Establishment of Women's Interfaith Fellowship
On the 9th of August 2005 the Commission for Australian Catholic Women (CACW) has established the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship where young catholic women are given a unique chance to break down the barrier of fear created by recent terror attacks and world conflict.
The aim of this interfaith fellowship is to identify and train key individuals to take a leadership role in promoting interfaith relations to reduce tensions.
Geraldine Hawkes the chairperson for CACW says that the Interfaith Fellowship is needed urgently where: "Terrorist bombings and the subsequent waves of fear and mistrust felt throughout the community make it ever more important to seek understanding and co-operation among peoples, the young women who take up these Interfaith Fellowships will undertake preparation for leadership roles in interfaith relations with the aim of contributing to a culture of peace both locally and globally."
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The Australia Catholic University will offer the academic course for the Fellowship resulting in a Graduate Certificate in Interfaith Relations as well as skill developments in interfaith dialogue and media relations. Mrs. Hawkes says: “The Fellowship is grounded in the Catholic tradition and is essentially a response to the Gospel imperative to love one's neighbor. It is envisioned that the young women who undertake the Fellowship will have an ongoing engagement in Interfaith Relations. They will be skilled in leadership, theology and the principles of interfaith dialogue and they will be equipped to work towards building religious and peaceful coexistence."
Ten young women will undertake the $12,000 Fellowship in 2006. In December 2000 the Commission for Australian Catholic Women was founded by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to promote the participation of women in the Catholic Church.
