Since its inception, Australian Reforming Catholics (ARC) has placed emphasis on seeking change in key areas.
We attempt to:
- expose clericalism and inappropriate hierarchical power, and create participatory structures,
- advocate equality when more than 50% of the Church are women and when women have little influence on what is said and done,
- point out irrational teachings, doctrines, and practices that conflict with the spirit of what Jesus preached, and
- discuss and write about the need for revised scriptural interpretation in the light of modern understanding of literature.
Publication of material to inform ARC members and the broader Church is a key element of the work undertaken by ARC. Content developed by ARC members and others is published in a variety of formats.
ARC website
This website is the public face of ARC. It presents information about who we are and what we do, our Secretariat, our structure, history, and operation along with access to our publications. The News & views page assists members and interested visitors to keep up with activities of ARC and the broader Catholic Church and to share ideas in short articles or comments.
ARCVoice
Since October 2001 ARC has published a quarterly newsletter, ARCVoice, with articles and commentary by members and others. The print version is mailed to members and PDF versions are available online.
Occasional publications
The following additional items have been published by ARC:
ARC Inaugural Conference
In October 2002 ARC held its first conference in Sydney. Material from that conference was later published.
Understanding disaffected Catholics
John Buggy, the Spokesperson for Australian Reforming Catholics, presented a paper at the Curia Leaders’ Workshop conducted by the Diocese of Broken Bay on 10-11 May 2007. The paper, although written quite some time ago, highlights how participation in the Church has declined and something of what needs to be done.