Proposed new Australian law could label priests ‘agents of the Vatican’

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Bishops warn the bill could leave priests and laypeople exposed to the claim they are foreign agents
Australian bishops have warned that proposed new legislation could require priests, and potentially any Catholic involved in advocacy, to register as a ‘foreign agent’ of the Vatican.

Bishop Robert McGuckin of Toowoomba told a parliamentary committee: “Catholics are followers of Jesus Christ, we are not agents of a foreign government.”
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http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...aw-could-label-priests-agents-of-the-vatican/
 
which bill? which legislation?

this article makes no sense
 
Local priests don’t work for “the Vatican”. They work for the local bishop. He owes a certain religious obedience to the pope… but local dioceses are fairly autonomous.
 
Bishop McGuckin spoke ahead of the Jan. 30 parliamentary hearing, where a joint committee on intelligence and security discussed the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill.
Introduced on Dec. 7, 2017, the legislation would require those acting on behalf of a foreign power to register their status. It would also strengthen penalties for treason, espionage, and secret-sharing.

However, Bishop McGuckin said the bill may require “every Catholic who invites a politician to an event” or “writes for an MP’s support” to fill out paperwork. These extra steps could risk silencing the Church in its fight for social justice issues, such as its opposition to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 passed in Australia’s state of Victoria.

And while the bill would offer exemptions for religious groups, they would not extend to priests and nuns, who may be required to register as foreign officials working for Vatican City.

“The exemption for religion proposed in clause 27 is drafted based on the incorrect belief that the Catholic Church in Australia acts on behalf of a foreign government, i.e. Vatican City State,” wrote the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference in a submission to the committee.

“Given the Catholic Church in Australia does not act on behalf of a foreign government, the clause would confer no exemption on members of the Catholic Church in Australia.”

Affecting not only religious organizations but universities, human activists, and media agencies, Bishop McGuckin said the bill could negatively impact “one in five Australians.”
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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...-law-could-silence-australian-catholics-59691
 
That’s it, no more Aussies on CAF…

It’s not getting any serious airplay here. It’s targeted to China and no doubt terrorism
 
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