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ACSJC Briefing No. 7 - October 2000

ACSJC BRIEFING
No. 7 - October 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

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IN THIS ISSUE
• From the Secretariat
• October Notices
• September News Monitor
• October Social Justice Calendar

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FROM THE SECRETARIAT
Greetings from Post-Olympic Sydney! While many social justice people feared that the Olympics would impact negatively on the poor and the marginalised, the wash up seems to be far more positive. Friends and colleagues who work or live in the inner city have been looking out for their familiar street people and have been pleased to see that they weren’t in fact moved on by the authorities during the Olympics. In my area, a very popular tourist destination, the little community of people on the street who rotate in a circuit of beach and park locations even managed to stay in their prime harbour side park location for longer than usual. The feeling of generosity, openness and friendship, which is almost tangible in the city, seems to have extended to park rangers too! People seem to be rediscovering community, and enjoying it.

RECONCILIATION
The most enduring images of the Sydney Olympics will surely be of Cathy Freeman. It was truly fitting that such a great indigenous athlete should light the cauldron. The whole country, indigenous and non-indigenous, held its breath during her awesome 400-meter gold medal run. She carried with her the hope of the nation for something far more than a gold medal. Who (apart from sports commentators) was not moved beyond words as she carried the Aboriginal flag and the Australian flag together on her victory lap? Cathy Freeman cannot be separated from her indigenous identity; it is an integral part of this woman who we claim so proudly as our own. Isn’t this what reconciliation is all about?
  In our office we are working at taking the ten steps towards reconciliation that are suggested in the leaflet that we have published with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council. We recently purchased the two indigenous flags and are devising a way of displaying them in the entrance to our office where we also plan to erect an acknowledgment plaque. Some of the other steps are already a regular part of the way we work, but we feel that it is important to do ourselves the things that we suggest to others. We still have plenty of copies of Ten Steps Towards Reconciliation available on request.

GENDER AND THE CHURCH
Another area of relationships that requires reconciliation and healing is that of women and men in the Church and in our society.
  The Social Justice Sunday Statement for this year announces the Bishops’ response to the research report Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus. The launch of the Statement in Canberra by Archbishop Carroll, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, went very well. Many people who attended the launch were very impressed by Archbishop Carroll’s honesty, openness and willingness to grapple with difficult questions. Even though the first soccer match of the Olympics took place in Canberra that evening, we still managed to get a bit of press coverage and rather a lot of radio coverage.
  300,000 copies of the Statement were distributed via Australian Catholics and they have completely run out of copies. The full text and liturgy notes can be downloaded from our website and also from the Bishops’ Conferences’ website.
  If you haven’t visited our website for a while, check out the changes! We’ve been quietly beavering away while most of the country has been watching telly…

SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDER 2001
Suzette was just about housebound by Olympic traffic and took the opportunity to do some solid work from home on next year’s social justice calendar. It’s not too early to get your orders in!

DEATH PENALTY
Marg has been working on preparing our next Catholic Social Justice Series paper for publication in November. This paper, by our colleague Dr Michael Costigan, addresses the death penalty. We will also be issuing an ACSJC Position Paper on the death penalty outlining why the ACSJC is opposed to the death penalty anywhere in the world. At the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences’ Office for Human Development (OHD) Consultation on Advocacy for Justice and Peace, which I attended recently in Thailand, the death penalty was seen as a priority issue for OHD action in the region. Early next year we hope to launch more formally a campaign against the death penalty.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE SERIES
The ACSJC is happy to consider proposals for papers in the Catholic Social Justice Series. Feel free to offer suggestions of topics and/or writers or volunteer to write for us. A set of guidelines for this series is available from the Secretariat on request. All proposals are presented to the ACSJC for consideration.
  It is hard to believe that we have already reached the final quarter of the year, but our schedule for the next few months is a typical last quarter … We have a run of conferences, meetings and forward planning before taking a break for Christmas. It’s a bit like the sprint at the end of a long distance race!

