The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Migrant and Refugee Office have put Australia’s Senators on notice that they have a moral choice to make. Legislation coming before the upper house of the national parliament places the human dignity of asylum seekers at risk: “The Asylum Legacy Caseload Bill undermines Australian values stating… Read More »Asylum Seekers at Risk, Especially Children
This is a reflection that I wrote for the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office’s kit for Migrant & Refugee Sunday. You can download the whole kit here.
The Holy Family in Exile
If you were asked to paint an icon of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, how would you depict them in a symbol or image? The dominant images in the media have been of boats rather than people. When we have glimpsed the people in the boats, we have largely seen men on their own, not whole families. Our faith sources suggest quite a different icon or symbol. Read More »The Holy Family in Exile – Icon of Refugees
20 June is World Refugee Day. To help you to celebrate achievements, and to plan for more effective action, here are links to a selection of quotes for reflection from the CST Quotes section of our website. Bishop Gerard Hanna 27 May 2014 Policy is putting lives at risk. Australian… Read More »CST Quotes: Refugees & Asylum Seekers
The National Council of Priests of Australia have backed the Bishops’ 8 May 2014 statement on Australia’s asylum and refugee policies. They say:
Like our Bishops, many of us have seen the faces and heard the stories of these people and cannot hide our shame at the way some are being treated.
Here is the full text of their 14 May 2014 statement…
Read More »Asylum Policy Extinguishing Hope
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.… Read More »Asylum Seekers Need Legal Advice: Australian Bishops
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… Read More »Australian Bishop Mourns Asylum Seeker Death