Violence Against Women Denounced by Australian Bishops
Listen to & Learn from Women The United Nations commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November. To help the Catholic community to get involved, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference issued a statement on violence against women. They say that it has no place in society and call on the whole community to take action. This is the first time that the Australian Bishops have made a statement for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Their action demonstrates that this is not a ‘women’s issue’ but a concern for all men and women. The Bishops say that the first thing to do is to listen to and learn from women. They offer five other suggestions for action. Six Ways to Act to Stop Violence Against Women The Australian Bishops suggest these ways of supporting action to eliminate violence against women: • Listening to women and learning from women • Learning about the issue of domestic violence • Challenging language that degrades women • Learning to identify and oppose gender harassment and violence in your community • Supporting local women’s programs • Examining how your own attitudes and behaviour might contribute to the problem ACBC Statement on Violence Against Women You can read their full statement here: ACBC Media Release on Eliminating Violence Against Women
Australian Bishops Plea: Respect Asylum Seekers’ Rights
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has issued a statement pleading with those in Government and the whole Australian community to have respect for the rights of asylum seekers. They denounce current policies as ‘institutionalised cruelty’, ask for an examination of conscience concerning racism and for an end to the dehumanisation of people in need. Read their statement here.
Australian Bishop – Don’t Shift Resettlement Responsibility
Bishop Gerard Hanna has criticised the Australian government’s efforts to resettle in Cambodia those asylum seekers found to be refugees after having been intercepted at sea by Australia and sent to have their claims assessed in Nauru. “If the Australian Government is serious about expanding resettlement opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, negotiations should commence with nations who have the resources to support refugees, such as Singapore, Japan, Korea and New Zealand,” he said. Bishop Hanna is the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Delegate for Migrants and Refugees.
Asylum Seekers Need Legal Advice: Australian Bishops
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Delegate for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Gerard Hanna, has spoken out against the axing of funding for legal assistance to asylum seekers. “Whenever a person’s life is threatened, it is just and fair that they should be able to make a valid application for protection. The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme enabled asylum seekers to do this,” Bishop Hanna said. For background, read immigration lawyer Kerry Murphy’s comments here.
Religious lead National Lament – Australia
Catholic Religious Australia say: “Many people throughout Australia are disturbed by the punitive and harsh policies and conditions to which people seeking asylum in Australia are being subjected. The recent incident on Manus Island and the death of one person and the injury of many highlights the lack of care and dignity in the policies of both the Government and the Opposition and the absence of awareness of their legal and moral responsibilities.” In response they have launched a National Lament which will include: – Making Friday in Lent a day of prayer and penance for people seeking asylum – Continuing this practice after Lent through to the Ascension – Writing to one’s local Federal member and to the Minister, Scott Morrison, expressing our lament for people seeking asylum in Australia – Engaging in a Week of Prayer and Prophetic Presence from Ascension to Pentecost, 1 to 8 June 2014 Download the National Lament Prayer Sheet.
Australian Bishop Mourns Asylum Seeker Death
Bishop Gerard Hanna, the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees expressed deep sadness at the death of an asylum seeker detained on Manus Island. A riot at the Australian funded offshore detention facility left dozens of other asylum seekers injured. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office called on the Australian government to ensure each person’s claim for protection is considered under Australian Law by competent independent authorities, with appropriate legal assistance and access to an independent judiciary such as the Refugee Review Tribunal. Read the media release here. How might we move people’s hearts to welcome, rather than seeking to deter, those who seek asylum? What causes us to reject and to marginalize some groups of people?
Lazarus at our Gate – Australian Bishops Social Justice Statement 2013
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement for 2013–2014 calls on the Christian community and all Australians to stand in solidarity with our neighbours around the world who are living in conditions of extreme poverty. They say that five groups in particular need our support: people who face severe hunger; people who are victims of disaster; Indigenous peoples; people with disability; and refugees and displaced people. The circumstances they face remind us of our obligation to help the world’s poorest and to work to combat poverty wherever it is found. Download the statement and related resources here.