Posts Tagged: refugees
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Nov 26, 2012
No CommentsCrisis in Congo – Church leaders say DRC on brink of war
Media Release, 23 November, 2012 Fear and insecurity has sent tens of thousands of innocent civilians into hiding and flight as the M23 Rebels now occupy Goma, the main city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The military spokesperson of the M23 has now publically declared that the rebels are prepared...
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Nov 26, 2012
No CommentsCall for children and their families to be released from Australia’s offshore detention camp
Media Release, 26 November, 2012 The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has voiced its concern regarding Australia’s detention of children and their families. ACSJC Chairman Bishop Christopher Saunders said: “That asylum seekers, including children, have now been sent to Manus should set the alarm bells ringing. Having witnessed first-hand the conditions in Australia’s detention centres,...
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Jan 24, 2012
No CommentsBishops’ Australia Day call for time limit on detention
Media Release 24 January, 2012 To mark Australia Day, the Catholic Bishops Commission for Justice, Ecology and Development calls upon political parties to work towards a common approach to asylum seekers, so that human beings do not become pawns in a political argument. Further, and more immediately, to honour the Australian sense of justice and...
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Dec 23, 2011
No CommentsCatholic Migrant office calls for reflection on asylum policy during the Christmas season.
Media Release, 23 December 2011 The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office today urged both political parties to show moral leadership over the Christmas period with regard to policy debates on asylum seekers and refugees. Director of the ACMRO Fr Maurizio Pettenà CS expressed the view that people seeking asylum need to be processed in...
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Dec 22, 2011
3 CommentsTrust in God, and take one day at a time – A reflection on the life of Bishop Joe
By Fr Maurizio Pettena CS Bishop Joe is still very much a holy presence in my life. I remember very vividly last year on the 23rd of December when he called me at about 10pm at night and asked me what I was doing. He said he wasn’t feeling too well. He kept feeling worse,...
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Dec 19, 2011
No CommentsThe Christmas story of asylum seekers
By Fr Maurizio Pettena CS Yesterday, I stood in front of the Nativity scene that is displayed in front of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and considered it for a moment. The Christmas story, as always during December, is much on my mind and in my prayer this week. Even David Jones just down the...
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Dec 19, 2011
No Comments“Increase humanitarian intake to prevent future asylum tragedies” says Catholic Migrant office
Media Release 19 December, 2011 The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) today expressed sorrow over the tragedy which has resulted in the deaths of a possible 160 people, mostly thought to be asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran. This time last year, a similar tragedy occurred when just short of safety, a boat...
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Nov 17, 2011
1 CommentMonsignor John Murphy – A reflection from Fr Maurizio Pettena CS
By Fr Maurizio Pettena CS This text is also available on the website www.acmro.catholic.org.au Monsignor John J. Murphy, former Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office concluded his journey here on earth, Monday, November 14, 2011. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office joins the many people who mourn and offer prayers for...
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Nov 09, 2011
No CommentsMyanmar families the silent victims in Thai floods
Media Release – Caritas Australia 9 November, 2011 Millions of families in Myanmar are the hidden face of Thailand’s flood devastation, confronted with financial ruin as relentless waters cripple the Thai economy. Large numbers of Myanmar’s impoverished population rely heavily on so-called “remittances” _ money sent back from bordering nations like Thailand by loved ones...
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Nov 02, 2011
No CommentsHelp Boat People by Increasing Settlement Places
Media Release 2 November 2011 The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office offers condolences to the victims of the terrible tragedy of those who lost their lives off the coast of Indonesia yesterday. Director of ACMRO, Fr Pettená said “This tragedy heightens the need to provide legal pathways and more space within our humanitarian program....