Roman Catholicism In Australia
The Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual and administrative leadership of the Pope.
Australia is a majority Christian but pluralistic society with no established religion. In 2008 there were approximately 5.7 million Australian Catholics (5,704,000; 27.56% of the population). Catholicism arrived in Australia with the British First Fleet in 1788. The first Australian Catholics were mainly Irish, but Australian Catholics now originate from a great variety of national backgrounds. The church is a major provider of health, education and charitable services: Catholic Social Services Australia's 63 member organisations help more than a million Australians every year; and the Catholic education system has more than 650,000 students (18% of student population). Australia has 32 dioceses and 1,363 parishes. Catholic Religious Australia, the peak body for leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life resident in Australia, comprises members from more than 180 congregations of Sisters, Brothers and Religious Priests operating within Australia.
Mary MacKillop, who founded an educational religious institute of sisters, the Josephites, in the 19th century, became the first Australian to be canonised as a saint in 2010. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is headed by Archbishop Denis Hart and there are three Australian cardinals: including the current Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell, a former Archbishop of Sydney, Edward Bede Clancy, and the former President of the Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Edward Cassidy. Australia played host to World Youth Day 2008.
Read more about Roman Catholicism In Australia: Demographics and Structure, Organisation
Famous quotes containing the words roman, catholicism and/or australia:
“I remember when I was first assigned to jets. I said to the colonel, “Colonel, I joined this man’s air force to fly an airplane. But nobody’s gonna hitch me to no Roman candle.””
—Kurt Neumann (1906–1958)
“When Catholicism goes bad it becomes the world-old, world-wide religio of amulets and holy places and priestcraft. Protestantism, in its corresponding decay, becomes a vague mist of ethical platitudes. Catholicism is accused of being too much like all the other religions; Protestantism of being insufficiently like a religion at all. Hence Plato, with his transcendent Forms, is the doctor of Protestants; Aristotle, with his immanent Forms, the doctor of Catholics.”
—C.S. (Clive Staples)
“I like Australia less and less. The hateful newness, the democratic conceit, every man a little pope of perfection.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)