In a bid to halt the ACT government’s acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, Catholic Action has called for the hospital to be heritage listed urgently.

Catholic Action submitted an urgent nomination to the ACT Heritage Register on Wednesday, calling for the public hospital building and the precinct – including any signage, statues of the Madonna, art, or crucifixes – to be included on the ACT and Federal Heritage Registers.

The ACT government intends to remove religious iconography and the cross on top of the hospital, angering Christians.

Catholic Action believes that the ACT government’s forcible acquisition “disregards the hospital’s essential role in the Catholic community and undermines the principles of autonomy, respect for diversity, and freedom of religious expression”, spokesperson John-Paul Romano said.

Catholic Action is a grassroots, lay, issue-based Catholic social action organisation.

• Supreme Court upholds Calvary takeover bill (9 June)
• Calvary acquisition bill passes, Calvary approaches court (1 June)
• Why the ACT Government wants Calvary Public Hospital (1 June)
• Canberran protesters for and against Calvary acquisition (31 May)
• Calvary takeover bill introduced to ACT Assembly (11 May)

The group also wrote to Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, ACT minister for heritage, to Nicole Lawder MLA, shadow minister for heritage, and to the federal government.

“Catholic Action firmly believes that the unique history, tradition, and social importance of Calvary Hospital warrant its protection through heritage listing,” Mr Romano said.

“Calvary Hospital is not merely a place of healing, but also a testament to our Christian history and an embodiment of our commitment to compassion and care for all.

“Listing Calvary Hospital as a heritage site will not only protect the physical infrastructure of the hospital, but also help preserve its rich history, spiritual importance, and the ethos that is at the heart of its service to our community.”

Ms Vassarotti said that Catholic Action would need to follow proper process; however, even heritage listing might not stop the hospital development.

“ACT Heritage conduct a preliminary review of nomination applications to determine that the application is complete, as well as establishing due process around administration. If complete, the assessment will then proceed to Council to asset the merit of the nomination.

“Heritage nominations require consideration of impacts on potential heritage values as part of the development application process. Nominations don’t prohibit development. A nominated or heritage registered place does not oblige owners to freeze a place in time or open it to the public as a museum.”

Jeremy Hanson MLA, acting opposition leader, thought that the government would seek to overturn any heritage listing.

“The ACT government is behaving as if they are above the law,” he said. “If a heritage listing were successful, it is unfortunately very clear that the ACT government would just create a law to override it.  This government will do what it wants to whoever it wants, and will let nothing stand in its way.”