ISSUES

‘Working families’ and the minimum wage at a time of financial crisis

Pastoral Letter St Joseph the Worker May 2009

This pastoral letter calls for decent minimum wages that will provide security for working families and alleviate the impact of the global financial crisis.

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Migrant Workers in Australia – Our responsibility as a global citizen

Pastoral Letter St Joseph the Worker May 2008

This pastoral letter urges Australia to develop migrant worker programs that guarantee that the dignity of workers is protected, and that real benefits flow both to communities in Australia and the workers’ countries of origin.

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Confronting the Death Penalty

Series paper Launch addresses

On 20 December 2007, Archbishop John Bathersby launched the 61st Catholic Social Justice Series paper in the parish church at Corinda in Brisbane. Archbishop Bathersby's launch address and the response of Professor Andrew Byrnes can be downloaded here.

Launch address of Archbishop John Bathersby (pdf)

Response of Professor Andrew Byrnes (pdf)

Keeping Time – Australian families and the culture of overwork

Pastoral Letter St Joseph the Worker May 2007

This pastoral letter marks the Feast of St Joseph the Worker and invites to consider the ways in which we can establish the proper place for work, and the necessary pay and conditions, so that family life is well supported now and for future generations.

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The voice of vulnerable workers

Pastoral Letter St Joseph the Worker May 2006

This pastoral letter marks the Feast of St Joseph the Worker – a day on which we acknowledge the importance of work in the lives of individuals and their families. The letter recalls the concerns raised by the Church on industrial relations policy and gives voice to the challenges already faced by many vulnerable workers in the changing world of work. More>>

2007 Federal Election Issues

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Anti-Terrorism Legislation submission

Anti-Terrorism Legislation

The ACSJC has made a submission to a Senate Inquiry into the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005. More>>

The Environment

Caring for Creation

There is a growing awareness that world peace is threatened not only by the arms race, regional conflict, and continued injustice among peoples and nations, but also by a lack of due respect for nature. The ecological crisis is a moral issue. John Paul II World Day of Peace Message 1990 More>>

Casual Work

Casual Work: The Costs Of Flexibility

Australia cannot be described as a fair society if a growing number of workers are engaged on an uncertain, irregular and insecure basis without access to the basic rights of more permanent workers. More>>

Action Against Racism

Community Kit for Action Against Racism

This new action kit from the National NGO Coalition Against Racism provides information about groups that are working to eliminate racism, ideas about resources that may help individuals and groups to take action against racism, and a series of action sheets. More>>

The UN Decade for a Culture of Peace

Cultivating a Culture of Peace

Partially in response to the United Nations’ International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001 – 2010), the World Council of Churches has declared a Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) for this same time period. The emphasis of the DOV is on ‘overcoming’ rather than on ‘violence’ and it is hoped that the Decade will highlight and network efforts by churches to overcome different types of violence. More>>

Poverty

Ending Hunger

Catholic Social Justice Series No. 53, 'Ending Hunger: How Far Can We Go?' by Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR, was launched by Cardinal Edward Cassidy in Melbourne in June. Addresses delivered at the launch by Cardinal Cassidy, Mr Simon McKeon (Executive Chairperson, Macquarie Bank Melbourne), Mr Jack de Groot (Director Caritas Australia) and Fr Bruce Duncan are available here for download. More>>

Trade Justice

Global Week of Action for Trade Justice April 10-16

Global Week of Action for Trade Justice: An international call for prayer and action for trade justice in Australia and in developing countries More>>

Reconciliation

Healing for a better future

The relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians has been wounded by injustice and misunderstanding. The relationship needs healing so that we can build a better future together. This is what the process of reconciliation is about. More>>

Indigenous

National Reconciliation Week 2003

Journey of Healing More>>

Minimum Wage

Pastoral Letter St Joseph the Worker May 2005

This pastoral letter marks the Feast of St Joseph the Worker – a day on which we acknowledge the importance of work in the lives of individuals and their families. This day coincides with the Living Wage claim of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), currently before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC). More>>

Racism

Promoting the Unity of the Human Family

“… social or cultural discrimination in basic personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, colour, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as contrary to God’s design.” Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, n 29. More>>

International Debt

Putting human need before debt repayment

The ACSJC supports Jubilee Australia, an organisation that campaigns to cancel the debts of 52 of the world More>>

Death Penalty

Respecting human life

The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council is opposed to the use of the death penalty anywhere in the world and invites you to join it in taking action to end the death penalty. More>>

Refugees

Risking all in search for human rights

How can the baptised claim to welcome Christ if they close the door to the foreigner who comes knocking? Pope John Paul II, World Migration Day Message 2001 More>>

International Debt - Jubilee Sunday 2005

Statement for Jubilee Sunday, 26 June 2005

In Australia, Christian Churches celebrate Jubilee Sunday on June 26, 2005. The ACSJC Statement highlights the fact that debt cancellation is a matter of justice and not charity. More>>

Torture

Support Survivors of Torture

On 26 June the international community marks the International Day in Support of Survivors of Torture. It would be easy for us, in a country like Australia, to think that this isn’t relevant to our community. But torture is not a thing of the past – we can all remember the atrocities committed during East Timor’s struggle for independence being shown on our television screens night after night in the lead up to and aftermath of the independence referendum. More>>

St Joseph the Worker - May 2004

The human costs behind the official unemployment rate

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. More>>

Unemployment

Work is a Right and a Duty

Work is the key to building a just society. This is why teachings about work and the rights and duties of workers and employers have been central to the teaching of the Church about social justice. More>>