Bishop Christopher Prowse of Sale has vigorously defended religious freedoms currently enjoyed by the Catholic Church and other faiths in Victoria.

Addressing the public hearings for the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee Inquiry into Exceptions and Exemptions to the Equal Opportunity Act 1995, Bishop Prowse told the hearing on August 5 that weakening or eliminating the religious exemptions would have profoundly negative effects and would go to the heart of the religious motivation that leads Catholic organisations to be involved in ownership and governance of health and welfare services. Bishop Prowse also suggested that the motivation of people to work in or act as volunteers in Catholic service organisations would also be diminished.

He appeared before the public hearings with business manager of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne Francis Moore to speak to the Victorian Catholic Bishops submission to the inquiry.

Catholic Life, August 2009