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.
It is important for us to give serious consideration to the Voice referendum coming up on 14 October. Listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples about their concerns and their hopes for the future is vital if we are to make an informed decision on 14 October.
NATSICC recently issued a statement on the Voice referendum following the announcement of the referendum date of 14 October.
We highlight some of the key elements in the Federal Government’s new development policy.
The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum is hosting A National Week of Prayer and Action this week.
During this Season of Creation, we provide a new resource on threatened species.
We provide an update on resources available for you to get involved in the Yes campaign for the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Staff from the Office recently met with a number of refugees who have recently arrived in Australia from Nauru. We share some of their experiences and offer you an opportunity to support those refugees still held in PNG as part of Australia’s offshore processing policy.
Getting involved in National Tree Day is a simple, but important way, to care for our common home.
Social Justice Sunday is 27 August and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s new Social Justice Statement, Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples will be launched on Thursday 17 August in Parramatta Diocese.