Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop Mykola Bychok, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia have released a joint statement calling for peace after Russia invaded Ukraine. “Ukraine is a peaceful nation. We don’t want war.” Caritas is support people on the ground fleeing the conflict in dire straits.
One in three disability sector workers report wanting to leave their job in the next twelve months and Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) report the sector is demoralised and at breaking point. Ms Monique Earsmon, Executive Director of CSSA is bringing the issue to the fore, “Disability workers are undervalued and this is having a devastating impact on the people they care for.”
Catholic Health Australia chief executive, Pat Garcia has called for urgent action from the Federal Government to prevent further closures of aged care homes due to lack of staff. Mr Garcia says, “The extreme shortage of aged care workers is putting the viability of homes across the country at risk, especially in regional areas.” Higher wages and prioritising aged care workers in immigration could ease the problem.
Biru has overcome many difficulties in his life. As a person living with a disability and part of a minority in rural India, keeping cattle to support his wife and four children was a challenge. So he taught himself to repair bicycles and through participating in an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, supported by Caritas has been able to set up his own business and be financially dependent.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge has expressed indignation at what is happening in Ukraine and called for a rejection of the madness of war and a return to reason, saying “the peace of the world is at stake”.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) released a statement ahead of 26 January, Australia Day. In it they affirm their belief that 27 May would be a better day to celebrate and encourage all Australians to take up the theme this year, adding one key element: Do. NATSICC provide a practical guide for all to make this their year of ‘Do’.
“For All Future Generations” is the theme for this year’s Project Compassion. Supporting over three million people around the world each year, Caritas Australia is the International Aid and Development Agency of the Catholic Church. Caritas’ Lenten program, Project Compassion is one of the foundations allowing it to work across dozens of countries around the world and build futures with and for all.
As part of the celebrations of Word of God Sunday, the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace has created two new podcast episodes that delve into how Scripture and Justice, Ecology and Peace come together. Featuring Sr. Veronica Lawson, theologian and scripture scholar who looks at an ecological perspective and Fr. Khalid Marogi, Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office this is freely available to all.
The Australian Bishops have responded to the Federal government’s announcement that they would not allocate additional refugee places to deal with the Afghanistan crisis. The government will allocate 3,750 of the current places available to people from Afghanistan over the next four years. The Australian Bishops advocate for at least 20,000 additional humanitarian places be made available.
Along with the discussion guide, the Office has created a series of quote images that highlight the key themes from Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace 2022 Message. These quote images can be used as part of a reflection or liturgy, meditation, advocacy presentation or on social media to promote the message.