Asylum Seeker Boat

As Australian church leaders, we stand together to express our grave concern at the passing of legislation to allow for the offshore processing and indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

Core to the Christian faith is the principle of ‘welcoming the stranger’, and Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan guides us as we seek to care for those who are vulnerable and marginalised in society. As Christians, we are called to cross the road to help, to not turn away those in need.

The Seventh Forum of the National Council of Churches in Australia in 2010 called on all political parties to meet Australia’s responsibilities by “accommodating and processing in Australia asylum seekers who reach Australian territory”.

Australia is an open and hospitable country. Many of our churches grew here as a result of people having fled places of violence or migrating to seek better futures for their families.

We welcome the commitment of the Government to increase the number of places in our humanitarian program to 20,000 and hope that it will continue to increase the program as the Panel has recommended.

However, we are deeply troubled by the potential for asylum seekers to suffer adverse mental health consequences and to experience other detrimental impacts as a result of this legislation. We are concerned that this damages our credibility and, in particular, our ability to negotiate a humane regional system of protection.

Finding answers to this complicated humanitarian challenge is difficult. As long as our world is broken and countries are ravaged by war, then people will flee violence and persecution. But as a rich and secure nation, Australia has a particular responsibility to ensure that we work positively with other nations to develop a range of strategies that are grounded in compassion and that seek to honour the moral responsibility we have to victims of violence and persecution.

It is only through such cooperation that we can provide asylum seekers with real alternatives to undertaking a desperate boat journey to find safety.

SIGNATORIES

The Most Reverend Doctor Phillip Aspinall

Primate, Anglican Church in Australia

Reverend Craig Brown

Federal Coordinator, Churches of Christ in Australia

Commissioner James Condon

Australia Eastern Territory, The Salvation Army

Ms Maxine Cooper

Yearly Meeting Clerk, Religious Society of Friends

Reverend Professor Andrew Dutney

President, Uniting Church in Australia

Dr Joe Goodall

Moderator, Congregational Federation of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand

The Most Reverend Denis Hart

President, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

2 September 2012

REGISTRATION FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY CONVENTION ENDS TOMORROW!

The ACYMC is the main formation opportunity for Youth Ministers working in schools, colleges, dioceses and movements and anyone interested in this
important work of the Church is welcome to attend.

Registration for ACYMC

The Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention has been developed to provide a quality event for youth minsters in Australia at an affordable price.

Full Price: $360 – registrations close Thursday August 30th Continue reading →

Immigration minister Chris Bowen

Media Release 22 August, 2012

Next Thursday the 30th August, Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Hon Chris Bowen, Minister of Immigration and Citizenship will come together to reflect on Australia’s moral obligations to people seeking asylum.

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, in association with the Australian Catholic University, host this public lecture in honour of Bishop Joseph Grech who passed away in late 2010.

This public event is the second annual memorial colloquium on ethics and migration to be held and is also part of the Catholic Church celebrations for the 98th world day of migrant and refugees.

“The colloquium represents a formal platform for both speakers to invest in the ethical education on migration governance and ethics” said Fr Maurizio Pettenà, National Director of ACMRO.

Continue reading →

WALK AS ONE: CONNECTING THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE STORIES FROM BESWICK TO BOLIVIA

MEDIA LAUNCH – THURSDAY 23 AUGUST, 6.30pm Rooftop, St Aloysius College, 47 Upper Pitt Street, Milsons Point WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FORUM – SYDNEY Friday August 24 and Saturday August 25 St Aloysius College, Milsons Point
In a bid to bring vital attention to the plight of the world’s Indigenous Peoples, Caritas Australia is preparing to launch its 2012/13 advocacy campaign next week in Sydney – Walk As One: Connecting with the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Connecting Australians with the stories of Indigenous Peoples from Australia and all over the world, Caritas will hold valuable sessions on the big issues at St Aloysius College, Milsons Point in Sydney on Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26. Participants will have the chance to take part in a series of workshops and learn about traditional culture from artists and performers including weavers, traditional healers and contemporary dancers. Continue reading →

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that ‘every independent school in Australia will see their fundingincreased’ under the Government’s new funding model. Continue reading →

Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto presents at "Share the Dream" 2011

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 70-year-old Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto as apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine and nuncio to Israel.

His Excellency has been nuncio to Australia since 2007 (December) and will leave in mid-September for the Holy Land.

Archbishop Lazzarotto, told Vatican Radio on Saturday that he will do his best “in the cause of dialogue and peace” and said that there are “many men and women of good will who live in the Holy Land”.

A well-loved nuncio known for his personal warmth, Archbishop Lazzarotto will be sadly missed by the bishops and people of Australia.

Archbishop Lazzarotto served as nuncio to Jordan and Iraq from 1994 – 2000. He has also served in Ireland, and during his early career in Cuba.