| THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY
In our Australia Day special, prominent Australians answer our questions on their thoughts about Australia’s future. We asked them three questions: • What is your birthday wish for Australia on Australia Day? • What challenges face us as a nation in the 21st century? • What role do you see the Catholic Church playing in addressing these challenges? Their answers were both varied and interesting. Read on … |
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| ANTHONY FIELD
is the Blue Wiggle in the popular children’s group The Wiggles. He studied Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University and is a practising Catholic. “What do you give the country that has everything? Perhaps we should ask that the people in high places should say to all the disenfranchised that this is a country for us all, not just those with money and influence and the right colour skin. This doesn’t have to be a painful experience, The Wiggles performed at Corroboree 2000 and it was a wonderful and uplifting day. So let’s do it one day at a time! “(Our challenge is) trying to heal the hurt from the last century. For Australians, this means that we must first recognise that wrong has been done – even within the Church – and that we must try to forgive and seek forgiveness. I admire people like Fr Tony Glynn (deceased) and his brother, Fr Paul Glynn, who have worked tirelessly for reconciliation between Australian and Japanese World War II veterans. We need more of these healers in Australia. “The Church must have a voice. It’s always great to hear from the pulpit comments on issues relevant to people’s day-to-day lives. If it’s in the news it should be in the pulpit. At times there is an embarrassing silence on important topics. In recent times, it seems that the Church has lost its influence to radio DJs! We face huge challenges, so let’s use the talents of the laity and women more than we have. As an educator, I think it’s vital to recognise the importance of teachers and the role they can play as shapers of our children’s faith. Lessons about ‘inclusiveness’ and other life lessons begin in the home and the classroom.” |