CANDIDATES QUESTION NOTRE DAME ROLE

AUSTRALIAN Christians state election candidate Peter Watt has questioned why Notre Dame University allowed participants at ‘The Great Debate’ to mock ‘Our Lady’ and fellow candidates at Tannock Hall on February 19.
He told StreetWise today he was not offended personally, “but when Our Lady is actually openly mocked, that takes it to a new level”.
First reported yesterday at https://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/candidates-debate-offends-catholic-values/, former Fremantle councillor and practising Catholic Marija Vujcic complained to Notre Dame and questioned whether such ‘offensive’ events should be held at the university which has hosted debates since 2008.
Mr Watt said the Halloween prop of a cross with rosary beads placed on his empty chair was offensive: “This was not undergraduate politics, it was a show with pre-school squeaky toys. Notre Dame translates to ‘Our Lady’ and the rosary represents her chosen prayer. It raises serious questions over the purpose of the university and what it is set up to do. What does it mean to be under Our Lady’s banner?”
He told StreetWise his state director left apologies with co-organiser Michael Barker and offered a written statement instead. It was declined.”
Notre Dame executive dean and co-organiser Martin Drum said yesterday no candidate in the March 8 elections was censored, though: “Some candidates were a little harder to reach where they didn’t have their own phone numbers or email addresses listed.”
Mr Watt said: “People can have a variety of reasons not to go to events. We gave our apologies and offered a statement as an alternative. I was censored.”
With more than 30 years experience in healthcare, Mr Watt has worked in government and private sectors specialising in mental illness, suicide prevention, drug rehabilitation, psychosis and trauma. Mr Watt also is a sessional lecturer with “glowing references” at Notre Dame.
“Notre Dame and the Archbishop need to address this,” he said. “They can ignore it or take action. Nothing was done to stop it on the night, which raises questions over where the university stands with respect to these things.”
People deserved to be treated with common decency and respect, particularly in a place that honours Our Lady, he said.
Liberal candidate Serena Kipling who contacted with Mr Barker and turned down the invitation agreed: “It was not even a debate, it was a sham.”
Asked how she felt having a seagull represent her, she said, “Childish, pathetic. I quite like seagulls actually. Unbelievable. It’s like play school.”
Having announced as reported by StreetWise her bid for state parliament on February 5 (https://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/libs-enter-freo-political-fray%e2%80%a8/), Ms Kipling said she was more offended by the way Mr Watt was treated both organisers in his absence in a Catholic hall.
“If Notre Dame don’t buy out of doing this then I don’t know what they are. If I were the VC I wouldn’t be supporting any of this. Squeaky toys and swearing? Totally unprofessional.”
The Libs have the Australian Christians Party second on its preferences.