Archbishop Prowse: Calvary Hospital
Archbishop Christopher Prowse
Dear Friends in Christ,
By now, you would have heard the shocking news that the ACT Government intends to compulsorily acquire our wonderful Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce.
This is despite the fact that we have been offering high-quality patient care under our Catholic ethos for the past 44 years on this site. 76 years remain on the contract negotiated and signed in 2010 with the then Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.
No convincing reasons to date have been offered for this draconian action by the ACT Government. No systemic issues of concern regarding Calvary’s health outcomes has been identified; to the contrary, the Health Minister made a point of emphasising Calvary’s excellent care for patients.
I am deeply troubled about this situation and its implications.
My prayers and thoughts are immediately directed to the 1,800 workers of the hospital and their families. They must be worried about the ramifications of this decision for their future employment.
I am also concerned that this action, based on obsessive government control, would deprive future generations in Canberra of the choice of hospital care based on the ethos of our cherished Catholic faith.
There is a rising fear, also, that this extraordinary and completely unnecessary government intervention could set the scene for future “acquisitions” of any faith-based health facility or, indeed, any faith-based enterprise, including education or social welfare.
To respond practically to this critical situation, I have established today the “Calvary Hospital Taskforce – Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.” Fr Tony Percy, has kindly accepted my invitation to lead this Taskforce. This group will be contacting you to offer you practical ways of responding, including participating in an online petition at www.savecalvary.com.au before May 31st 2023, when it is intended the legislation for acquisition becomes effective.
Let us all pray for common sense to prevail and that the sick and Hospital staff are saved from anxiety and can live in health and peace.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse
Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn
Thank you your Grace and well said.
More strength to the arm of Fr Percy and the Taskforce’s efforts. If donations are being received to fund this battle it would be good for those details to be published far and wide.
I suspect that the last time a Catholic institution was expropriated anywhere in the world would have been in mainland China. This says it all about the ideology driving the local regime.
Shades of King Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries. What next? Would the church-schools be the next victims?
Thank you, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, for shepherding us through this challenging time for the people of the Archdiocese and the ACT.
By baptism, we are called to yield to the Holy Triune God’s call in the here and now, actively partaking in the live Eucharist, every moment of our life — fighting a good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
By profession, I am a researcher/ economist/ statistician who also fought a legal battle on my own, in this country. I did it for no other reason than to see a better Australia for workers, as God calls us to speak in the face of injustice…
To be witnesses for God is every Christian’s, every Catholic’s business. If the task force requires the work of a researcher, I’m happy to be considered. I did my postgraduate studies at the ANU and UC, with a PhD in Economics.
Thank you, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, for shepherding us through this challenging time for the people of the Archdiocese and the ACT.
It’s a matter of money. The Government seems to want Calvary Hospital to pay more into Government coffers. I admire the current hospital staff for their care and concern and mostly for their dedication.
The Government should stay out of hospital management. Leave it to the professionals. This type of interference is an indication of gross incompitace.
If it aint broke, don’t fix it.
If it aint woke, don’t nix it.
Cool comment Matto!
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
As a long time Belconnen resident, and an Anglican, I’ve always received the utmost care whenever I’ve been to Calvary.
There are plenty of Public Hospitals in which abortions occur regularly, I know because I’ve worked in such. There is no need for anyone seeking an abortion or euthanasia to go to a Catholic Hospital.This situation is absurd in my view. I graduated from Sydney University in 1972 in Medicine and worked in that field for 33 years till retirement.
Thank you, Archbishop Christopher. I have recently had long and distressing personal experience of the muddle and mess at Canberra Hospital in Woden, in spite of the skill and care of patients given there by hard-working staff. My experience of Calvary Hospital, by contrast, has been very positive.
Canberra certainly needs more than one new hospital to serve the needs of its increasing population as well as for patients outside the ACT. Since the ACT Government has control of most of the Territory’s undeveloped land, it would be better to build from scratch another hospital in Molonglo or Tuggeranong.
I’m a nsw resident and extremely alarmed and disgusted at this unwillingness to engage with and/or ignore the community concerns in this matter
I’m an Australian living in Perth since 2012. I’m a practicing Catholic from India who migrated to Australia following my childhood dream of the beautiful Western life. It makes me wonder whether I’ve made the right choice as I didn’t expect to see all this happening over here. Christians/Catholics are being persecuted in every sphere of life. Let goodness prevail amongst our Leaders.
If they can take over a hospital what business is next
Better invest some where else
Thank you, Your Grace, for your insightful article.
I would like to share my personal story as someone who escaped from Vietnam almost four decades ago due to religious persecution. During that time, the government seized nearly all monasteries, seminaries, and Catholic schools, repurposing them as state shcools, institutions and government buildings. Witnessing these actions was a stark reminder of the oppressive measures often associated with communist countries. In contrast, I have always considered myself fortunate to have found a new home in Australia, a beacon of democracy and religious freedom.
However, recent events have deeply shaken me to the core. The compulsory acquisition of the Calvary Hospital by the ACT government has left me feeling fearful and uncertain about the future in my adopted country, Australia. The hospital, with its profound Catholic values and commitment to healing, stands as a testament to the importance of compassion and faith in our society.
Your Grace, I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments. It is disheartening to witness a place that has served as a haven for healing and care being subjected to forceful acquisition. I sincerely hope that the ACT government will reconsider its decision and explore alternative solutions that uphold the principles of religious freedom and respect for diverse communities.
Once again, I express my gratitude for your wise words, Your Grace, and for shedding light on this issue that deeply concerns many of us who have experienced religious persecution firsthand.