Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

“Australians are passionate about their sport, whether as participants or as supporters, whether following the fortunes of their local club or their national team. Sport brings us together, builds communities and lets us celebrate the joy of movement and skill. Good sport makes everyone a winner” said Bishop Christopher Saunders, chair of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) ahead of the recent launch of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ 2014–2015 Social Justice Statement.

“Sport also holds a mirror up to our society. It reflects the best in us as individuals and as a nation – but it can also reflect the worst in us. We are becoming too familiar with violence and abuse of drugs and alcohol, both on the field and off it, on the part of players and of spectators. Instances of illegal betting and corruption across different codes pose a real threat to the integrity of sport and its capacity to build community. Discrimination and exclusion undermine a key attribute of sport to build bridges across social divides and show a special concern for people who are marginalised,” Bishop Saunders said.

In the Statement, A Crown for Australia, the Catholic Bishops highlight the transformative power of sport and call on all levels of society to treasure and safeguard sport from those forces that undermine its integrity.

 The Statement and associated resources can be downloaded from the ACSJC website.