Social Justice Trends

Latest news from the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace

Dear Friend,

In this edition of Social Justice Trends we focus on the release of the Social Justice Statement 2022-23 - Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse where the Bishops speak out on domestic and family violence.

FROM THE OFFICE

2021-22 Launch invitation for Social Justice Statement

Social Justice Statement Released

Australia’s Bishops have used their annual Social Justice Statement to condemn the scourge of domestic and family violence, saying relationships must be “marked by respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. This year’s statement is titled Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse. "The respect due to each member of a family, household or community should reflect the respect and care shown for others by Christ."

RESOURCE

Front cover of the Social Justice Statement

Promotional Video

To support the release of the Social Justice Statement, newly elected President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has spoken in a promotional video for the statement. “We, as the Catholic Bishops of Australia denounce domestic and family violence and abuse completely. And we call for all people of good will to take part in the individual and social transformation needed for all people to live in peace.”

RESOURCE

Prayer and Action Card

Multiple resources have been released to support the Social Justice Statement. A prayer and action card has been created to help parishes, schools and dioceses to pray and act together for the transformational change needed to end domestic and family violence. Having the prayer and action cards combined is intended to show that prayer and action support and inform each other. The prayer and action cards are available electronically, in hard copy through the ACBC shop, and a print version of the card is also available for group printing.

RESOURCE

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

Social Justice Sunday Liturgy Notes

The Social Justice Statement is released ahead of Social Justice Sunday on 28 August. Liturgy notes have been created including parish bulletin notice, powerpoint slide, prayers of the faithful, homily notes and hymn suggestions. These liturgy notes are for parishes or school liturgies and to support coordinators in their work. The liturgy notes can be easily printed and shared. Other resources such as a one-page summary of the statement, promotional images and media, and annotated bibliography are also available for use.

RESOURCE

Multi-media Resources

An audio version of the statement is available to increase its accessibility. Quote images perfect for use in presentations, social media and in newsletters have been created as well as posters to display. A one-page summary has been created that can be put in newsletters or handed out and for those wanting to go deeper into the theological foundations of the statement an annotated bibliography is available for further reading.

RESOURCE

World Day of Migrants and Refugees

World Day of Migrants and Refugees takes place on 25 September. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office will release the resources for this year's celebrations on 15 August. The resources focus on this year's theme, "Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees". It includes stories from local communities, reflection, primary and secondary schools’ prayer rituals and prayers of the faithful for the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

COMING SOON

- Social Justice Sunday - 28 August 2022
- Season of Creation - 1 September - 4 October
- NATSICC Assembly - 19-23 September 2022
- Migrant and Refugee Sunday - 25 September 2022

FEEDBACK

If you have any feedback for the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace please contact us at ojep@catholic.org.au.

BISHOPS COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, MISSION AND SERVICE

Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen OFM Conv (Chair), Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop Julian Porteous, Bishop Martin Ashe, Bishop Michael Kennedy, Bishop Tim Norton SVD

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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 contact us.

Alison Burt
Executive Secretary
Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service
ojep@catholic.org.au

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