Presenter: Lara Kirk
Executive Secretary, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement. Lara has over 30 years of experience in ministry, including working with young people on the Church’s vision for marriage and sexuality. She previously served as Marriage, Family and Relationships Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn and manages a family vineyard with her husband, Tim, raising their five children.
Summary
The third LMF Network meeting of 2025 opened with introductions, prayer, and announcements relevant to life, marriage, and family ministry. The main presentation was delivered by Lara Kirk, who explained the structure and role of the ACBC, including its commissions and advisory bodies. She reviewed past and current projects of her commission, such as resources on marriage, gender identity, and euthanasia. The session concluded with a discussion inviting network members to provide feedback on ministry needs and areas where the Bishop’s Conference could best allocate resources, covering topics such as NaPro technology, social media support for parents, gender-based violence, validating marriages, and housing affordability for young families.
Notable Quotes
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“The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is the Assembly of the Bishops of Australia, exercising together certain pastoral offices for Christ, faithful of that territory to promote that greater good, which the Church offers to humankind.” [17:39]
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“…the Bishops Conference actually only exists when the bishops are meeting in this particular way in a plenary session, and they make decisions together in a very defined way.” [18:25]
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“…what sort of needs, yes, do you see, what do you think the Bishop’s Conference…where do you see would be a good place for the Bishop’s Conference to be putting its resources and efforts in the areas that we deal with?” [42:06]
Kicker Quotes
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“I think it would be wonderful for the Church to maybe offer sponsorships for part sponsorships for doctors that want to go and train in NaPro technology.” [43:51]
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“Marriage is way too important to start descending when you’re engaged, which of course is absolutely true.”
Detailed Insights
Main Arguments:
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The ACBC was established following the Second Vatican Council to provide a collaborative structure for bishops to address complex contemporary issues. [17:21]
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The ACBC operates through commissions and expert lay advisory bodies to inform pastoral decisions effectively. [25:35]
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The Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement produces pastoral resources to support Catholics navigating cultural issues such as same-sex marriage, gender identity, and euthanasia. [36:23]
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Input from professionals in the field is essential to guide the commission’s work and allocation of resources. [42:43]
Supporting Evidence:
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Reference to Christus Dominus as the foundation for bishops’ conferences. [16:49]
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Overview of advisory councils supporting the commission. [28:54]
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Past resources highlighted include Created and Loved and To Witness and to Accompany with Christian Hope. [38:06]
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Current projects: marriage catechumenate program and prenatal diagnosis resource. [40:05]
Themes and Trends
Recurring Themes:
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Collaboration: ACBC fosters collaboration among bishops and lay experts. [16:49]
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Pastoral response to modern issues: developing practical resources on gender, euthanasia, and social media. [36:23, 37:12, 38:30]
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Importance of lay expertise: formal structures ensure professional knowledge informs pastoral work. [25:25, 29:24]
Emerging Trends:
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Dynamic resources: ongoing updates required to reflect legal, social, and cultural changes. [37:46]
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Loss of government support for natural fertility services requires alternative strategies. [41:31]
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Early marriage preparation: resources are being designed for dating and discernment phases. [50:20]
