Australia

People Seeking Asylum, not ‘Illegals’

still from film "Mary meets Mohamed'

Catholic Religious Australia, of which the Society of the Sacred Heart Australia New Zealand Province is a member, signed this letter to Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The letter was signed by 138 community organisations and faith groups who object to the Australian government’s decision to refer to asylum seekers who enter Australia by boat as  ‘illegal maritime arrivals.’  Signatories include the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, the justice and peace organisations of several Catholic dioceses, and a number of religious institutes.

Resources on Refugees & Asylum Seekers

photo of a protest

This set of annotated links on Responding to Asylum Seekers & Refugees points to Catholic perspectives on refugees and asylum seekers.  It includes links to key Catholic Social Teaching documents and statements by the Australian and Papua New Guinea Bishops on the agreement between the two countries for the refugee status determination and resettlement in Papua New Guinea of asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat.

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