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ACSJC Briefing No. 6 - September 2000
ACSJC BRIEFING
No. 6 - September 2000
From the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, the social justice
and human rights agency of the Catholic Church in Australia - www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au
To download a printer-friendly PDF version of this newsletter, go to www.acsjc.org.au/pdf/briefing.pdf
*****
IN THIS ISSUE
• From the Secretariat
• September Notices
• August News Monitor
• September Social Justice Calendar
*****
FROM THE SECRETARIAT
Sydney is going to be a bit busy this month! We aren't yet certain what
the Olympics will really mean for our operations. Sydneysiders are being
asked to stay off the roads and public transport as much as possible.
Suzette and Marg and myself will probably take a bundle of tasks home
for the fortnight. Maureen has bravely volunteered to try to keep the
office attended, but don't be surprised if she doesn't manage to get there
by 9:00 am on the dot! If it all gets too difficult, we might try to get
our phone calls diverted to places that we can work from. The answering
machine message will keep you up to date on current working arrangements.
If you can't contact us, you might just have to stop and watch
the Olympics!
EUCHARIST & JUSTICE
We have just published the 39th paper in the Catholic Social Justice Series,
Eucharist and Justice by Gerard Moore SM. Gerard is a member of the Sydney
Archdiocese’s Liturgy Commission and a member of the National Liturgical
Commission. His doctorate was in the area of liturgical theology - the
Collect prayers of the Roman Missal to be precise. He has been a great
friend to the Social Justice Council assisting us to avoid liturgy crimes,
to produce excellent prayer cards and liturgy notes and to promote a spirituality
of justice.
We are really excited about this paper that draws out the links
between the prayers of the Mass and social justice. As a Eucharistic community
whose mission has a strong social dimension, it is fitting that we reflect
on the connection between our participation in the Eucharistic liturgy
and our work for justice. Gerard’s paper will be very useful to liturgy
coordinators, parish priests, teachers and, of course, social justice
activists.
Eucharist and Social Justice can be purchased for $4.40 (GST included)
plus postage. There are generous discounts for bulk orders. To place orders,
phone, fax or email Maureen at the ACSJC Secretariat.
STOLEN GENERATION CASE
The quest for justice for the Stolen Generations continues following the
failure of the Gunner and Cubilo case. The ACSJC joined with NATSICC in
issuing a media release responding the judgment. In the view of our organisations,
the courts are unlikely to be able to provide an adequate response to
this situation of injustice. We called on the government to explore seriously
non-judicial mechanisms for acknowledging this part of our history and
responding to its on-going effects. The media release can be found on
our website or sent to you on request.
TEN STEPS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION
The ACSJC and NATSICC have been talking together about reconciliation
for some time and now we have developed an attractive leaflet suggesting
Ten Steps Towards Reconciliation that we encourage individuals and small
groups to take.
Ten Steps Towards Reconciliation is a full colour three-panel A4
flyer which contains a message from the Chairmen of the ACSJC and NATSICC,
ten practical action suggestions, and a series of quotes from prominent
people. It will be a useful tool to team up with our popular reconciliation
prayer card. Copies of Ten Steps Towards Reconciliation will be provided
to you for free on request from the ACSJC Secretariat, but your donations
towards the cost of printing and postage will be gratefully accepted.
WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
The Social Justice Sunday Statement this year has been prepared by the
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and will present the response
of the Bishops to the research report Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus.
It will be launched in Canberra on 13 September.
If your parish or community hasn’t placed its order yet, contact
Australian Catholics without delay (Tel: 03 9427 7311, Fax: 03 9428 4450,
Email: auscaths@jespub.jesuit.org.au). It is possible to order the Social
Justice Sunday Statement as a stand-alone document if you don’t wish
to receive Australian Catholics.
One of the actions that the Bishops have already announced that
they will take in response to the research on the participation of women
in the Catholic Church in Australia is to establish a Commission for Australian
Catholic Women. All of the Bishops have been asked to nominate potential
members of the commission. For further information on progress towards
establishing the Commission, contact the Bishops’ Committee for Justice,
Development and Peace Tel 02 9956 5800.
