AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE Bishops Commission for Catholic Education Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Chairman Bishop Mark Edwards OMI Bishop Gregory O’Kelly SJ Bishop Greg Homeming OCD

Catholic schools are committed to being welcoming and inclusive communities for students, families and staff. They are operated under the auspices of the Catholic Church in Australia and seek to provide a quality education within the context of the Catholic faith. An essential element of that faith is the Church’s teachings about marriage.

Families who choose a Catholic education for their children understand that Catholic schools always seek to be expressions of this Catholic world view and that their children will be educated within a Catholic framework.

Those who seek employment in Catholic schools also understand the nature of Catholic schools as faith-based schools. In accepting a role in a Catholic school staff will recognise their responsibility to conduct themselves in such a way as not to undermine the fundamental ethos of the school. Like all other employers, the Catholic Church should be able to ensure its values are upheld by those who choose to work for the organisation.

+Archbishop Tim Costelloe SDB
Chair, Bishops Commission for Catholic Education

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