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1. Can Catholics now expect that the rights of the unborn will be represented energetically and publicly by Fr Brennan in his new social justice role? There is no more disadvantaged and excluded group in society.

   Posted By: John

2. As a member of the St Vicent de Paul Society, I do not believe that a Charter of Rights is needed to protect the poor. Also the appointment of Fr Frank Brennan as 'Catholic Advocate in Residence' whatever that means, is controversial given his advocacy of such a charter in opposition to the views of Cardinal Pell.
   Unfortunately, there is no consultation with the membership before such major decisions are implemented.

   Posted By: Robert

3. As a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society, I reject completely the idea of Fr Brennan being appointed to this role for the Society. Bills and Charters of Rights will do nothing for the poor and disadvantaged, unless the electorate wants them to. How many countries have them and completely ignore them? Does the US Bill of Rights do anything for the poor? What is he going to do about the Victorian Bill that just ignores the most fundamental rights which just shows how useless this kind of legislation is.
   If one wants action for the poor, we need to elect good men and women to our Parliaments who will act.

   Posted By: Desmond

4. This item seems a bit misleading. It could be interpreted to mean that the St Vincent de Paul Society and the other organizations named support a Charter of Rights.
   But the media release by Fr Brennan and the others only says that Fr Brennan has been appointed an official advocate to raise awareness on the health and welfare of disadvantaged Australians.

   Posted By: Lance Eccles

5. I am a Jesuit priest and professor of law at the Australian Catholic University. Last year I was appointed by the government to perform a public trust - to report faithfully how the Australian people thought human rights could be better protected. The majority of people who engaged in that process said they wanted a Human Rights Act. My committee reported how that could best be done. I have now been appointed to perform another public trust by peak bodies of our Church committed to better health outcomes for the poor. I will do that task to the best of my ability. If I fail in that task, no doubt I will hear from Robert and Desmond.

   Posted By: Frank Brennan

6. Why do some St Vincent de Paul members have reservations Father Frank Brennan's advocacy role for the disadvantaged and marginalised?
   Is it his support for a bill of rights?
   If so, I am disappointed, as a bill of rights is protection against the whims of politicians and I am sure if Fredrick Ozanam was around he would support it!
   

   Posted By: bill

7. I wish He would promote the United Nations Charter of Human Rights which is being ignored and laws have been passed against two of it's main concepts for the family,
   1. freedom of choice of education by parents
   2. Freedom of choice and practice of religion

   Posted By: Peter

8. What a weird article. It is very vague on who was doing the appointing, and therefore who was bestowing the title Catholic advocate in residence. Surely that would have to be a bishop?
   Frankly Fr Frank I've had my fill of hearing about a charter when it seems clear it will be used as a tool to drive the Church from the public square.

   Posted By: (another) Peter

9. I should add I have a great deal of respect for Brennan as an advocate for the poor and the disadvantage generally. His track record speaks glowingly in this regard. He is simply wrong about human rights and I would ask him to question why the government felt it necessary to have a catholic- friendly face to its inquiry.

   Posted By: Daniel McGlone

10. I'm a long-term member of the St Vincent de Paul Society and I'm very pleased to see Fr Brennan appointed to this role. I fail to see the problem with the Society and other Catholic organisations asking the assistance of a respected Catholic priest in their advocacy for disadvantaged people. It all seems very much in line with the teaching of Sacred Scripture and of the Magisterium. Perhaps those criticising this appointment are more wedded to their political beliefs than they are to their Catholic faith and the Society's work with the poor. Thank you, Fr Brennan, for taking on this role.

    Posted By: Paul

11. Father Frank Brennan deserves our full support, and will all these right-wing whingers please stop this continuatiion of unjustified criticism! John - I am sick and tired of hearing about the unborn and abortion. Let's deal with the problems at hand.

    Posted By: Peter M

12. Father Brennan: Acknowledging your general commitment to Catholic principles and your obvious skills as an advocate, may I politely remind you that, worthy as they are, the St Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Health Australia (CHA), Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA), and the Australian Catholic University's Public Policy Institute (PPI), are not the 'peak bodies of our Church'. If anyone is to appoint any Catholic Advocate in Residence, it should be the hierarchy.

    Posted By: Ronk

13. Congratulations on the appointment of Fr Brennan to this additional advocacy role. His track record on social justice issues and his specific support for refugees demonstrtes his unique capacity to advance this new role. As a member of Vinnies and an ardent supporter of a Charter of Rights, I commend the appointment.

    Posted By: Chris Cudmore

14. If I were Fr Brennan I would be asking these agencies why aren't they working to develop their own 'advocates in residence'. What are all these Catholic organisations doing to earn their salaries?
    Perhaps its time for them to observe what Fr Brennan is doing, and rather than employ him to do their work for them, they step up and advocate for themselves. (Build key relationships, write letters, spend time building significant networks etc.)
    Fr Brennan - as good as he is - can't possibly be the only Catholic capable of doing this work.
    I'm concerned about how much money is spent in the 'Catholic public service' and the results that are achieved. Employing Fr Brennan in this role, seems to confirm to me, that some of these agencies could do a better job.

    Posted By: Michael T.

15. I agree with Peter. Why do we need this so called Bill of Rights when we can't even make sure the UN Charter is adequately enforced. Our basic rights for choice in what we do are slowly but surely being eroded - our right to life - both the old and the unborn are not guaranteed because of all those who would push their barrow for euthenasia and abortion, the latter being aggressively promoted by the NGO's within the UN and also those of the left who advocate the formet, the terminatio of the old and the frail. Any Bill of Rights, no matter how well intentioned, is at the whim of government on how it is to be implemented and what is in and what is out. Let it be, Fr Frank; there is enough Government interference in our lives as it is.

    Posted By: Neil

16. Ronk: Who is the hierarchy? Is it legitimately democratically elected and representative of the people of God? Or is it just another word for dictatorial patriarchy?

    Posted By: TJ Lawson

17. TJ Lawson: Where is democracy mentioned in the Bible?

    Posted By: Lance Eccles

18. Health can best be served by paying much smaller salaries to senior management and board members of public hospitals. Further, if fewer layers of senior management and more frontline staff through re-allocation of funds was brought about there would be better patient care. Also individual public hospitals need to have local boards with increased responsibilities and conrol over government funding rather than the Health Dept bureaucrats.
    Bills of Rights have never helped the poor. Decentralisation and subsidiarity are the main way forward in the way public funds ought to be used. The poor would benefit.

    Posted By: Michael Webb

19. Peter M: Protests of abortion-fatigue must be a great encouragement to those who support it. The silence of those who can oppose it is of no help to its victims.

    Posted By: John

20. What changes can we expect? What guarantees can Fr Brennan give that freedom of religion and freedom of speech would be guaranteed, if the Human Rights Commission were to administer a charter of rights? One could expect so-called homosexual rights to be given priority over religious freedom, as has happened when charters of rights were installed in other countries.

    Posted By: Ray

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