- Sandie Cornish (Chief Executive Officer)

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OCTOBER NOTICES

WOLLONGONG CONFERENCE: REPORTING TO THE CREATOR
The Social Justice Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong and the Wollongong Catholic Education Office are hosting a Jubilee conference titled "Reporting to the Creator". It will bring together people of all ages to discuss issues of ecology and reconciliation from a Christian perspective. The conference will be held 20-22 October at Kerever Park Conference and Retreat Centre, Bowral. Guest speakers include Br Peter Faulkner CFC, Executive Office of the Catholic Earthcare Commission, Adelaide, and members of the Let's Talk Team (part of an international group of young people in promoting reconciliation). Total cost $120 (negotiable). Contact Paul Power on (02) 4636 6195 (night) or Steve Robards on (02) 4229 6011 (day), or email: power@cyber.net.au

JUBILEE & DEBT: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Sat 4 November 1:00-3:30 pm at Catholic Church Hall, cnr Pennant Hills Rd & Trebor Rd, Pennant Hills, in Sydney. Also Sat 18 November 1:003:30 pm at St Mary’s Community Centre, cnr Great Western Highway & Mamre Rd, St Marys, Sydney. Speakers include Fr Brian Gore - priest activist, Trevor Thomas - economist involved in TEAR, Dorothy Makasa - development worker and activist from Zambia. Music by Peter Kearney. Both venues quite close to the railway station, entry by donation. Contact Thea Ormerod (02) 9150-9713, email ormerod@tig.com.au

MERCY FOUNDATION AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Mercy Foundation Justice Award is given to an individual or an organisation that may best examplify the Foundation's ideal of work for justice. The Mercy Foundation was established by the Sisters of Mercy to provide practical support for people working for a more just society. Nominations are sought from among organisations and individuals in the process of building a more just society (rather than those concerned with the immediate alleviation of poverty). The Award is a cash prize of $1000. For information, call (02) 9699 8726, fax: (02) 9699 9657, or email: mercyfoundation@ozemail.com.au. Web: www.mercyfoundation.com.au Nominations close on 31 October 2000.

MARTIN ENNALS AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
The Martin Ennals Foundation would like to invites you to nominate a deserving individual or organisation for the 2001 Martin Ennals Award. The deadline for nominations is 15 October 2000. For more info. visit the website: http://www.digitalsmile.com/mea, or email: huridocs@comlink.org

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SEPTEMBER NEWS MONITOR

CATHOLIC JUSTICE COMMISSION CALLS FOR REPARATIONS TRIBUNAL: Melbourne’s Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace called for a reparations tribunal to be set up to deal with past injustices perpetrated against indigenous Australians.

BISHOPS SEEK JUSTICE FOR SLAIN MISSIONARY: Catholic bishops in Kenya warned the government not to allow a "cover-up" of the murder of priest and human rights activist Fr John Kaiser.

ECONOMIC FORUM 'FAILING TO HELP POOR': Fr Brian Gore took part in a stand against the World Economic Forum (WEF), challenging Catholics to do something positive for the poor.

ARCHBISHOP SAYS CHURCH SHOULD PRACTISE WHAT IT PREACHES ON JOB CREATION: President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference Archbishop Francis Carroll said the Church, as one of the nation’s largest employers, has a responsibility to set an example in job creation.

CORONER RECOMMENDS MORE EFFECTIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM: After a Caritas Australia-sponsored visit to East Timor, NSW Deputy State Coroner Jan Stevenson has made a wide range of recommendations to reinstate an effective justice system.

INDIGENOUS GROUPS SUPPORT OLYMPICS ACTION: Two of the Australian Catholic Church's peak indigenous sbodies supported indigenous political action that might take place the Sydney Olympic Games.

DEBT PROTEST SEEKS SHARE OF OLYMPIC LIMELIGHT: Debt protesters from the Jubilee 2000 Campaign aimed to draw the world's attention to foreign debts of poor countries as an obstacle to development and a sign that there is no level playing field for Third World athletes.