FAIRWEAR ACTION
Fairwear in NSW recently met with the new NSW Minister for Industrial
Relations, John Della Bosca, at the ACSJC’s office. We were impressed
with the attentive listening of the Minister and his sympathy for the
issues. This was the Minister’s first meeting with outworkers themselves.
Two impressive young women from the Monte Sant Angelo Fair Wear group
attended the meeting and took the opportunity to invite the Minister to
the Fair Wear Fashion Parade that they have organised. Action by these
young women had already led to the school’s Uniform Committee changing
its suppliers.
If you haven’t been very active about this campaign in recent
times, touch base with your local committee to see what is happening.
The wallet cards listing retailers who have signed the Homeworkers Code
of Practice are updated all the time.
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS
It’s time to nominate worthy groups and individuals for the 2000
Human Rights Awards. We can send you copies of the nomination form on
request or you can read about the awards and download a nomination form
from www.hreoc.gov.au/news_info/awards.
LITURGY NOTES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY
We have prepared liturgy notes for Social Justice Sunday again this year
with assistance from our Liturgy Commission friends. Download the notes
from www.acsjc.org.au/pdf/sjsunlitnotes.pdf, or contact the Secretariat
if you'd like them sent by snail mail or fax.
The liturgy notes are a simple and effective tool for encouraging
parishes to mark Social Justice Sunday at the liturgies for the last weekend
in September while respecting the liturgical cycle and without doing violence
to the structure of the Mass.
Sandie Cornish (Chief Executive Officer)
*****
SEPTEMBER NOTICES
3 SEP - PAKISTAN: APPEAL FOR DAY OF PRAYER
Bishop Bonaventure P. Paul ofm, who chairs the Pakistan Bishops' National
Commission for Justice & Peace appeals for prayer on 3 September,
for the restoration of Joint Electorates, as enshrined in Pakistan's original
Constitution of 1973. Pakistani minority communities are facing their
most difficult challenge to date, as the abolition of Joint Electorates
deprives all citizens of their constitutional right to equality.
5 SEP - DEBT CAMPAIGN: VIEW FROM THE SOUTH
A dialogue with Jubilee South about debt, justice and the future of the
Jubilee 2000 Debt Campaign will be held on Tuesday 5 September, 6:30-8:00
pm in the Cowper Room, St Andrews House Town Hall Square, Sydney. Jubilee
South is the umbrella network representing the common views of Jubilee
Coalitions from 35 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Pacific. RSVP to Fiona Morgan (02 9299 2215 or forceten@ncca.org.au).
24 SEP - SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY: NOTE FOR PARISH BULLETINS
"Social Justice Sunday provides the opportunity for us to deepen
our awareness of the need for ongoing social justice activity, both individually
and as a community. The title of this year’s Social Justice Statement
is : Woman and Man: the Bishops respond. In 1996, the Australian Catholic
Bishops’ Conference launched a major research initiative focusing
on the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia. The
resulting publication was the Report, Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus.
This year’s Social Justice Sunday Statement is the response of the
Bishops to that Report, and announces the actions they have decided to
undertake." (liturgy notes at www.acsjc.org.au/pdf/sjsunlitnotes.pdf)
GENOCIDE: CALL FOR PAPERS
A conference to discuss some of the Genocides of the 20th century with
the hope of extracting from these events ways of preventing or forestalling
such events in the 21st century will be held in Vienna November 8-10,
2001. Aside from the main papers, there will be a number of shorter papers
selected from submitted abstracts. Such papers should address the general
topic of genocide history and prevention. The deadline for submission
is 1 January. Contact Dr Erich H. Loewy of the University of California-Davis
Bioethics Program (email: ehloewy@ucdavis.edu)
"JUBILEE SPIRIT FOR A GLOBAL FAMILY"
The ACSJC has a number of copies of Jubilee Spirit for a Global Family
by Chris Baker SSC still in stock. These copies are now available for
$5.00 per book with a discount for multiple copies. Although this book
was produced for this Jubilee Year 2000 it would be most beneficial in
the future for those groups who are working for social justice. To order,
contact the Secretariat.
*****
AUGUST NEWS MONITOR
COMMISSION CONDEMNS MINISTER'S 'BIZARRE' REACTION TO CHURCH SUPPORT FOR
REFUGEES: Adelaide's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission criticised
the "bizarre logic" underlying the Federal Immigration Minister's
blaming church and welfare agencies for this week's violence at South
Australia's Woomera Detention Centre.
