Church representatives have backed calls for stronger environmental protection laws and standards in Australia following the release of a report which raises concerns about “unsustainable” current practice, The Catholic Leader reports.

Adelaide Josephite Sister Katrina Van Ruth has been living in Peru for the past 10 years and in a short space of time has seen the divide between the haves and have nots dramatically increase due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports The Southern Cross.

Homelessness Week, held earlier this month, is a crucial reminder of the naivety and recklessness of the policies that have produced homelessness, writes Fr Andy Hamilton SJ for Jesuit Social Services. The way forward must be built on respect, and respect begins with a home.

There has been a good deal of recent commentary about the Review of Diocesan and Parish Governance, entitled The Light from the Southern Cross , writes CRA President Br Peter Carroll FMS. The resulting 200-page Report is comprehensive, scholarly and insightful; not perfect, and some amendments will be made for the next draft. However, Catholic Church communities have an excellent document for careful reflection and a series of 86 recommendations for serious consideration.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a hard lockdown for the 500 person Arrernte community of Santa Teresa in Central Australia, with only essential services allowed in or out. But despite the devastating impact on the community’s economy and the challenges of living under such a lockdown, faith, love and the artistic skills for which Santa Teresa is known around the world have kept people focused on keeping safe and the promise of new life, writes Sr Liz Wiemers SGS in Global Sisters Report.