Australia’s Catholic bishops have urged a renewed focus on ways to make Australia a more cohesive society. Released ahead of Social Justice Sunday, their major 2026 statement, Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division, calls on communities to counter rising polarisation, racism, and online hostility by building a genuine "culture of encounter."
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has launched its 2026 Social Justice Statement, Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division, urging a national shift toward social cohesion.
The statement addresses recent community trauma—including the December 2025 Bondi Beach attack—and warns against a rise in racism and Islamophobia. Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB urged Australians to choose "solidarity over vilification" to foster a more peaceful society.
Speaking at the Brisbane launch, Bishop Tim Harris, Chair for Social Justice, Mission and Service, called for a practical "culture of encounter" to counter daily hostility and online polarisation. Highlighting local acts of cross-community heroism following the Bondi tragedy, Bishop Harris urged people of goodwill to engage their local neighbourhoods and workplaces with "kindness, friendship, and a listening ear."
Read the full statement and access resources on the ACBC MediaBlog.