Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has marked International Women’s Day, welcoming the 2025 theme of Accelerating Action.
ACBC delegate for women Bishop Michael Morrissey said women’s leadership and voices are “critical to the church’s future” and sex-based discrimination or violence must be addressed.
“While nurturing this leadership to strive forward, we must also ensure the safety of women and the most vulnerable,” he said.
“We must speak out and act against domestic violence and inequality and offer safe spaces—mentally and physically—for women, men and families.”
This theme was also discussed at the recent gathering of Young Catholic Women’s Fellowship, which is supported by the ACBC.
Fellowship members shared their insights into what the church could do to enact the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, saying more leadership opportunities should be made available and fostered.
“There is merit in facilitating activities, seminars and projects that promote and address women’s health, education, safety, wellbeing and leadership, ensuring that such activities are safe, open and involve women’s leadership,” participant Fina Jose said.
“Experiences of inequality—which can occur behind closed doors, be casual or unnoticed by leaders—should be shared, with training provided to clergy and lay leaders to identify, understand and address the issue.”