Catholic Religious Australia (CRA), the public name of the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (ACLRI), is the peak body for Religious in Australia.
CRA is open to all leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of apostolic life resident in Australia. Our membership comprises more than 180 congregations of Sisters, Brothers and Priests living and working in all states and territories.
Established by the authority of the Holy See in Rome, CRA's purpose is to promote, support and represent Religious life in the Australian Church and in the wider community. It facilitates coordination and cooperation of Religious with Church bodies and with other authorities.
Our mission
We promote and support the contemplative and prophetic service of Religious in Australian society.
Our values
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Attentive to the Spirit
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Inclusive
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Prophetic
Our goals
The National Council of CRA is commissioned to:
- Promote dialogue on spiritual and faith dimensions of Australian society
- Speak as Religious on social concerns of our time
- Develop a solidarity among Religious
- Facilitate a range of services (formation, transition planning and temporal administration) for Religious leaders.
National Council
CRA's National Council is the decision- making body of the ACLRI (Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes). It consists of 11 members, who are elected for a two-year term.
Representatives are elected by State Conferences of Leaders of Religious Institutes. Other members are elected by the leaders at CRA's annual National Assembly. The Council also invites an Anglican representative. The president of the National Council is elected by leaders at the National Assembly.
The officers of the Council are the President, Vice-President and Treasurer. These form the Executive of CRA and also comprise the finance committee. The Council normally meets four times per year.
CRA's President and members of the National Council speak on social concerns of our time through media releases and public statements. Some of the areas they comment on include the place of women in the Catholic Church, human trafficking, being a neighbour in the Pacific, asylum seekers and refugee rights, indigenous issues and reconciliation, justice, peace and ecology, sustainability and the environment.
Role of the National Council
Under the direction of the President, the Council is responsible for:
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Organising the annual National Assembly
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Co-ordinating co-operative planning and national endeavours of Religious
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Liaising with church, government and community bodies
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Initiating enterprises and ideas at a national level
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Communicating with, and via members of Conferences resident in each State
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Selecting ACLRI representatives for various committees and commissions
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Supervising the administration of Catholic Religious Australia
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Promoting dialogue on spiritual and faith dimensions of Australian society
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Speaking as Religious on social concerns of our time
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Developing solidarity among Religious
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Facilitating a range of services (formation, transition planning and temporal administration) for Religious leaders
CRA committee representation
CRA's members and members of its National Council are represented on a range of Church and Religious committees including the Advisory Council for Anglican Religious Life in Australia (ACARLA), Australian Catholic Council for Clergy Life and Ministry, Catholic Alliance for International Development, Catholic Health Australia, Catholic Mission National Council, Catholic Social Services Australia, National Catholic Education Commission and the National Committee for Professional Standards.
CRA's National Council Executive attends the meetings of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference twice annually, and meets annually with the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry.
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