Seafarer’s Needs in the Pandemic: The Neptune Declaration
A growing level of support if gathering for Seafarers as over 70 countries have signed on to the Neptune Declaration.
Blog
The Laudato Si’ Journey Continues
As the Laudato Si’ Special Anniversary Year draws to a close at the end of Laudato Si’ Week on 25 May, the next stage of the journey begins. Registrations for a Seven-Year Journey towards seven Laudato Si’ Goals will open at the end of the Season of Creation when the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will launch its online Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Platform will offer practical guidance on actions in line with the Laudato Si’ Goals, a supportive community of practice, and milestones for our journey together.
Bishops Back Call for Indigenous Voice
The Catholic Bishops have backed the call for a National Voice for the First Peoples. They say it should involve as many First People as possible including faith-based groups like NATSICC. The Bishops back NATSICC’s call for the process to yield a tangible improvement in the lives of Australia’s First Peoples.
Catholic Responses to the 2021-2022 Federal Budget
While Catholic Health Australia and the National Catholic Education Commission welcome government initiatives and new spending, Caritas Australia and the Refugee Council of Australia expressed disappointment with the 2021-2022 budget. $17.7 billion was allocated to implementing 126 of the 148 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care while Onshore Detention and Compliance costs ballooned to $1.26 billion. Injections of cash to support regional actions to suppress COVID-19 in the Pacific were welcomed, however little additional funding was added to combat growing global poverty.
Indigenous Voice in Vatican Climate Talks
The voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics will be heard at Vatican talks in October focused on Climate change ahead of the COP26 global climate talks. Mr John Lochowiak, Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council (NATSICC) will attend Vatican talks chaired by the Holy See on October 4. Sharing the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Mr Lochowiak has stressed the importance of connecting with the land and living in harmony and caring for the earth.
Video Showcases Refugees & Migrants
“Home isn’t where you were born, home is where all your attempts to escape cease,” Kane, student and refugee. Four stories of overcoming at times insurmountable challenges have been told first hand by Kane, Idrissa, Len and Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen. All share their own personal stories as aslyum seekers, refugees and migrants in Australia this new video resource available free online. Available to use for Refugee Week or Migrant and Refugee Sunday, this Catholic resource by the Diocese of Parramatta gets behind the headlines to the personal stories in “My Journey, Our Journey.”
Stolen Generation Survivors Speak on Sorry Day & Reconciliation Week
Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, a partner of Caritas Australia, has created two video resources where survivors of the Stolen Generation share what Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week mean to them. It shows a diversity of opinions and provides a moving first-hand account of the importance of these events and the role of non-Indigenous Australians in the Truth-Telling process needed in this country. KBHAC also run a Mobile Education Unit which can attend schools and communities where Uncles and their families tell their own story and the story of their brothers and families.
Charities’ Free Speech at Risk
Catholic Social Services Australia has joined with faith-based charities to speak out against proposed changes to the Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission’s governance standards. Proposed changes would expand Standard 3 so that charities may face ‘the constant threat’ of their charitable status being removed. Dr Ursula Stephens, Chief Executive Officer of CSSA said, “We believe that the proposal as drafted will leaves us in the position of having to monitor and ‘punish’ staff, volunteers, and those of our members, or face the constant threat of our charitable status removed.”
Laudato Si’ – Sowers of Hope
The Office of Social Justice and Caritas Australia’s Catholic Earthcare program will co-host a prayer and reflection event to celebrate the conclusion of the Laudato Si’ Year.
To See and Care for Climate Displaced People
Climate displaced people around the world are leaving their homes and livelihoods due to disappearing food and water supplies and natural disasters.