Social Justice Trends

Latest news from the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace

Dear Friend,

In the March edition of Social Justice Trends, we focus on peace and environmental and economic justice.

FROM THE OFFICE

2021-22 Launch invitation for Social Justice Statement

Community Resilience and the Role of Government

Reflecting on the response to the east coast floods, Dr Sandie Cornish, Director of the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace considers Catholic Social Teaching on the role of government, community resilience and subsidiarity. “Personal responsibility, community and solidarity are rich themes in Catholic Social Teaching. So too is the role of government.”

NEWS

Front cover of the Social Justice Statement

Bishops call for Peace, Prayer and Generous Response

Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop Mykola Bychok, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia released a joint statement calling for peace after Russia invaded Ukraine. “Ukraine is a peaceful nation. We don’t want war.” Caritas is supporting people on the ground and a day of prayer is scheduled for 25 March.

RESOURCE

Just Peace and Pope Francis' Encyclical Fratelli Tutti

Pax Christi Victoria recently held an online conference entitled "Where Does Australia’s Security Lie?" Director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, Dr Sandie Cornish provided input into the discussion, centring on the concept of a just peace and Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, Fratetlli Tutti on social friendship. This talk is now available online for all to download and reflect upon.

NEWS

Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor Action Card heading

Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse

To mark International Women's Day, Bishop Michael Morrissey, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Delegate for Women has released a statement urging the stamping out of falsehoods in some religious contexts used to justify the domination or oppression of women. The statement also announced the Bishops Social Justice Statement topic for 2022-23 topic is “Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse”.

NEWS

5 prayer cards for the Social Justice Statement 2021-22

Disability Workforce at Breaking Point

One in three disability sector workers report wanting to leave their job in the next 12 months and Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) reports the sector is demoralised and at breaking point. Ms Monique Earsman, Executive Director of CSSA is bringing the issue to the fore, saying “Disability workers are undervalued and this is having a devastating impact on the people they care for.”

NEWS

CHA Calls for Government to Act Now

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 are proposed to ease the problem.

NEWS

Project Compassion: Biru's Story

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 a Caritas-supported entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program has been able to set up his own business and be financially independent.

RESOURCE

Laudato Si' Week Resources

Laudato Si’ Week, a celebration of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home, is taking place 16–24 May this year. The Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace has created resources for individuals and groups to use throughout the week, including reflection, prayers, actions and quote images. Parish bulletin notices, prayers of intercession and PowerPoints will also be available.

COMING SOON

- International Ignatian Ecospirituality Conference – 25-30 April 2022

FEEDBACK

If you have any feedback for the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace please contact our Editor Sandie Cornish at sandie.cornish@catholic.org.au.

BISHOPS COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, MISSION AND SERVICE

Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv (Chair), Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Bishop Terence Brady, Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS, Bishop Bosco Puthur, Bishop Donald Sproxton.

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DISCLAIMER
The Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace facilitates this newsletter in good faith. Its aim is to promote adult faith formation, awareness and action in relation to social, economic and ecological justice issues. Factual information is presumed free of error. If this is found to be incorrect please contact the OJEP for purposes of rectification. The reference to news items and the provision of links to other websites is solely for the user's convenience. The OJEP assumes no responsibility for, nor does it necessarily endorse, these items or websites, their content, or their sponsoring organisations.

Social Justice Trends is a publication of the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace and is distributed monthly. Our aim is to provide news of interest to you. If you have suggestions or feedback about Social Justice Trends please don't hesitate to get back to me.

Dr Sandie Cornish
Director
Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace
sandie.cornish@catholic.org.au

You are receiving this because you subscribed from the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace (formally the Office for Social Justice) website. The OJEP is an agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.