SVdP HOPING FOR OBSERVANCE OF OLYMPICS PROTOCOL FOR HOMELESS: Welcoming the NSW Government's pledge that homeless people on the streets during the Olympics would not be "moved on", a St Vincent de Paul Society spokesman said its success depended upon whether authorities were trained to follow it.

POPE INTERVENES TO SAVE DEATH ROW INMATE: Pope John Paul II unsuccessfully renewed his appeal for authorities to spare the life of Derek R Barnabei, who was scheduled to be executed in Virginia, USA, for the rape and murder of a 17-year-old student.

SEMINARIANS IDENTIFY STARVATION HOT SPOTS: People in remote areas of northern East Timor are suffering from hunger, and there are fears that many have died of starvation, according to a priest active in social concerns.

LEGISLATOR SAYS POPE CHANGED HIS MIND ON DEATH PENALTY: Democratic state representative Chris Liese of Maryland said at a workshop on the death penalty during earlier this month that he was in favour of the death penalty until Pope John Paul II's visit to St Louis in January 1999.

AUSTRALIAN BISHOPS SAY OLYMPICS CAN BUILD PEACE: Quoting the speech of Pope John Paul to sports participants at Rome's Olympic Stadium last May, Archbishop Francis Carroll has welcomed Olympic visitors, with the reminder that sport can contribute to peacebuilding.

ARCHBISHOP CALLS ACTION ON WOMEN A 'PILGRIMAGE': Launching this year's Social Justice Statement, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Francis Carroll described the bishops' initiative to increase the role of women in the Church as a 'pilgrimage'.

BISHOPS CONDEMN WEST TIMOR KILLINGS: Catholic Church leaders of Indonesia's Atambua diocese and East Timor's Dili diocese condemned the killings in west Timor, saying the acts were contemptible.

ADELAIDE ARCHBISHOP UNVEILS 'SORRY ROCK': Adelaide's Archbishop Leonard Faulkner and the new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) Chairperson unveiled a Sorry Rock on the eastern side of the city's Cathedral of St Francis Xavier.

KIMBERLEY BODY CALLS OLYMPIC SHOW OF UNITY: Describing laws enabling the military to be deployed during the Olympics an 'over-reaction', the Kimberley Diocesan Office of Justice, Ecology & Peace has called on Australians to forget about 'unacknowledged hurts' for the duration of the Olympic Games.

TIMORESE REMEMBER MASSACRE AT CHURCH: More than 10,000 East Timorese gathered in the southern border town of Suai to commemorate the massacre one year ago of more than 100 people in a parish church.

CHURCHES APOLOGISE TO INDIGENOUS CANADIANS: The leaders of four Christian churches in Canada apologised to indigenous tribes in Newfoundland and Labrador for suffering they endured from Christians.

POPE JOHN XXIII HONOURED: The reform pope, John XXIII, was beatified, and also had a German circus named in his honour.

AUSTRALIAN OF YEAR SAYS RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL: Sir Gustav Nossal told a form organised by Jesuit Social Services in Melbourne that despite remarkable advances in tolerance recent years, racism in Australia is 'alive and well'.

SVDP WORRIED ABOUT SOARING FUEL COSTS: The financial burden of soaring petrol prices has driven more people to seek help from the St Vincent de Paul Society.

CARDINAL SAYS PEACE SUMMIT NOT THE BASIS FOR A RELIGIOUS U.N.: While generally positive about the event, Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, has returned to Rome with serious reservations about the meeting.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION SAYS BETTER LAWS CAN ACHIEVE RECONCILIATION: Melbourne's Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace is concerned that the Government's dismissive attitude towards a legal treaty is holding back Aboriginal reconciliation.

