PERTH, January 4, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australian Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey has called on his Christian counterparts in Australia to come on side on issues of morality so that society may hear a united Christian voice on the myriad of moral dilemmas facing society.
“A big part of society’s problem has been the failure of Christian churches to speak with one voice on the crucial moral issues about human life,” said the Archbishop in his New Year’s message.
He noted, “This disunity creates confusion and undermines the credibility of the Churches.”
The Archbishop warned that “Without objective moral principles, society is at sea on matters of life and death such as abortion, euthanasia, and the humanity of embryos, and is unable to overcome difficulties in personal relationships.”
Adding that, “These are matters on which people are entitled to expect proper guidance.”
Admirably, Archbishop Hickey was forthright saying, “Christian Churches will only be united on these issues when they are faithful to the long biblical traditions about morality that they all once subscribed to.”
His New Year’s wish is that “all Christian Churches will make the search for unity on moral matters their priority in 2005.”
With files from the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.