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.
Since 2018, the Human Rights Commission has been working towards a model for a single legislated Human Rights Act in Australia
Despite global awareness and efforts to combat it, modern slavery affects an estimated 40 million people worldwide, with significant numbers in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia.
In the 2024 – 2025 Social Justice Statement, “Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World”, Australia’s Bishops scrutinise the signs of our own troubled times, observe the violence around us, and ask why it is so. They also ask what is needed if there is to be peace.
The need for peace in Palestine and Israel is paramount, as the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has led to immense human suffering, loss of life, and instability in the region.
Our responsibility to our earth extends beyond mere appreciation; it requires active engagement in safeguarding it and its waters for future generations.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to acknowledge and honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
At an ecumenical prayer service for World Refugee Day (June 20), Bishop Vincent Long OFM, Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, delivered a timely reflection:
The intersection of cybercrime and human trafficking represents a growing and deeply troubling trend in Southeast Asia, where vulnerable individuals are lured into horrific conditions under false pretenses.
The 2024 Federal Budget has been met with both anticipation and scrutiny, particularly regarding its response to the escalating cost of living crisis in Australia.
May is recognized as Domestic Violence Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the prevalence and impact of domestic violence.