PELL SAYS GIVE THE POOR A FAIR GO: Delivering the third annual Ozanam
Lecture in the Melbourne Town Hall, Archbishop George Pell encouraged
an ethic of basic decency and fairness in Australian society in order
to ease the gap between rich and poor.
POPE CALLS FOR EVANGELISATION OF STREET KIDS: Following the World Youth
Day celebration in Rome, Pope John Paul II said that the Church must also
be able to take the Gospel message to street kids.
CHURCH GROUPS BLAME GOVERNMENT FOR REFUGEE VIOLENCE: Melbourne church
justice and welfare agencies (including the Catholic CCJDP) suggested
the riot at South Ausralia's Woomera refugee detention centre was a consequence
of flawed policy which they have consistently warned the Federal Government
about.
CHURCH APOLOGISES FOR SUPPORT OF DICTATORSHIP: The Church in Argentina
is preparing to apologise to the nation for its role during the military
dictatorship between 1976 and 1983.
OUTSPOKEN US PRIEST MURDERED: Kenyans reacted with shock and dismay after
the fatal shooting of an American priest who worked for human rights and
often criticised the government.
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR WOMEN’S COMMISSION: Members are sought for
the new Commission for Australian Catholic Women, which is being set up
in the wake of the Bishops’ Report Woman and Man: One in Jesus Christ
on the role of women in the Church.
BISHOPS' STATEMENT CLARIFIES STANCE ON GAY ISSUES: The bishops of New
Zealand said they support legislation to protect the legal rights of people
in homosexual relationships, but not legislation that makes such relationships
the 'basis' of those rights.
RELIGIOUS ATTEND UN WORLD PEACE SUMMIT: Two Australian religious sisters
and a priest were among the delegates at the world peace summit at the
United Nations headquarters in New York.
1896 BENEDICTINE CRITIQUE OF TREATMENT OF MAORIS FINALLY PUBLISHED: An
Italian Benedictine's stinging criticism of British mistreatment of Maoris
was published for the first time in New Zealand, more than 100 years after
it was written.
UNION HONOURS LATE NEW YORK CARDINAL'S COMMITMENT TO WORKERS: New York's
largest union of health care workers has produced a 12-page booklet to
honour the memory of the late Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York and
his commitment to workers.
CATHOLIC HEALTH BODY WANTS MEDICATION MANAGEMENT: Catholic Health Australia
called for urgent action by all parties to ensure the safe and secure
management of medications for the frail elderly in nursing homes and hostels.
CHURCH BODIES RESPOND TO STOLEN GENERATIONS CASE: The Catholic Church
regretted the outcome of the landmark Gunner and Cubilo Stolen Generations
court case, and called on the Federal Government to explore non-judicial
ways of apologising and redressing the suffering caused.
CARDINAL ADVOCATES ‘PLANETARY’ GOVERNMENT: Italian Cardinal
Carlo Maria Martini advocated the creation of a “democratic and planetary”
system of government that would transcend the powers of presently existing
nation-states.
POPE APPOINTS FORMER IMF DIRECTOR TO PONTIFICAL COUNCIL: The Holy Father
appointed former IMF General Director, French economist Michel Camdessus,
to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
JESUIT SAYS GOVT NEGLECTING DISABLED AND LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED: Fr Peter
Norden of Jesuit Social Services in Melbourne accused the Federal Government
of failing disabled and long term unemployed while it seeks to extend
its programs for unemployed youth.
WITNESS IN BISHOP GERARDI MURDER CASE FORCED TO FLEE COUNTRY: Another
witness in the murder case of social justice advocate Bishop Juan Gerardi
was forced to flee the country for her safety.
