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The Royal Commission and the Mission of the Church. Annette Cunliffe RSC. Royal Commission. At least 3 years – possibly 5+ “letters patent” = purposes 6 Commissioners – to sit separately Church response: “Whole of Church” Supervisory Group:
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The Royal Commissionand the Mission of the Church Annette Cunliffe RSC
Royal Commission • At least 3 years – possibly 5+ • “letters patent” = purposes • 6 Commissioners – to sit separately • Church response: “Whole of Church” • Supervisory Group: • Truth Justice and Healing Council – 13 members + Chief Executive Officer. • Possible cost for TJH Council: $3M - $4M per year + our costs
Some purposes of Commission: • To better protect children • To better respond to reports of abuse • To remove impediments to reporting • To overcome impact of past abuse • To have regard to experience of those who have suffered • Focus on systemic issues • Changes to laws, policies and practices? • How to share information....
Supervisory Group • “Metropolitan” Archbishops + Bishops of Wollongong, Townsville, Darwin + 3 CRA representatives • To achieve a “whole of Church” approach • To guide and support Council; • To approve membership of Council, • Terms of reference • Budget • Reports • Processes
Truth, Justice and Healing Council • 13 members + Chief Executive Officer • 10 lay, two Bishops, one Religious • To prepare submissions to Commission • To prepare materials for Commission • To organise people who will appear • Review protocols and how they are working • Manage PR • Be focal point for Church people who are involved • Research the issue of abuse
What has this to do with the Mission? What IS Mission? • Church’s Mission or Mission’s Church? SOME EXPRESSIONS OF MISSION: • Service of Christ’s Mission: • “to love one another as I have loved you”. • In this love to bring closer the dream of Jesus, “that they may have life and have it to the full”;
What has this to do with the Mission? What IS Mission? • WE are the Mission; • Witness to the resurrection: victory of life over death
Call of the Royal Commission? • Relief that, at last, this whole question might be openly investigated and the goals of prevention, healing and justice promoted. • Tinged – humanly - with selfish concern at the demands that this will place on all of us. • Sense of shame for failure to respond as committed followers of Jesus. • From fear to hope; from death to life
Br Philip Pinto at 2012 CRA Assembly • In the course of history there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground; a time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. (WangariMaathai, Nobel Lecture, Oslo, 10th December, 2004).
Br Philip Pinto at 2012 CRA Assembly • This is such a time – a “hinge of history” • Seize this time, • a time of trial, of suffering, • yet a God-given opportunity for a rebirth like that of Baptism, where purification clears the path to new life as a more humble, open church with that “mind that was in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 2:5). • (Triumph of life over death?)
So what are OUR questions? • What are our hopes? • What are our fears? • What are our dreams? • How can we ensure that morale (life) is supported? • How can we ensure that we don’t evade the challenges?
