MEDIA RELEASES

Death penalty debate must restore consistency (24/11/2008)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, meeting in Sydney, has called on Federal Parliament to hasten the debate regarding the death penalty. The ACSJC supports the notice of motion by Chris Hayes MP, Member for Werriwa, for Australia to adopt a stronger and more consistent stance against capital punishment.

Bishop says Australia must assume greater responsibility for migrant workers (30/04/2008)
In a Pastoral Letter issued for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker (1 May), Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, has called for greater vigilance over the working conditions of migrant workers.

New paper confronts attitudes on death penalty (18/12/2007)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has released a new publication. Confronting the Death Penalty: People, politics and principle. Every person, whatever their citizenship shares the most fundamental right – the right to life. This paper directs attention once more to Australia’s response to the use of the death penalty by countries in our region.

Launch of Bishops’ Statement: 'Who Is My Neighbour? Australia’s Role as a Global Citizen' (17/09/2007)
The Statement, ‘Who Is My Neighbour? Australia’s role as a global citizen’, calls for Australia and Australians to act more in the interests of our neighbours who do not share our prosperity and security. Globalisation has meant that the riches and security that some enjoy depend on social and political conditions that impose poverty and lack of security on others.

Bishop calls on politicians to help put work in Perspective (26/04/2007)
In a Pastoral Letter issued for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker (1st May), Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), has called on Government to regularly release data on the terms and conditions of Australian Workplace Agreements.

Release David Hicks now, Bishop says (27/03/2007)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), has called for the immediate release of Australian citizen David Hicks from detention at Guantanamo Bay.

Launch of Bishops’ Statement: The Heart of Our Country (13/09/2006)
The Social Justice Sunday Statement “The Heart of Our Country: Dignity and justice for our Indigenous sisters and brothers”, draws on the historic 1986 Alice Springs address of Pope John Paul II to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. Among many issues, the Statement focuses on the social and economic disadvantage that continues to be experienced by Indigenous communities.

Bishop calls for justice for David Hicks (22/08/2006)
It is time for the Australian government to increase efforts to secure a resolution to the case of David Hicks, the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, says.

Broader focus for summit on violence says Bishop (23/06/2006)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) has called for the Government summit on violence to consider the more than just the enforcement of law and order.

Australia should follow UK, Commonwealth lead on Hicks (28/03/2006)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) says David Hicks should be afforded real justice outside the US Guantanamo military system.

Listen to the voice of vulnerable workers (1/05/2006)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) issues a Pastoral Letter for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker.

Church agencies offer condolences to Bali victims (6/10/2005)
Caritas Australia and ACSJC offer condolences to all people affected by the recent Bali bombings

More time needed on Anti-Terror laws (28/10/2005)
The ACSJC is calling on the Federal Government to allow more time for the scrutiny of its Anti-Terrorism legislation.

Government must ensure justice for Hicks (21/09/2005)
The ACSJC is calling on the Australian Government to secure real justice for Australian citizen David Hicks

Launch of the 2005 Social Justice Sunday Statement (13/09/2005)
The 2005 Catholic Social Justice Sunday Statement will be launched on Wednesday 14 September.

ACSJC Statement marks Jubilee Sunday (22/06/2005)
Jubilee Sunday offers Christians the opportunity to remember their Jubilee Year commitment and to act and pray for people in our world burdened by debt. The ACSJC has released a Statement for Jubilee Sunday

Ending Hunger: How far can we go? (14/06/2005)
Joint Media Alert by the ACSJC and Caritas Australia on the launch of Catholic Social Justice Series Paper written by Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR

Pope John Paul II: Pilgrim of Peace and Champion of Justice (4/04/2005)
As the world mourns the loss of Pope John Paul II, Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council says he will be remembered as a “Pilgrim of Peace” and a “Champion of Justice.”

Miniumum wage must support worker and family (26/04/2005)
Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker

Plight of all in immigration detention must be considered (10/02/2005)
Catholic agencies have joined calls for the Government to ensure an adequate process of inquiry for all people in immigration detention.

More action on Stolen Wages needed (23/01/2006)
The ACSJC has released a Background Paper on the non-payment of Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander workers during the 20th Century.

