The Record leaves for new role heading up Sydney Archdiocesan newspaper
Editor did it differently
By Robert Hiini AFTER 18 years at The Record, the last 13 as Editor, Peter Rosengren is leaving to take up the editorship of The Catholic Weekly in Sydney. From the beginning he took a different approach to the job. Whether it was introducing John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to sell-out WA audiences or breaking developments on the new Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans around the globe, he introduced a new mentality and style of journalism to the Catholic media, championing a professional standard. A few years ago he received an email from a priest working under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith congratulating him for one of his char-
acteristically direct editorials. “That was quite a surprise,” Mr Rosengren admitted. “But after that I thought ‘well, who needs awards?’” As editor, he sent journalists on two occasions to China to report on the-then little known work of Macaubased Jesuit Fr Luis Ruiz, throughout the Chinese interior. Record readers responded by donating tens of thousands of dollars to Fr Ruiz’s work for the poorest of the poor - lepers cast out of their own homes and children suffering from HIV-AIDS. Undeterred by opposition, his editorial campaign in 2007 played its role in preventing the legalisation of prostitution under thenAttorney General Jim McGinty. “It was relatively straight-forward,” he said. “Our argument was that no-one has the right to sell
women and girls - period. We faced opposition from unusual quarters but we pushed on. It worked.” In July this year he was presented with an official award by the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Australia and Oceania, Bishop Peter Stasiuk CSsR, for his championing of the presence of Eastern Catholics in Australia. Throughout his tenure he maintained a focus on the lay baptismal vocation, the importance of the family unit and a strong prolife editorial voice. “I suppose you could say I’ve worked under three remarkable modern pontificates it’s been a pleasure and a privilege,” he told The Record. “I’m looking forward to the future.” Sydney’s The Catholic Weekly was established as The Freeman’s Journal in 1850.
Outgoing Record Editor Peter Rosengren is bidding a fond farewell after 18 years on the paper. He will edit The Catholic Weekly in Sydney. PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI