Quick Links

Australia and the Popes

Significant events in Australia's history
during the reign of Pope Pius X, 1903-1914

The status of early Australian Catholics:

Australia was still a fledgling nation when Pius X became Pope in 1903. Catholics in Australia were still very much an underclass and both lay and clerical predominantly Irish, or, by then, the children of Irish descendants. The original Catholics in the penal colonies of Australia had largely been Irish and convicts transported either for criminal behaviour or political agitation. Much of the early "bonding" of the Catholics in Australia came from their 'Irishness' and alienation from the British ruling classes rather than any deep sense of theological or spiritual quest.

In an excellent and brief overview of the Catholic History of Australia written by Australian Catholic University academic, Yuri Koszarycz, available on line (see links at the end of this section), he observes:

The Irish convict population did not comprise ordinary criminals only. Although two thirds were justly convicted of criminal offences, murder, robbery etc., one third were political prisoners. Among their group were men whose "personal characters were incorrupt, men of principle, spirit and integrity, whose crime was a form of rebellion against British Rule" (O'Farrell, 1985: 2). Although statistically this group was rather small, their very presence changed the nature of the attitude that the following generation would have toward their convict ancestors. From the earliest time Catholics saw themselves as "manly and courageous victims of political injustice and religious persecution, more sinned against than sinning" (O'Farrell, 1985: 3).

The forging of Catholicism as a strong force in Australia out of its inauspicious start owes much to Irish culture and the early bishops and religious who grasped the importance of education in lifting the material prospects of this underclass. From 1880 when Henry Parkes' Public Instruction Act abolished state aid to denominational schools, Catholics had been "on their own" in paying for the education of their children. As Koszarycz observes:

[I]n New South Wales; the number of Catholic schools trebled to 102 between 1873 and 1883. Donations from, and involvement of, poor and middle income earners built up the church, but the material church was a declaration of their Irish Catholicism and was not solely religiously motivated. Money collection and construction of church buildings became an obsession. By 1879 the schools had become the symbol of Catholic unity and of political, social and religious status of Catholics (O'Farrell, 1985: 184-5). Because of their "Irishness" the laity were prepared to follow their bishops faithfully and obediently, for the issue became one of loyalty to the church and not so much one of education. Social pressures to conform and threatened withdrawal of the sacraments ensured that attendance at Catholic schools became a condition of Catholicity rather than a symbol of it.

The foregoing is written as a brief introduction to understanding the state of the Church in Australia in the Ponitificate of Pope St Pius X. His pontifical and theological style very much "jelled" with independent forces that had been at work through the political, social and economic forces at work in this country, and in Ireland, which had been forging the distinctive nature of Australian Catholicism.

Continued on next page... >>

<< Prev: Pope St Pius X |
Next: Australia during Pius X's pontificate (cont'd) >>

The textual material on these pages was sourced from a large number of places all of which can be found through the links on each page. The material was researched, assembled and produced by Brian Coyne for Catholic Australia. The images used in the Flash animations are in the public domain. Other images used are in the public domain or sourced from the webpages to which they are linked.