Power Walk Supports Long Journey to Justice (2/12/2004)
Michael Long

Council urges Come to the table on Timor Sea (20/12/2004)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council today urged the Australian Government to do all in its power to ensure East Timor has early access to revenues from the oil and gas resources of the Timor Sea.

Don't Forget Hicks and Habib on Human Rights Day (10/12/2004)
The ACSJC has called on the Federal Government to act now to secure justice for Mamdouh Habib and David Hicks

Bishop Urges Voters to Support Social Justice: The Price Must Be Right (5/10/2004)
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has underlined the need for Australians to remember the demands of social justice at the coming election.

Say NO to Poverty (24/06/2004)
An alliance of Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church organisations launched the pre-election campaign - Vote [ 1 ] No More Poverty

Reconciliation - A national voice that counts (31/05/2004)
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) today called on all political parties to ensure that an adequate regional and national structure is in place to represent the needs and aspirations of Indigenous people

The human costs behind the official unemployment rate (30/04/2004)
The official unemployment rate fails to capture the true extent of unemployment and underemployment according to a Catholic Pastoral Letter marking the 1 May Feast of St Joseph the Worker.

Australia's leaders should renounce death penalty (19/12/2003)
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has urged Australian politicians condoning the use of the death penalty in overseas jurisdictions to think again.

Human Rights - Even at Guantanamo Bay (10/12/2003)
On International Human Rights Day, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has called on the Federal Government to do more to secure the fundamental rights of two Australians detained by American authorities at Guantanamo Bay.

Government can do more for Hicks and Habib (12/11/2003)
Following a recent meeting of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), its Chairman, Bishop Christopher Saunders has written to the Attorney-General Philip Ruddock calling on the Federal Government to do more to secure natural justice for the two Australians detained by U.S. Authorities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Poverty eradication must be a shared priority (17/10/2003)
At the conclusion of National Anti-Poverty Week, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has repeated calls for the Commonwealth Government to convene a national forum on poverty

Catholic Bishops speak on racism (17/09/2003)
The Catholic Bishops of Australia today released their 2003 Social Justice Sunday Statement : A Generous Heart in the Love of Christ: Challenging Racism in Australia Today.

Vigilance urged over new ASIO laws (3/07/2003)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has viewed as regrettable the Federal Parliament

Bishops support Family Court declaration that the detention of children is illegal (24/06/2003)
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council today joined with other Church, civic and political leaders in supporting the Family Court declaration that the detention of children is illegal.

ASIO Bill threatens fundamental freedoms (12/06/2003)
With the ASIO Bill due to be debated again in the Senate next week, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has repeated its call for all Senators to consider opposing this Bill if basic freedoms enjoyed by all Australians cannot be safeguarded. The last minute amendments proposed by the Government do not allay major concerns with this Bill.

Bishops question system of mandatory detention (23/05/2003)
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) today joined with other Church, civic and political leaders in calling for an independent inquiry into the management of Australia’s detention centres.

The Message of Easter (16/04/2003)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council invites all people of good will to use these days of Holy Week to reflect on the message of Easter.

40th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris (11/04/2003)
Forty years ago, on April 11 1963, Pope John XXIII released the encyclical Pacem in Terris, Peace on Earth. The 40th anniversary of Pacem in Terris provides us with the opportunity to remember, celebrate and reflect on this document which still contributes to the Church’s understanding of peace.

War on Iraq (20/03/2003)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council notes with great sadness and deep regret the decision to declare war on Iraq, and is dismayed that Australia is now engaged in a war that does not have the support of the United Nations and the international community.

Catholic study condemns war (19/03/2003)
An 18,000-word Catholic Church document has severely criticised the reasons given by the US and Australian governments for a war on Iraq as `contrived and misleading’. It argues that the proposed military intervention violates the just war conditions and hence should be rejected as unjust.

War on Iraq unjust and immoral (19/03/2003)
War on Iraq fails to meet the conditions enshrined in the criteria for a just war and hence would be immoral and unjust, according to a publication of the peak Catholic social justice body in Australia.

Catholic Justice Council releases Discussion Guide on war and peace (25/02/2002)
There has been much public debate on the issue of war and whether Australia should be involved in any military intervention into Iraq. The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has released a Discussion Guide on war and peace.