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ACSJC Briefing No. 5 - August 2000
ACSJC BRIEFING
No. 5 - August 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
DOWNLOAD a printer-friendly PDF version of this newsletter from www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/pdf/briefing.pdf
*****
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Secretariat -- August Events -- July News Monitor -- August Social
Justice Calendar
*****
FROM THE SECRETARIAT
July was a big month for the Secretariat, starting with a meeting of the
full Council, followed by the Building Bridges multiculturalism conference
the next weekend!
PRISON ISSUES
Judge John Hassett attended his first ACSJC meeting since his appointment
to the Council and we are pleased that he has agreed to join our National
Prisons Working Group along with Council Members Maree Rose and Terry
Quinn, and Suzette Clark of the Secretariat.
As you know, Terry Quinn and Suzette Clark attended conference
’Prisons - The Last Option: New Directions for the Millennium’
in March. The report of this conference is now available on our website
on the documentation page.
Brisbane Justice and Peace Commission has been a positive presence
in the news this week with their campaign for alternatives to prison for
fine defaulters. For further information about this action, contact Annette
Arnold (cjpc@uq.net.au)
The use of mandatory sentencing in some Australian jurisdictions
has shamed Australia following our condemnation by the UN's Human Rights
Commission. The Commission has concluded that The NT and WA Governments
are not complying with the International Convention on Civil and Political
Rights. The reaction of the Federal Government to this international scrutiny
has been disappointing to say the least!
REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERS
A good crowd attended the Building Bridges Conference cosponsored by the
ACSJC and ACMRO. There was excellent input from keynote speakers and panellists.
For an overview, check our website for my summing up. The text of some
of the presentations is on the ACMRO site (http://www.acmro.catholic.org.au).
The visit of the Minister to the conference underlined the hard
line being taken by the Government - the same basic position of previous
governments too. I am more convinced than ever that there is need for
a deeper campaign of public education leading to pressure on politicians
for change. Many Church and community groups are concerned about these
issues and taking various forms of action. The ACSJC is hoping to work
together with a range of church groups to develop an education kit on
refugee and asylum seeker issues. By combining our efforts we can be more
effective. Let us know what you are already doing and if you would like
to join in some common action.
For an example of local responses to these issues, contact the
Adelaide Archdiocese's Justice and Peace Commission and ask for a copy
of their educational material (email: adjpc@adelaide.catholic.org.au)
If you live in Sydney, you can assist asylum seekers with clean
and usable blankets (contact Sr Helen Barnes on 9699 2063). If you don't
live in Sydney, ACMRO can refer you to those working with asylum seekers
in your region (tel. 02 6201 9848). These 'front line' people will be
able to tell you whether it is blankets, or food, or something else that
is most needful in a particular place.
TEN STEPS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION
We gave been working with NATSICC to develop a simple resource to encourage
people to take practical action towards reconciliation. We will soon print
a flyer setting out ten steps towards reconciliation for groups and individuals.
The idea is based on work done by Vicki Walker of the Aboriginal Catholic
Ministry in Melbourne. There is no charge for the flyers, but donations
to offset costs would be appreciated.
THE EUCHARIST AND JUSTICE
Fr Gerard Moore SM is the author of the next paper in our Catholic Social
Justice Series (No. 39), which explores the links between the Mass and
social justice. Too many of us tend to treat the Mass and our work for
justice as separate compartments of our lives; this paper will help us
to integrate these two aspects of our faith response. The paper titled
'Eucharist and Justice' is a great contribution to the promotion of spirituality
of justice.
Copies can be ordered for $4.40 (including GST) plus postage. Discounts
are available for bulk orders.
HIROSHIMA NEVER AGAIN!
We are hearing very little about the International Year for Building the
Culture of Peace. There can be no better reminder of the need to build
a culture of peace than the memory of the bombing of Hiroshima.
Please consider organising a memorial event at the time of the
anniversary in order to help people to reflect on the imperative of peace.
This would also be a good time to sign the Manifesto 2000. To sign up
go to http://www.unesco.org/manifesto2000/default.asp?part=NGO/AUL/004
/IUI This link is a bit wobbly, so if it doesn't do the right thing by
you, go to the technical site www.unesco.org/iycptec and do it the long
way by entering our organisation name and Internet Account Number (NGO/AUL/004/IUI)
and your details.
- Sandie Cornish (Chief Executive Officer)
*****
ADELAIDE CANDLELIGHT WALK FOR NGARRINDJERI CULTURE
The event takes place on Friday 4 August around Government House from
8:00 pm (please gather with candles from 7:00 pm). Come along and show
you support a Treaty with Australia's original Indigenous peoples. We're
supporting the protection of Ngarrindjeri culture, spiritual beliefs,
lands and waters, and to stop any nuclear waste dump on traditional lands
which affects the unique Australian environment and wetlands.
There will be further ongoing Justice and Peace Candlelight Walks
around Government House, Adelaide, assembling with candles at 7:00 pm
to walk at 8:00 pm on the first Friday of every month throughout the year.