- courtesy Catholic Telecommunications, stories in detail at www.cathtelecom.com/news/008
*****
SEPTEMBER SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDAR
Sat 2 Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation established, 1991
Sun 3 Fathers Day; Declaration of World War II, 1939
TUE 5 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
The United Nations was born out of the ashes of World War II. One of its
main aims was to help make the world a more peaceful place by working
for justice and the development of peoples everywhere, as well as working
more directly for peace. The opening of the regular session of the General
Assembly each year has been declared as an International Day of Peace,
devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among nations
and peoples. In his 1998 address, the Secretary general appealed “to
all leaders of nations in war, to set aside their own ambitions and think
of their peoples, to resist the temptation to seek glory through conquest,
and to recognise that peaceful statesmanship alone will bring them and
their peoples the rewards they desire.” Can we say the same about
our families, schools, workplaces and local communities?
WED 6 MOTHER TERESA
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born in Albania in 1910. She entered the Order
of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland at the age of 18, and
trained in Dublin and Darjeeling, India, before taking her religious vows
in 1937. While principal of a Catholic high school in Calcutta, she was
moved by the presence of the sick and dying on the city's streets. In
1948 she was granted permission to leave her post at the convent and begin
a ministry among the sick. Mother Teresa and her associates became known
as the Missionaries of Charity. Members of the congregation take four
vows, the fourth vow pledging service to the poor, whom Mother Teresa
described as the embodiment of Christ. She extended her work onto five
continents. In recognition of her efforts she was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1979. She was forced to scale down her activities in 1990 because
of declining health, and died on this day in 1997.
Wed 6 Child Protection Week commences
Thu 7 Last Tasmanian tiger in captivity dies in Hobart Zoo, 1936
Fri 8 Birthday of Mary; International Literacy Day
Sun 10 Jubilee Celebration for University Teachers
TUE 12 DEATH OF STEVE BIKO
Steve Biko was born in King Williams Town, South Africa in 1946. He spent
some years working for the South African Student Association. He was arrested
on September 6 1977 and beaten so badly that he died six days later.
ACTION: View and discuss the film Cry Freedom, which looks at the life
and death of Steve Biko, and the oppression of apartheid in South Africa
Wed 13 Israel/Palestine Peace Agreement signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser
Arafat, 1993
Fri 15 Opening of International Marian Congress; Opening of 2000 Olympic
Games in Sydney
Sun 17 Jubilee Celebration for Senior Citizens
MON 18 DEATH OF DAG HAMMARSKJOLD
Hammarskjold, born in Sweden in 1905, was Secretary General of the United
Nations in the 1950s. He was deeply committed to working for world peace
and his writings reveal a man who was keenly aware of the weaknesses and
potential of the human condition. He died in a plane crash while on a
mission of peace in Africa on September 18 1961.
REFLECTION: For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.
Tue 19 International Day of Peace
Thu 21 Launch of Freedom from Hunger Campaign; Twelve new wilderness areas
declared in NSW, 1996
Sat 23 Australian Consumers Association launched, 1959
SUN 24 SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY
The last Sunday of September has been nominated by the Australian Catholic
Bishops as Social Justice Sunday. It is a special day set aside to remind
ourselves that every day is a social justice day, and that a commitment
to social justice is an essential part of the Christian life. On this
day each year, the Church issues a Social Justice Sunday Statement, reflecting
on a social issue of contemporary importance. This year, the Statement
is derived from the Report on the Participation of Women in the Catholic
Church in Australia.
ACTION: Make sure that the Social Justice Sunday Statement is available
in your parish and distributed after Mass. Organise a group to read and
reflect on the Statement together.
WED 27 VINCENT DE PAUL
Vincent de Paul lived in France from 1581 to 1660. He devoted many years
of his life to the sick and poor abandoned outcasts in the countryside
and the cities. Vincent drew other people into his projects, establishing
them as his co-workers. He is remembered today as the founder of two Congregations:
the Vincentians, an order of priests and brothers, and the daughters of
Charity. He is also the inspiration for the St Vincent de Paul Society.
REFLECTION: From Vincent, we can learn the value of simplicity of lifestyle
and we can be challenged to an integrity of being where there is congruency
between our words and our actions.
Let us love God, but let it be through the service of others, with
the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow. We must pass from
affective love to effective love. And that is a love which takes flesh
in works of charity; service of the poor which is undertaken with joy,
constancy and tender love.
*****
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Leo XIII House, 19 MacKenzie
Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. Tel: (02) 9956 5811, Fax: (02) 9954 0056,
Email: admin@acsjc.org.au Website: www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au
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