Australia
Australian Christian leaders are joining with those of other faiths in declaring their support for an Indigenous voice in Australia’s constitution, according to a report.
The Australian newspaper reported that the Catholic, Uniting and Anglican churches as well as representatives of the National Council of Churches are joining with Australian National Council of Imams, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Australian and Sikhs, Buddhists and Hindus in endorsing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The document, which was delivered in May, 2017, calls for an Indigenous advisory body to parliament to be given constitutional protection. On the eve of his election as Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese committed to the statement “in full”.
Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli told The Australian he was “personally moved by the deep yearning expressed in the Statement from the Heart, and I am so encouraged that faith leaders have offered a response from the heart of their own spiritual traditions”.
“My hope is simply that Catholics will be inspired by Jesus to join the hard work of finding constitutional recognition of the voice of first peoples into our parliament, and that reconciliation will find new energy and witness at this moment in history,” he said.
