Commentary
Given that permanent European settlement in Australia dates back just some 235 years, this country has had more than its fair share of extraordinary Catholics. Of course, we have St Mary of the Cross, better known as Mary MacKillop.
As far as churchmen go, three giants spring to mind: the English Benedictine, Bede Polding, who was the first Archbishop of Sydney.
Bishop Rosendo Salvado, the Spanish Benedictine who established the famous New Norcia Abbey and mission to Aboriginal people in remote Western Australia in the most difficult conditions.
And finally, Archbishop Daniel Mannix, the Irish-born Archbishop of Melbourne for a record 46 years, whose steadfast support of prominent Catholic lawyer BA Santamaria against Communist influence in the Labor Party led to the split of 1955 and the creation of the Democratic Labor Party….