The rising cost of living and slow wages growth in Australia are combining to put pressure on many household budgets. Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen, Chair of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council expresses concern especially for low paid workers and families living in poverty. In his pastoral letter for… Read More »Just Wages Call on Feast of St Joseph the Worker
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s social justice statement for 2015-2016 is titled For Those Who’ve Come Across the Seas, making reference to the second verse of the national anthem. It is a strong call for justice for refugees and asylum seekers. The Bishops critique the policy responses of successive Australian governments… Read More »Justice for Refugees
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chair of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, says that the dignity of work is found in its capacity “for individual and family fulfilment, for building up the community and for securing the wellbeing of future generations”. In his 2015 Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St… Read More »St Joseph the Worker Pastoral Letter 2015
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) and Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) issued a joint statement criticizing the Australian Government’s 2014 Budget announcements. Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chair of the ACSJC said:“It actually punishes individuals and families who look to Government for financial support and drives division and alienation in… Read More »Budget Hits Vulnerable
Building Bridges collects the Social Justice Sunday Statements of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 1988 – 2013. It is a beautifully produced reference book with an excellent index – and I wrote an introduction highlighting the major themes and consistent concerns of this body of local Catholic Social Teaching. The… Read More »Social Justice Statements Collected
In a pastoral letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chair of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, has called for an economy of social inclusion. He says that it is unacceptable that so many have been excluded from the benefits of two decades of… Read More »Bishop Calls for An Economy of Social Inclusion