Mary MacKillop's voting advice
Who would Mary MacKillop vote for at the upcoming
Federal Election? We will never know. But one thing is certain; her letters
show that she took voting very seriously and, at a time when women had just
earned the right to vote, she urged her Sisters to take it seriously too.
Non-Aboriginal
women were given the right to vote for the new Commonwealth Parliament in 1901,
having first been enfranchised in South Australia in 1894, followed by Western
Australia in 1899. Women in Australia first voted for the Commonwealth
Parliament in the second Federal election in 1903.
In that year, Mary MacKillop wrote to her Sisters on July 16, directing them to
get on the electoral roll, and, according to the conventions of the times, to
inform themselves of the issues and the candidates.
“My
dear Sisters,
It is a duty on
us all to vote, and for this reason all must have their names on the Electoral
Rolls where they are placed. See to this at once. Get advice from some leading
man in whom you have confidence, or from the priest, but keep your voting
secret.
Find out who are
the members proposed for election and vote for those who are considered most
friendly to the Church and Religion. Every so-called Catholic is not the best
man.
“I can say no
more, but with love and blessing and praying for God to guide you in this
important matter, remain as ever.
Your fond Mother
in JMJ
Mary of the
Cross.”
Sr Sheila
McCreanor rsj, who arranged and edited the book in which the letter has been
published, Mary MacKillop on Mission to her last breath, said Mary’s message to
her Sisters remains relevant today.
“Mary was a proud Australian who saw that the future of the separate colonies
lay in Federation long before this occurred,” Sr Sheila said.
“I am sure that the essence of her message remains true today – be responsible in casting your vote; weigh up the attitudes and values of those standing for election and above all, pray for wisdom.”
Reprinted with permission from Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Mary MacKillop features in the
2011 Columban Calendar
Click here to order:
2011 Columban Calendar $8.50
