The third annual Tim Fischer Oration for Ethics in Public and Political Life, founded by Bishop Tony Percy, will be held in Rosehill Gardens in Sydney’s west on 17 June.
Named after Liberal Party Deputy Prime Minister from 1996-1999, the oration honours Fischer’s strong Catholic faith and civic convictions.
This year’s speaker is Dr Mary Healy, a biblical scholar who has served as a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which is an advisory body for the Holy See focussed on interpretation and theology. She is also a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
For those who would like to know more about Healy’s theological thought, Bishop Percy encouraged reading her commentary The Gospel of Mark, which he says is “one of the best commentaries on Scripture ever written.”
Bishop Percy said this year’s lecture was aimed at activating a desire, particularly among students, to participate in the socio-political aspects of Australian life.
“If we want to have an impact in society, in our country, our wonderful country which we try to make a free and fair country – then what we need are people of character,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
“Secondly, there needs to be courage to go forward, to try and do things which are going to help others, to help develop a free and fair society.”
The bishop said now was a “time of incredible change” at all levels of society, from politics, to technology, to family.
“During times of incredible change, you’ve got to have people who are standing on something firm in order to embrace change, and to bring sense out of the change and to the change,” he said.
“That’s why I think it’s very important for young people (to attend) because they’re the ones living in this time of change and they will do so for quite some time.”
He said the oration itself, and the opportunity it presents to meet other like-minded people, is “important to form their minds and hearts” and may prompt new support networks.
Western Sydney, he added, is “where the young people are.”
“There’s vast tracks of young people, and our parishes in the west are very, very strong and good for lots of people, so it makes it easier for them to get there,” he said.
“I thought this was the way to go, put it in the western part of Sydney, make it accessible for people.”
Previous speakers include former deputy prime minister John Anderson for the inaugural address, followed by religious freedom scholar Professor Helen Alvaré.
To learn more about the event, visit tfo.org.au
With thanks to Catholic Weekly and Tara Kennedy, where this article originally appeared.