- courtesy Catholic Telecommunications, stories in detail at www.cathtelecom.com/news/009

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OCTOBER SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDAR

SUN 1 International Day of Older Persons
MON 2 World Habitat Day
TUE 3 Day of Jewish and Christian Dialogue

WED 4 ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, FOUNDER OF FRANCISCAN ORDERS, DIED
Francis was the 12th century saint who renounced his wealth and family to live a life of poverty. His profound love of God’s creation and all creatures is expressed in his Canticle of the Sun. In 1979, Pope John Paul II made him the patron saint of the environment and of all who work for its preservation. Francis died on 3 October 1226. His spirit lives on in the many and varied religious orders for both men and women and which bear the name Franciscan.

THU 5 INAUGURATION OF NELSON MANDELA AS PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1994
REFLECTION: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Excerpt from Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural Speech)

FRI 6 FIVE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISTS MURDERED AT BALBO, EAST TIMOR, 1975
Five journalists from Australian media organisations were killed on this day in East Timor in 1975. They went to Balibo to cover the Indonesian invasion of East Timor and disappeared in the fighting that followed. The bodies were never recovered. Official Indonesian reports state that the five were killed in crossfire, but Timorese and Australian sources have consistently claimed that they were murdered and the details subsequently covered up by Indonesian and Australian authorities. A new investigation into the matter was announced by the Australian Government in October 1998.

SAT 7 Our Lady of the Rosary; First Rape Crisis Centre established in Sydney, 1974

SUN 8 10TH ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS IN ROME
Since Vatican Council II, all the Bishops of the Catholic Church gather with the Pope in Rome on a regular basis, to discuss issues of importance for the Church and society. The meeting for 2000 will be the tenth such gathering or Synod.

MON 9 Refugee Week commences
WED 11 Opening Session of Vatican Council II, 1962
SAT 14 "Taste of the Nation" festival celebrates diversity in food
SUN 15 St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church; Jubilee Celebration for Families
SUN 15 World Mission Day

MON 16 WORLD FOOD DAY
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was one of the first agencies established by the United Nations on 16 October, 1945. World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 to heighten public awareness of the world food problem, and to strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
REFLECTION: Can I do anything about the following issues? Developed countries usually produce more food than they can use, but difficulties arise with distribution to those in need. In many countries there is a lack of access to land and technology by poorer people. Farmers lack funds for planting crops or buying tools; and cannot access credit. Multinational companies can control access to seed, fertiliser and markets. In poorer countries, unlike Australia, 80% of the food is produced by women.

TUE 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
FRI 20 World Mission Congress in Rome

SUN 22 MISSION SUNDAY; ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSTALLATION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II, 1978
Today marks the celebration of Mission throughout the Church, and the completion of the Mission Congress, meeting in Rome to explore ways of bringing Christ to the world of the Third Millennium. Mission is about each one of us being the ‘hands of Christ’ in the world today: touching others with his love, acting in his name, reaching out with the good news that each of us is loved by God and called to live in a more just and peaceful world.

TUE 24 United Nations Day; Beginning of Disarmament Week

THU 26 Uluru, formerly known as Ayers rock, returned to original owners Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytatjara people, 1983;

ASSASSINATION OF FR A.T. THOMAS SJ IN INDIA, 1997
Fr Thomas was an Indian Jesuit who worked with India’s Harijan people – the untouchables. Harijan children were forced to work during the day and had no way of learning to read or write. This became a focus for Fr Thomas’ work. A network of night schools for children was established and Fr Thomas spent long hours in the evenings hearing of the injustices suffered by the children and their parents. In 1997, while on his way from one such school to another, Fr Thomas disappeared, . Some days later, his decapitated body was discovered in a riverbed, presumably kidnapped.

FRI 27 International Teachers Day
SUN 29 Jubilee Celebration of Athletes
TUE 31 Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India assassinated, 1984

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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 ** ACSJC Briefing is sent by email at the beginning of each month. To sub-scribe, send an empty email to ACSJCbriefing-subscribe@acsjc.org.au (or to ACSJCbriefing-remove@acsjc.org.au to remove your ad-dress from the mailing list). If you encounter difficulties, or you want to subscribe another person, send an email to briefing@acsjc.org.au. Comments and contributions are also welcome at this address.