Spirituality on the Sofa – SOS

Annual Theme:  Peace

Tonight’s Theme:  Just War Theory

with

ROBERT FITZGERALD  AM and  SR PATRICIA FOX

The church doctrine of Just War traces through Saints Ambrose, Augustine and Thomas Aquinas and is articulated in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church and indeed, in the Catechism. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis called the doctrine into question, asking if the criteria remain relevant in modern times. He called war the defeat of humanity – always! In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo calls the doctrine outdated. Where are we headed?

  Patricia grew up in Melbourne and attended schools run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion. She trained as a primary school teacher before entering the Sion Congregation in 1969. After several years teaching, she became a community
worker in inner-city Melbourne. Following time overseas, Patricia studied Law at the University of New South Wales and worked in Legal Aid and a community legal centre before moving to the Philippines in 1990. There she worked with a diocesan justice and peace group, became National Coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, and later worked with the Agricultural Workers Union.In 2018, she was ordered to leave the Philippines by the President. Since returning to Australia, she has remained active in Philippine solidarity work and is Secretary of Pax Christi Victoria.

Robert is Chair of Caritas Australia and has held numerous voluntary roles within the Church, including as NSW State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society. A respected lawyer and advocate for human rights and social justice, he became Age Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2024, after nearly five years as the inaugural NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner. He has also served as an Australian Productivity Commissioner, NSW Community Services Commissioner, and Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Robert was inaugural Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Advisory Board and has served on NGO boards for more than 40 years, including as President of the Australian Council of Social Service. He has also held Adjunct Professorships at ACU and UWA.

Moderator for the evening will be Susan Eichorn

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The presentations of our conversation leaders may be recorded. The ensuing conversation will not be recorded.

An initiative of Catalyst for Renewal