Posted on 06/03/2021 7:47:49 PM PDT by marshmallow
The Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, has launched a petition opposing a new government plan to bring all cemeteries under state control, which would end the Church’s role in caring for the graves of Catholics in New South Wales.
“This decision will end the involvement of faith groups in the management and operation of cemeteries in favor of a secular government run bureaucracy,” Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, told his priests in a May 27 letter.
“This will bring to an end more than 150 years of the Church’s role in burying the dead, upkeep of graves and support to grieving families.”
“Caring for the dead is a spiritual mission, not secular,” the archbishop added. “Our faith teaches that it is one of our ‘corporal works of mercy’ and this underpins the way we look after our cemeteries. The government seems to only really recognise cemetery property as a monetary asset without sensitivity to its spiritual element or the wishes of the families of the deceased.”
Fischer said the measure, announced May 25, will consolidate the management of all cemeteries, which are considered public land, under one “multi-faith, multi-disciplinary skills-based board,” to be created by the government.
The archbishop urged priests and Australian Catholics to oppose the measure.
(Excerpt) Read more at pillarcatholic.com ...
I know nothing about it, but I suspect the aborigines have special sacred land for their dead. Probably ancient places. If so, I bet they get a pass on this because their religion is so special and so worthy of respect. Not like, you know, those stupid Christians.
It is kinda sad when governments are so controlling they work to interrupt burials.
man australia has become worse than england in many ways to live in. loss of freedoms and rights are huge in both places
the lawmakers can change fundamental rights without any constitutional checks and restrictions. thats what ya get. its hard enough keeping them when you are a constitutional republic, but australia and england prove its impossible to keep them without being one.
Control freak bureaucrats don’t have enough to handle?...now they want to manage people AFTER life?
When the world allowed the governments to shut down businesses and usurp rights due to a virus, all bets are off now.
If I can’t live in America, i’ll live in Mexico because the government is corrupt so i’ll just bribe my way to get what I want, no matter what the law may be.
There is no aspect of human existence that the state doesn’t want to control. Progressives have always wanted big government, because they know the state will ultimately force God out of our lives.
Catholic cemeteries are consecrated ground. This is a matter of religious freedom.
“Catholic cemeteries are consecrated ground. This is a matter of religious freedom.”
That’s probably at the heart of why they want to ban church cemeteries. Having a consecrated anything is an offense to an omnipotent state.
“Catholic cemeteries are consecrated ground.”
That explains it! Down in Mathews Virginia it was an old framed Anglican Church with a churchyard that was crammed full of graves.
The Anglican Church dried up and went away. What’s left is a new Baptist Church in the old frame church house with a bunch of Anglican Graves for front, back, and side yard.
Mathews county is just a bit above sea level, most graves are in the ground, I assume most remains have turned to mush, or soap (Smithsonian). Sad really.
The old Episcopalian churches around here gave been in existence for centuries. A few have very old and elaborate pipe organs.
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