Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, with faith leaders from across Australia’s major religious traditions, launched a national campaign inviting Australians to accurately identify their religious affiliation in the 2026 Census. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Supported by representatives from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and other communities, the initiative encourages people whose lives have been shaped by faith, spirituality or religious tradition to reflect that identity when answering the Census religion question on August 11.
It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of Census data in shaping public policy, government funding and the delivery of community services, including education, healthcare, aged care and settlement support for all Australians.
The powerful demonstration of shared purpose was coordinated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and launched at St Mary’s Cathedral yesterday.
Archbishop Fisher stressed that the faith leaders’ invitation was not about persuading people to change their religious beliefs or practices but about encouraging them to answer the Census honestly and confidently with regards to their faith.
“The Census helps tell the story of who we are as a nation; religion remains an important part of the Australian story,” he said at the launch.
“For many people faith is not merely something they do on a weekend, it shapes their values, their sense of meaning, family traditions and identity and ways they contribute to the community.
“You don’t have to be a regular worshipper to have a religious identity. Many people still feel connected to their faith even if they practise it only occasionally.
“But religion helped shape your life, your family, culture and beliefs and that deserves to be acknowledged when you complete the census.”
Recent Census results have shown a significant increase in Australians selecting “No Religion”, even as many continue to maintain cultural, familial or spiritual connections to faith traditions.
Demographer and census expert Mark McCrindle said the religion question on the Census helps to inform long-term planning for services such as schools, hospitals, aged care, chaplaincy programs and settlement support.
It is an optional question which most Australians have answered, and is “not a test of religious practice or perfection”, he said in a statement ahead of the launch.
Faith leaders said their Census initiative recognises the many ways faith and identity are expressed in contemporary Australia.
FULL STORY
Archbishop Fisher leads multi-faith project to encourage Australians to be counted in the 2026 Census (By Marilyn Rodrigues, The Catholic Weekly)
