Our Mission and Guiding Principles

The mission of the Pastoral Projects Office is to assist the Catholic Church in Australia at all levels in understanding the cultural, social and personal dimensions of religion in the changing contemporary context

- Pastoral Research: Strategic Plan and Direction, March 2002.

The work of the Office is overseen by the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research established by the Bishops Commission for Administration and Information of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

It carries out this mission in the light of the following guiding principles:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
"In pastoral care, sufficient use should be made, not only of theological principles, but also of the findings of secular sciences, especially psychology and sociology: in this way, the faithful will be brought to a purer and more mature living of the faith" (Gaudium et Spes, n.62)

"It is especially necessary for us to direct our thoughts to the future which lies before us. This is a task I wish to invite all the local churches to undertake ... Now is the time for each local Church to assess its fervour and find fresh enthusiasm for its spiritual and pastoral responsibilities” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, n.3).

Gospel Values

• The pastoral research projects are inspired by Gospel values (truth, goodness, recognition of the dignity and uniqueness of each person, fidelity, openness to the Holy Spirit, respect, and prayerfulness), and guided by the principles of Catholic pastoral theology.

Service

• The pastoral research projects are at the service of, and participate in, the mission of the Catholic Church in Australia
• The pastoral research projects offer user-friendly materials and high quality service designed to help pastoral leaders in dioceses, parishes and other Catholic settings effectively discern what information they need, how to interpret it, and how to use it.

Scientific Standards

Pastoral research must always:

• be of high quality in terms of the standards of the academic discipline(s) involved
• be conducted with academic integrity in order that the work be acknowledged as worthy of respect, acceptance and usefulness
• maintain the highest standard of research ethics.

Collaboration / Partnerships

• The efficiency and effectiveness of the pastoral research projects are enhanced by the collaboration of the ACBC Pastoral Research Office with Australian Catholic University
• The pastoral research projects are conducted in a spirit of collaboration with other groups within the Catholic Church
• Collaboration with researchers in other Christian Churches is valued and sought after, both in order to make more efficient use of the resources available for research and as a means of promoting the Christian witness of the Churches in the Australian community
• Collaboration with academic researchers is valued and sought after for the development and maintenance of professional relationships and in order to improve the knowledge and acceptance of church research among the academic community.