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Catholica Australia is a cyber initiative that has grown organically from a small group of lay Catholics who first met about five years ago when the CathNews discussion forum was established. They were individuals characterised by a search for a deeper understanding of their faith but, in many cases, also struggling with significant challenges in their own lives. They ended up forming a private cyber community and have organised retreats and meals together and continue to meet with one another both in cyberspace and in their own homes. The friendship extends across the oceans of the world and has led to myriad wonderful relationships and shared experiences. The Catholica Australia initiative seeks to share the wonderful experiences we have had with others, particularly those who might be struggling with challenges in their lives who seek a compassionate ear. None of us pretend to have all the answers and, self-evidently, we don't think the Church does either. We do believe God has a few answers though and as a Church community we can assist one another in hearing what God's answers might be. All of us have struggled at times to understand our faith and how it might assist us in our lives. This cyber initiative seeks to hold out a compassionate hand from fellow-travellers in the great struggles of life. Some of these individuals can be found as commentators, others as contributors to the discussion forum, while others prefer to make less public contributions to our endeavour in the background or anonymously. Here's some background about Brian Coyne and Cliff Baxter who are the principal collaborators in getting this initiative established...
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The initial development of Catholica Australia has been financed by Brian Coyne, his immediate family, and a small group of business people, as well as by the extensive contributions of time and skill provided by all of the individuals referred to in the explanation above. We are also indebted particularly to Brian's youngest son, Julian, who has provided the technical infrastructure to host Catholica Australia through his company Unified Pty Ltd. Initial editorial and legal responsibility for this initiative is accepted by Brian Coyne through his business Vias Tuas Communications (ABN 24 740 067 125). We are presently in the process of establishing a not-for-profit agency and board which will provide a mechanism of accountability to the philanthropic supporters and patrons whom we are approaching to provide the funding to make this venture viable in the long term. In the long term we trust that we will be able to continue to fund it largely by advertising and philanthropic patronage so that we can allow free access to all those who may benefit from what the Catholica Australia community seeks to offer as a Christian, cyber-based community. If you have the capacity and would like to assist this venture as a philanthropic supporter I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss our work with you privately by telephone, email or letter. I can be contacted through any of the channels given below. Yours sincerely, Brian Coyne 
34 Martin Place, LINDEN NSW 2778, Australia |
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Brian
Coyne was coadministrator of the CathNews discussion forum
and Relief Editor for CathNews. Originally trained as a physicist,
he has spent most of his adult life working in the field of public communications
including stints in the 1990s and the early years of this new millenium
as Media Officer for the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia,
the Archbishop of Perth, and in work for Church agencies and apostolates
such as the Archdiocese of Perth Liturgy and RCIA Office, LifeLink, the
Knights of the Southern Cross, and the Newman Graduate Society. He is
now 58 years of age and virtually engaged in full-time communication endeavours
for the Church and its agencies as well as this present initiative which,
God willing, will grow to be his principal involvement into the future.
Brian lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and is the editor and
publisher of Catholica Australia. Brian also writes under the pen
name, Tom Scott.
Clifford
Baxter is a veteran journalist with a lifetime of experience working
for the major secular news media in Australia, Fleet Street and reporting
elsewhere in the world. He has worked for News Limited, Fairfax and the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In Catholic circles he is perhaps
best known for his ten year's work as a high profile journalist with the
Catholic Weekly in Sydney. He continues to make an active contribution
in support of various apostolates and agencies such as the Knights of
the Southern Cross, the Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul Society), the Australian
Council of Christians and Jews, and in support of various other ethnic
associations. He has had an active involvement with OnLine Catholics
as a writer and as administrator of their discussion forum. Cliff lives
in the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown.