The ACT authorities is on the defensive, denying that they had something to do with the removing of enormous blue crosses from the facade of a previously Catholic Canberra hospital.
Calvary Health Care, which was Calvary Public Hospital till it was rebranded on Monday, has been a sore level for the ACT Catholic neighborhood for the reason that territory authorities rushed via laws in May to amass the constructing and land, situated in Bruce.
Ahead of Monday’s official begin to authorities management on the facility, crews have been noticed engaged on Sunday morning to take away crosses and different non secular iconography from the location — together with a big blue cross on the entrance of the constructing.
Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese Archbishop Christopher Prowse, advised a church service it was the act of a “totalitarian” authorities.
“The very first thing a totalitarian government does, when it seizes Christian assets, the very first thing they all do … they take down the crucifix,” he mentioned.
“When the non secular cage is shaken by a wolf, when the cross … is taken down, we realise how essential our faith is, when it‘s under attack.
“And right now today, over at the public hospital — today is Sunday, of all days they picked is the Christian gathering-time — they‘re taking the very big blue cross from outside the public hospital down today.”
But ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the decision to remove the iconography was made by Calvary Health Care, who run the hospital — not by her government, or Canberra Health Service.
“As part of the transition, and in order to preserve and respect the iconography, Calvary arranged to properly remove the Catholic iconography,” she said.
“This included the removal of the cross on Sunday, the statue of Mary previously located outside the Xavier building, and a number of other iconography items of heritage significance to Calvary, which have been removed from within the hospital.”
ACT Regional CEO Ross Hawkins told Catholic Voice while Sunday was a sad day, their commitment to the community would never falter.
“Calvary has acted with integrity, and while we completely disagree with what the ACT government has done, we will continue to act with integrity to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible for our people,” he said.
Ms Stephen-Smith wouldn’t be drawn on accusations of launching an assault on non secular freedom, noting the transition was about creating effectivity for the Canberra neighborhood.
Originally revealed as Catholic Church cross over hospital cross removing
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