Enquiries to norwcls@caritas.org.au
*****
MARY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: CARITAS HELDER CAMARA LECTURE
SERIES
The lecturer is Maria Clara Bingemer, one of Latin America's most prominent
women theologians. Maria is Professor of Theology at the Catholic University
in Rio de Janiero. She is an expert on lay spirituality and leadership,
and international president of the Jesuit-founded Christian Life Communities
lay movement, and author of 'Mary, Mother of the Poor, Mother of God'.
MELBOURNE: 8:00 pm Mon 14 Aug, Marcellin College Chapel, Bulleen
Road, Bulleen
ADELAIDE: 8:00 pm Wed 16 Aug, Sacred Heart College, Brighton Road,
Somerton Park
SYDNEY: 7:30 pm Thu 17 Aug, Santa Sabina Hall, Santa Sabina College,
Strathfield
*****
JULY NEWS MONITOR
FRANCISCANS ASK PILGRIMS TO PRAY FOR PEACE: Franciscans in the Holy Land
requested arriving pilgrims to pray for peace in the Middle East while
peace talks were taking place at Camp David in the USA.
CHURCH RESCUING DUMPED REFUGEES: Catholic organisations in Brisbane and
Melbourne are providing services to refugees which the Federal Government
has 'dumped in the middle of a big city with minimal English, few supports
and uncertain as to their entitlements'.
PONTIFF CALLS ON U.S. TO SPARE DEATH ROW INMATE: Pope John Paul II has
again asked the governor of Virginia to spare the life of convicted murderer
Derek Rocco Barnabei, an Italian national. Papal spokesman Joaquín
Navarro-Valls said the Pope's calls for clemency for death row prisoners
is working. He said: "The death penalty is being scrutinised in many
countries. Moreover, when a specific request is made for an act of clemency,
in many cases it is accepted."
PAX CHRISTI HOPES FOR ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Pax Christi told
the mayor of Hiroshima of its hope for 'the elimination of all nuclear
weapons'.
CATHOLIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA TO PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE:
The peak body representing the Church's health and aged care institutions,
will lobby all political parties to foster a fairer health and aged care
system.
AMBON BISHOP SOUNDS ETHNIC CLEANSING ALERT: The Catholic Bishop of Ambon
in Indonesia has appealed for international intervention to halt what's
now being called ethnic cleansing.
JAIL ALTERNATIVE FIGHT HOTS UP: Brisbane Archdiocese's Justice and Peace
Commission (CJPC) and Catholic Prison Ministry have stepped up their campaign
to keep fine defaulters out of jail.
BISHOPS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF TOXIC WASTE: The Catholic bishops of the
Philippines are sending a message to the US bishops asking the United
States to remove the toxic waste from their former bases.
CHILD SOLDIERS BEING RECRUITED AGAIN: Children are being abducted to
serve on the front in Sierra Leone as cannon fodder, according to local
Catholic Church sources.
CHILD POVERTY 'AUSTRALIA’S SHAME': The Australian Catholic Social
Welfare Commission has described as a 'sad indictment', a UNICEF report
on the status of the world’s children that places Australia ninth
in a list 23 OECD countries in which relative child poverty still exists.
CATHOLIC HEALTH BODY SAYS GST HITTING ELDERLY HARD: Thousands of elderly
pensioners are being slugged GST on home care following the federal government's
refusal to subsidise services, the Executive Director of Catholic Health
Australia has said.
CONFERENCE URGES GOVERNMENT TO VALUE MIGRANT CONTRIBUTION: Speaking at
the ACSJC/ACMRO 'Building Bridges' Multiculturalism Conference, Archbishop
Barry Hickey criticised the Government for its harsh treatment of refugees
and asylum seekers.
MULTICULTURALISM LEADER CHALLENGES CHURCHES: Council for Multicultural
Australia Chairman Neville Roach took advantage of the 'Building Bridges'
Conference to challenge churches to do a better job of providing moral
leadership in the areas of race, reconciliation and the treatment of migrants
and refugees.
ADELAIDE PRISON CHAPLAIN SAYS POPE'S CLEMENCY CALL IS ABOUT REFORM: Fr
Tony Pearson, a Catholic priest working with prisoners in South Australia,
said the Pope's call for clemency was not a signal to "go easy"
on prisoners but a plea for a more constructive approach to the whole
penal system.
POPE CELEBRATES MASS IN ROME PRISON: Inmates and guards were on the same
side of the bars Sunday as Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in a Roman
prison, repeating his call for clemency for prisoners worldwide.
SR HELEN PREJAN A FAVOURITE FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE: The nun who inspired
the Oscar-winning film Dead Man Walking is emerging as a front runner
for the Nobel Peace Prize for her increasingly effective campaign against
the death penalty.
PLEA FOR TRUCE IN WOMEN'S DEBATE: Extreme elements from both sides of
the debate must respect each other, a key author of last year's groundbreaking
report on women's role in the Church said after there was a "lack
of tolerance" at the Adelaide hearings on the issue.
