HAVING grown up in South Africa and been denied the right to vote due to his skin colour, the Anglican Bishop of Wangaratta has an affinity with the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Clarence Bester spoke to The Border Mail after synod representatives in his diocese last weekend endorsed a motion put by Beechworth priest Matthew Healy.
It states the synod supports the referendum to alter the constitution to include a Voice and "encourages support for the change".
Bishop Bester said it had been put to parishes for consideration but they were not compelled to follow it, noting his Albury priest Father Peter MacLeod-Miller has indicated he will be voting no.
Asked his personal view of the Voice and whether he will be voting yes or no, Bishop Bester said it was "pretty obvious" where he stood on the matter.
IN THE NEWS:
- GREEN LIGHT: New chair announced for Albury Wodonga Health board
- 'Heading towards a crisis': Alarm raised over huge council debt forecast
- Fears that kids will end up back on the couch if NSW vouchers are removed for good
- 'Some would say he was almost a psychopath - but I loved it!'
- Six things to do on the Border this long weekend, June 10-12
- Bush footballer flown to Canberra hospital with internal injuries
"As I respect a democratic process irrespective of the political turmoil in understanding what the outcome might or might not be, I wholeheartedly agree with the Voice as someone who had not had constitutional recognition or a vote in my birth country of South Africa until 1994," he said.
"I know what it feels not to be counted and not to be heard."
Catholic Bishop of Wagga Mark Edwards was party to a meeting of his colleagues last month which resulted in a call for meaningful debate on the Voice.
"People of goodwill will end up on both sides of the debate and they're not evil because they're voting one way or the other way," Bishop Edwards said.
"Everyone wants the best for our Aboriginal brothers and sisters and they have suffered for so long, but is this it?"
Bishop Edwards said until he sees the final wording for the referendum question he will not have a position on the vote.
Regardless, he does not want his priests directing their flocks on how to vote and he does not believe such advice would be welcomed.
"I would be appalled if any of the priests tell people how to vote," Bishop Edwards said.
Catholic bishops have endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart which forms the basis of the Voice call.
To read more stories, download The Border Mail news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News
