PERTH, WA: October 10, 1991
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Closing the gap...
THAT'S THE YCW'S FORMULA FOR FAITH AND ACTION
The Young Christian Workers' answers because it indicated that formation aimed to make sure God has built into human hearts a there would be no gap between a genuine compassion for others and a desire for justice." person's belief and way of life, Archbishop Hickey said last In others who had a political Sunday. ideology or communism, he said, "I found it hard to see on what they What Catholic Action groups based their belief in the equality of stressed was a preparation for human beings who were manifestly action solidly based on the gospels, unequal in intelligence, ability or within the framework of the potential." Church's teaching, he told the 50th Archbishop Hickey said it made of the YCW/NCGM in anniversary him search his own heart. He Australia. believed and still believes that it is The YCW raised the social from the gospel that the dignity of conscience of thousands of Australevery person is proclaimed in Christ ians, he said at Newman College, and his saving actions. Churchlands. That same motivation was the It gave them a source of truth and safeguard of the YCW. motivation "without which we can go wildly wrong". "But the YCW had something more than a set of concepts or "Without a religious anchor ethical standards. people can justify the most outrageous things in the name of "They had a deep union with doing good. People of goodwill can Christ since prayer was part of the justify abortion or infanticide of At the YCW golden jubilee Archbishop Hickey who boasts a YCW athletic trophy caught up with vintage past process of reflection before action. members: Kevin Yuen, medical student in the 70s member of the East Perth group and diocesan president; Sylvia children with gross deformities. "That wonderful method of Codalonga (nee Lynch), a ledger machinist in the 50s and a Victoria Park member; Ray Gleeson, a clerk and formation the importance of the "Hence should never be lost to gospels as a firm guide. Otherwise 1940s member of Claremont and state president; Donata Sullivan (nee Passamani) secretary and 60s member the Church. It is valid for all people, of the Bassendean branch. Picture Jan Jegorow. we can go badly astray." young or adult, workers or The YCWs founder professionals, employed "With the insights situation for the better." of that," he said of his related how as a univer- "Some were surprised or Joseph Cardinal CarunemplGyed. they gained from the In Australia, the arch- own YCW chaplain sity student in social at my question, finding dijn brought gospel "May the present gospel about the dignity bishop said, Young experience as a young science he would ask it simply intolerable reflection to the people Workers priest. his fellow students that their fellow human YCW, sadly reduced in of the human being and Christian of his day in Belgium the need to love and became "little apostles". "It was a wonderful about their motivation beings should live in numbers, continue to and across Europe as respect one another, "They were formed for chapter in the life of the behind their dedication poverty or suffer bring Christ to the world and energy to better needlessly. they faced appalling young workers radi- life. We don't have to Australian Church." through the lives of the cally altered their work look far to see evidence • Archbishop Hickey society. "I respected their people they help to form? industrial conditions.