In This years Social Justice Statement, Australia’s Bishops invite us to renew our engagement with the First Peoples of Australia. They have come to this view through much listening to the First Peoples and they encourage us all to listen to them in a spirit of love and humility.
Laudato Si’ Week, a celebration of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home is taking place 16 May – 24 May this year. The ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace has created resources for individuals and groups to use throughout the week.
Director Peter Arndt shares some information on a global survey of over 17,000 Catholic women about their experience of the Church and what they want to change.
Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse points out that the roots of domestic and family violence “lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others” and that “this stands in contrast to the relationships to which God calls us”. Our relationships should be “marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. We reject the manipulation of religious teachings to justify violence and abuse. We support women in calling for respect in relationships; their lives and those of their children are sacred.
A personal, on the ground reflection from Catholic Schools Diocese of Lismore Mission team on what Laudato Si’ means to them. They share their experience of ‘Standing on Holy Ground’ as they support each other to clean up after the floods and rebuild after catastrophic flooding where over 12 of their schools had damage to half of its buildings, and three completed inundated. You can support with prayers and responding to their appeal.
Thousands of people seeking asylum have faced over a decade of uncertainty because their protection claims were rejected under the “Fast Track” process. Refugees have led demonstrations calling for action to end their uncertainty. You can do something to support them.
Ecological conversion is at the heart of working for peace. Peace is not possible without an ongoing openness to our Creator and the sustained flourishing of God’s creation. Executive Officer of Toowoomba’s Diocesan Social Justice Commission, Dr. David Tutty, considers the connection between our care for earth and the cultivation of a culture of peace.
The PALM scheme, which aims to fill labour shortages in Australia’s agricultural and horticultural sectors with workers from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste, has come under increasing scrutiny for the mistreatment and abuse of workers it was designed to protect.
The growing presence of microplastics in the environment is presenting a greater threat to human health, especially for the poor.
James Blackwell is a Research Felow (Indigenous Diplomacy) at the Australian National University. He reflected on the Voice referendum, one year on, in a recent edition of The Conversation. We re-publish his article here under Creative Commons Licence.
The need for us to work for peace continues as war rages in Gaza, Ukraine and around the world.
A significant number of refugees continue to be held in PNG’s Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, despite its closure to new arrivals years ago. These individuals, many of whom have been detained for over a decade, face severe uncertainty regarding their futures.
Wear It Purple Day is 30 August. Why not wear something purple on the day? Take the opportunity to explain to others why you are doing it. Let God’s love shine in the lives of everyone who experiences fear and rejection including young LGBTQI+ people!
The Conversation recently published an article in which a number of academics offered their opinion on the Federal Government’s response to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission.
The 2024 Season of Creation theme, “To hope and act with Creation,” emphasizes the profound relationship between humanity and the natural world.