Sydney: The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has released the first of two statements on social justice, focusing on the growing cost of living crisis and calling Australians to look beyond statistics and see the real human stories behind economic hardship.
Presenting the statement, conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said it was an invitation for the nation to reflect on its current challenges and respond with faith, hope and love. He noted that rising prices are forcing many people to make painful choices, including skipping meals, delaying medical care and living without secure housing.
The archbishop cautioned against reducing these struggles to numbers alone. He said those affected are not statistics but people whose lives reveal stories of hardship, dignity and resilience.
Drawing on Catholic social teaching, the bishops highlighted principles such as human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity and the preferential option for the poor. These principles, the statement said, call everyone to share generously, speak up for justice and help build communities where no one is forgotten.
Australia’s cost of living pressures have deepened in recent years due to a combination of factors including the COVID 19 pandemic, global conflicts, high interest rates, rising housing costs, slow wage growth and increased corporate profits. The bishops’ statement places strong emphasis on lived experiences to show the real impact of these pressures.
One young woman from New South Wales shared how financial strain has changed her life over the past year. She said there were times when she skipped meals so her daughter and pets could eat and revealed that she had been unable to pay her electricity bills for more than two years.
Studies cited in the statement show that more than 70 percent of workers and people receiving government support say the cost of goods and services has risen faster than their income. Many households have used up savings, borrowed money, gone without heating or cooling, or avoided medical care. In 2025, more than one in three households reported experiencing food insecurity, with families skipping meals or relying on emergency food relief. The situation is even more severe in regional and remote areas, where basic food prices can be double those in major cities.
The bishops stressed that at the heart of Catholic social teaching is respect for the dignity of every human person. Created in the image and likeness of God, every person has immeasurable worth. Yet the evidence, they said, shows that rising living costs are stripping many Australians of that dignity, something they described as unacceptable.
The principle of the universal destination of goods, the statement explained, demands that everyone has access to what they need to live with dignity. Commitment to the common good means ensuring that all people can flourish, not just survive.
While acknowledging the work of Catholic social service organisations that support around 700,000 people each year through financial counselling, housing assistance and emergency aid, the bishops said responsibility does not rest with charities alone. They called on governments, businesses, churches, community groups and individuals to act together.
The bishops urged Australians to volunteer, donate, speak to elected representatives and support efforts promoting affordable housing. They said everyone has a role to play in working for the common good during the cost of living crisis.
Calling on people to be prophets of hope, the bishops said small and collective actions can help lift the sense of gloom many feel today and replace it with hope for a more compassionate, resilient and fairer Australia.