The Association of Ministerial PJPs (AMPJP) has endorsed the “Uluru Statement From the Heart” after listening to its members and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council.

*The Uluru Statement from the Heart. IMAGE: National Museum of Australia website.*

AMPJP Council Chair, Moira Najdecki said the 2017 Statement From the Heart speaks to all Australians.

“It invites us to reconcile with our past and work today on structures and attitudes for which future generations will express gratitude and pride,” she said.

The “Uluru Statement From the Heart” calls for: A First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution; and the establishment of a Makarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty making and truth-telling.

Ms Najdecki said that in coming to this position, the AMPJP had listened and responded to the urging of its Members and to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council.

“The AMPJP recognises the importance of hearing the voices of our people: staff, volunteers and those that we serve,” she said.

“Therefore, we support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who put forward the principle: ‘nothing about us, without us’.”

Ministerial Public Juridic Persons have operated in Australia for over 25 years. Over that time, they have provided stable governance and the continuance of the Catholic identity of Church ministries which were previously governed by religious institutes. MPJPs ensure their ministries continue to work with the disadvantaged and marginalised and to evolve to meet the needs of the contemporary Church and society.

Read the AMPJP statement here.