BIOETHICIST QUESTIONS PRIORITY GIVEN TO GENOME PROJECT: Fr John Fleming
of Adelaide has suggested that the large expenditure on the Human Genome
project is unjustified, given that we still do not have scientific underpinning
for improved water, sewage or inoculation programs.
BELO URGES DOCTORS TO TREAT ALL PATIENTS EQUALLY: East Timor's Bishop
Carlos Belo has told the Jubilee convention of doctors in Rome that they
must take account of the person's humanity, and not his or her origins
or social class.
- courtesy Catholic Telecommunications, stories in detail at www.cathtelecom.com/news/007
*****
AUGUST SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDAR
Wed 2 FIRST INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA, 1965
Sat 5 ST DOMINIC, FOUNDER OF DOMINICAN ORDER (died 1221).
Sun 6 TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK COMMENCES
HIROSHIMA DAY, 1945: Each year, the world is reminded of this day when
an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, resulting
in great suffering and destruction.
REFLECTION: Sadako Sasaki was two years old when the atomic bomb
fell about two kilometres from her home in the city of Hiroshima. She
was neither burned nor injured at the time, but ten years later became
ill with leukemia. When a friend sent a paper crane in the mail, she decided
to make a thousand paper cranes. By the time she died, she had folded
644 paper cranes. For Sadako, the simple gesture of folding paper into
a bird was symbolic of a prayer for peace.
ACTION: Create a symbol that reminds you of peace. Place it where
you will see it often.
Tue 8 ATOM BOMB DROPPED AT NAGASAKI, 1945
BLESSED MARY MCKILLOP: Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842. At the age
of 19, she decided to dedicate herself to teaching children in rural areas.
In 1866, with Father Julian Tenison Woods, she founded the Institute of
the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, more commonly known as Josephites.
The new congregation encountered considerable opposition from Church authorities
because of its innovative approach. It was disbanded in 1871 and Mary
was excommunicated. Restoration came the following year. By the time Mary
died, in 1909, the Josephites numbered more than 1000. Mary McKillop was
beatified in 1995 - the first Australian blessed.
Mon 14 ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
Tue 15 ASSUMPTION OF MARY
END OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC, 1945
Wed 16 WAVE HILL STATION RETURNED TO THE GURINDJI PEOPLE, 1975: Aboriginal
workers on Wave Hill station which was owned by the British meat company
Vesty, went on strike in 1966, in protest against the low pay ($6 per
week), poor working conditions (12 hour day, 7 days per week) and abusive
treatment they were receiving. They moved to their traditional land at
Daguragu (Wattie Creek), resisting all attempts to move them, defying
white law and following their own. On April 19, 1967, the Gurindji People,
led by Vincent Lingiari presented a petition to the Governor General,
Lord Casey, seeking adequate pay and conditions, access to educational
and medical facilities and control and ownership of their traditional
lands.
The strike turned into a nine year struggle focussed on land rights.
On 16 August 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, handed back to Vincent
Lingiari the crown lease to 3000sq km of Gurindji land at Daguragu. Ten
years later, after the passage of the Northern Territory Land Rights Act,
the Gurindji people gained full rights to their land.
ACTION: Listen to or read the lyrics of Paul Kelly's song From
Little Things Big Things Grow which tells the story of Vincent Lingiari
Fri 18 VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
Sun 20 WORLD YOUTH DAY JUBILEE CELEBRATION FOR YOUTH: 25 years ago at
the close of the Holy Year in 1975, the Holy Father called representatives
of the youth of the world together in Rome to challenge them to spread
the good news that the presence of Christ can bring to the world. On that
occasion a great wooden cross was entrusted to the young people, and in
the years since it has been the main symbol at annual gatherings of youth
around the world. In 2000 the Cross will return to Rome, as Pope John
Paul II renews his challenge to open the doors of our own hearts and our
societies, so that Christ may enter and make a difference to us and the
world. The mystery and the paradox is that being able to make this difference,
is some how bound up with the cross, the cross that was Christ's and must
in different ways be ours.
Sun 27 300,000 WOMEN MARCHED TO GREENHAM COMMON MILITARY BASE IN PROTEST
AGAINST NUCLEAR MISSILES, 1987
Wed 30 EAST TIMOR DECIDES, 1999
On this day in 1999, the people of East Timor participated in a United
Nations supervised referendum to determine their future.
PRAYER FOR EAST TIMOR
All powerful and ever-present God:
look with love on the people of East Timor,
as they await the dawning of a new life for their country.
Send your Spirit to guide them
on their journey to self-determination.
Enlighten the hearts and the minds of all engaged in this process,
so that true freedom and lasting peace will be achieved.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son,
who lives with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
*****
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Leo XIII House, 19 MacKenzie
Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. Tel: (02) 9956 5811, Fax: (02) 9956 5782,
Email: admin@acsjc.org.au Website: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au
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