Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, Fr Maurizio Pettena calls for immediate action on the allegations made in the leaked Nauru files. The Nauru files detail numerous alleged incidents of physical and sexual abuse of detainees at Australia’s offshore immigration detention centre. Fr Pettena expressed “grave concern… Read More »Immediate Action needed on Nauru Files
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office is calling for action to help the tragic situation of persecuted Rohingya people fleeing Myanmar. It’s Chair, Bishop Vincent Long OFMConv, is a refugee himself. He is calling on the Catholic Community across Australia to pray for the Rohingya people fleeing persecution in… Read More »Pray for Stranded Rohingya
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
In 2014 we celebrate the 100th World Migrant and Refugee Day. The Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office has prepared a kit to help communities and individuals to celebrate Migrant & Refugee Sunday. The theme is The Holy Family in Exile, and it contains Pope Francis’ Message for the day,… Read More »100th World Migrant & Refugee Day
The Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office has responded to reports of Tamil asylum seekers being intercepted at sea and handed over to the Sri Lankan navy by reminding the Australian Government of its duty to respect the principle of non-refoulement. Read more below [gview file=”https://social-spirituality.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ACMRO-Media-Release-Process-asylum-claims-3-July-2014.pdf”].