At the heart of the upcoming Voice to Parliament Referendum is the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, the world’s oldest continuing culture, in the Australian Constitution. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to listen to the voices of First Australians and to work towards a more just and equitable society.
At the heart of the upcoming Voice to Parliament Referendum is the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, the world’s oldest continuing culture, in the Australian Constitution. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to listen to the voices of First Australians and to work towards a more just and equitable society.
Our mission is to educate and inform our fellow Catholics on this pivotal moment in Australia’s history. We have collated and created statements and resources – grounded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching – to help you on your process of discernment.
The Voice to Parliament Referendum provides all Catholics with a unique opportunity to come together as a community and draw upon our faith and moral grounding to make an informed decision.
One Journey, Together.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced 14 October 2023 as the day Australians will be asked to vote on the ‘Voice’. At this time, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) wish to reiterate our stance contained within the 2023 Social Justice Statement Listen, Learn, Love – A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples:
Australians have an opportunity to begin a new chapter this year with the referendum on the Voice to Parliament. We in NATSICC know there are criticisms, even from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support the referendum.
Just as the churches strongly supported the 1967 referendum, we hope that Catholics, along with other people of faith, will support the Yes campaign.
It is a commitment to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and promoting healing and unity. It will be the next step in a process of empowering us to participate in the decisions that will make a difference for the better for our people.
We, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, feel that the referendum is too important to fail. The consequences for our people and the whole nation would be devastating.
The One Journey, Together website (www.indigenousvoice.church) is a joint project between National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, Caritas Australia and Catholic Social Services Victoria to help Catholics access information on the 14 October 2023 Voice Referendum.
It contains the voices of First Australian Catholics and our Catholic Leaders and organisations.
We encourage all Catholics to use the site as part of their own discernment.
Vicki Clark OAM is a descendent of the Mutthi Mutthi people from south-west New South Wales. She is the former Coordinator of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in Melbourne. Here, she gives a letter to her grandchildren.
