PERTH, WA: June 7, 1990
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202
Number 2691
POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St).
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
FAX (09) 328 7307
PRICE 600
Focus on adult
education
Archdiocesan organi- two years with the sations are going to be Tertiary Young Christian asked their views on Students, followed by current adult education two years with Southand so are the people care on a project for aged receiving the adult and disabled. education programs Organisations delivercurrently available. ing adult education in A survey is hoped to be the faith courses will be concluded by the end of asked how they see their September and recom- needs and what gaps are mendation that emerge occurring in their from the survey are services. On the other hand planned to be put into in the parishes people of the end the by place and others will be asked year. how they see what they The survey will be the are receiving and what responsibility of Pastoral executive they would like to have Planning in such programs. officer Anne Harris who The survey will cover all for employed has been groups from the Catholic the six-month project. Education Office down Originally from Kwinana, she graduated in to the smallest agency. No group will be social work after comoverlooked. pleting her education at For Anne Harris, being Iona and then worked for
involved now in adult education holds much more opportunity for developmental work with people as compared with social work which is dealing with patching up problems. Her experience with young students taught her that young people want to come together to discuss their faith and how they are living that faith with each other. Christian education should be covering the whole spectrum of people's lives, she said. "I'd like more knowledge about my faith. But then just meeting people in the same situation as yourself is a great educational tool.
Anne Harris listens to a recorded message of Archbishop Foley to be played to church congregations this Sunday and which includes the announcement of her appointment.
• See page 2 and 3.
$45,000 to study A $45,000 scholarship is awaiting a suitable Australian who wants to study social justice at an overseas institution. The successful candidate will be a person committed to the Church's mission in the social justice area and will already have completed an appropriate course at tertiary level. The scholarship will hold good for three years at $15,000 per annum. It can be taken out at an institute such as: the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; the Institut Catholique, Paris; Regis College, Toronto; Heythrop College, London; St Patrick's College, Maynooth; The Alfonsiamum, Rome; and Georgetown University, Washington. Further information and application forms can be obtained from the Secretariat of the Bishops' Committee at the following address: Bishops' Committee for Justice, Development & Peace Leo XIII House 19 MacKenzie Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Tel (02) 956 5800 Fax (02) 956 5782 (Inquiries to Sister Marjorie Hennessy) The closing date for applications is July 13, 1990.
Cardinal Clancy . . . chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has joined the criticism of the latest advertising material being used in the AIDS education campaign. The new AIDS campaign encourages "socially destructive and personally dangerous behaviour" in the young, says the bishops' chairman Cardinal Clancy. Instead, he says, there should be an emphasis on the positive worth of permanent, exclusive sexual relationships, the avoidance of drug abuse and the need for drug rehabilitation. Cardinal Clancy who has viewed the material has appealed to Community Services Minister Brian Howe not to use the material. The material, and in particular the two condom commercials, tends to promote casual sexual affairs as the norm. These two commercials make no
AIDS ad socially dangerous
mention of sexually transmitted disease. Said Cardinal Clancy: "I understand they will be shown separately from the testimonial commercials. "It is obvious that their sole purpose is to socialise the condom. "The television commercials assume that young people in general have multiple sexual partners. "That message denigrates the capacity of youth for the free and responsible choice of lifestyles which respect personal dignity and worth." While other critics around Australia ask why the adverts target heterosexual acts whereas up to 90% of AIDS victims are from homosexual or drug participants, Cardinal Clancy also questions whether the material is soft on drug usage. He said: "A question must also be asked about whether the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse will be
compromised by the predominant focus in this new phase of HIV transmission. "Drug abuse is on the increase also and it directly risks life and health. "The campaign claims to promote a supportive environment for positive behaviour -change and action, but it serves to encourage socially destructive and personally dangerous behaviour. Condoms for sexually irresponsible affairs and clean needles and syringes do not make the activities either safe or desirable. "I appeal to you to take a more positive approach to youth and to have your Department promote a campaign which assumes a capacity for responsible choice and which emphasises the positive worth of permanent, exclusive sexual relationships, the avoidance of drug abuse, and the need for drug rehabilitation.