1997

12th May 1997
Newcastle Hosts Public Hearing on Women in the Church
A public hearing on the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia will take place in Newcastle on Wednesday 14 May 1997.

Hearings will also take place in all State and Territory capitals and a number of regional centres as part of a larger research project initiated by the Catholic Bishops of Australia.

The research project, which has already attracted over 2,500 written submissions, will look at the ways in which women currently participate in the Church, the barriers and supports to participation, and ways in which their participation can be improved. A report on the findings will be submitted to the Catholic Bishops at the end of next year.

The whole consultation process is open to any group or individual, whether female or male, young or old, associated with the formal structures of the Catholic Church or not.

There will be three sessions taking place in Newcastle on Wednesday 14 May whereby people who have made an application will have the opportunity to address a panel representing the Catholic Bishops of Australia.

At this stage the panel for the Newcastle hearing will be Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, Most Rev Michael Malone and members of the Bishops' Research Management Group, Ms Sandie Cornish, Sr Sonia Wagner RGS and Bishop Kevin Manning.

The hearing will take place at the Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Centre located at 841 Hunter Street Newcastle, next to Sacred Heart Cathedral and the sessions times will be from 9-11am, 2-4pm and 7-9pm.

The public will be able to attend the hearings as observers but must request tickets from the local organiser, Mrs Pauline Boyce.

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