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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.
ACSJC Resources
ACSJC Media Release: Bishop Highlights Asylum Seekers in Australia Day Message (25/01/02)
ACSJC Media Release: Pope's apology marks new beginning (23/11/01)
ACSJC Media Release: Church bodies respond to Stolen Generations case (14/08/00)
ACSJC Media Release: Pray For Reconciliation & Link With Aboriginal Groups Urges Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (30/05/00)
ACSJC Media Release: Turn Apology Into Action: Aboriginal Catholic & Social Justice Groups (07/04/00)
ACSJC Media Release: Pope’s Challenge To Welcome Asylum Seekers And Refugees (06/03/00)
ACSJC Media Release: Catholic Social Justice Body Calls On Federal Government To Intervene On Mandatory Sentencing (15/02/00)
ACSJC Media Release: Statement On Jabiluka Uranium Mine (05/12/98)
ACSJC Media Release: Catholics Urged To Use Their Votes For The Common Good In Federal Election (31/08/98)
ACSJC Media Release: Indigenous Peoples A Central Concern At Rome Congress (21/07/98)
ACSJC Media Release: Public Life & Responsibility For The Common Good (23/06/98)
ACSJC Media Release: Social Justice Council Marks National Sorry Day (26/05/98)
Catholic Social Justice Series Papers
Catholic Social Justice Series Paper No 30, Boobera Lagoon: A Focus For Reconciliation , Richard Buchhorn, copies available from the ACSJC Secretariat for $5.50.
Catholic Social Justice Series Paper No 21 The Catholic Human Rights Tradition And The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples, Sandie Cornish, copies available from the ACSJC Secretariat for $5.50
ACSJC Action Leaflet & Prayer Card
Produced jointly with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, the Ten Steps Towards Reconciliation action leafet provides suggestions for action by individuals and small groups as well as inspirational quotes for use in reflection. It is available together with an accompanying prayer card on request from the Secretariat. Donations towards the cost of production and distribution are welcome.
Community Action Kit Against Racism
Together with other members of the National NGO Coalition Against Racism, the ACSJC has prepared a Community Action Kit Against Racism . It contains information about racism, ideas on where to find further information, and a series of action sheets. Download the Action Kit from the ISSUES section on this website.
Church Teaching
Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace, The Church & Racism: Towards a More Fraternal Society, 1989, updated in 2001 as a contribution to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The full text can be downloaded from www.vatican.va
Pastoral Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Racism and the Conversion of the Human Heart, 11 December 1988, reprinted in Australian Catholic Bishops’ Statements 1985 – 1995, St Pauls’ 1997.
Liturgy & Worship
For liturgy and worship materials see the spirituality page of this website.
Contact your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Ministry, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council or the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia for contacts and information. Prayer and worship materials are prepared each year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday.
Useful Websites
For the texts of relevant Australian anti discrimination legislation, visit the Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission’s website www.humanrights.gov.au and go to the race discrimination pages or try http://scaleplus.law.gov.au
For the texts of relevant international instruments visit the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library at http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/treaties.htm or the Human Rights Internet site at www.hri.ca/uninfo/treaties/index.shtml or the Office of the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intlnst.htm
For the text of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance, Declaration and Program of Action visit www.un.org/WCAR/
To read the reports of the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, visit www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cerd.htm
The Racism. No way! project aims to assist school communities and education systems to recognise and address racism in the learning environment. The project is an initiative of the Chief Executive Officers of education systems across Australia. This project is managed and educational content has been developed by Government State and Territory education systems, the National Catholic Education Commission, the National Council of Independent Schools’ Associations and the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. To access the Racism. No way! resources visit www.racismnoway.com.au
Organizations Working Against Racism
Contact the office of the Diocese in which you live for information about multicultural ministry, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic organizations, and the pastoral care of migrant communities and refugees.
The National NGO Coalition Against Racism brings together a broad range of community and non-government organizations that are committed to working against racism. Along with a number of other faith inspired groups, the ACSJC is an active participant in this Coalition. For information on current activities, contact the ACSJC Secretariat.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission includes a Race Discrimination Commissioner whose responsibilities include: promoting research and educational programs that combat racism; fostering awareness of and compliance with the federal Racial Discrimination Act and the Racial Hatred Act; assisting the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Service in court cases relating to race discrimination where appropriate.
For more information on HREOC’s current activities to promote equality and respect for people of different cultures, visit their website www.humanrights.gov.au
For the views and activities of the Arabic communities in Australia visit the Australian Arab Council at www.aac.org.au
To find out about the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia visit www.fecca.org.au/
For the views and activities of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, visit http://www.ecaj.org.au/
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