FEBRUARY 2015    ISSUE 164

 

Welcome to the monthly news and information briefing from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, the social justice and human rights agency of the Catholic Church in Australia. This email contains highlights only. The full Briefing is online.

 

 

 

FROM THE SECRETARIAT: Mercy Campaign seeks clemency for Bali Nine death row inmates

Myuran Sukamaran and Andrew Chan committed serious offences that contributed to the devastating impact of drugs. There is no question that there should be appropriate punishment, but the death penalty is an affront to the sanctity of human life. Read more

 

 

ISSUES: Caritas regrets Australia's withdrawal from regional leadership

The Catholic Church's international aid and development agency believes the Federal Government's recently announced decision to cut Australian aid represents a significant turning away from six decades of Australia playing a constructive leadership role in our region and on the world stage. Read more

 

 

PUBLICATIONS: Order Now - 2015 Social Justice Diary

The 2015 Social Justice Diary includes the dates of significant events, anniversaries and special days which celebrate particular aspects of social justice. It provides a social justice program for the full year, including information and ideas for prayer and reflection. Read more

 

 

 

EVENTS: 8 February - International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking

The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Travellers is supporting this celebration in all dioceses and parishes in the world on the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave, freed, who became a Canossian nun, and was declared a Saint in 2000. Read more

 

 

NEWS: ACMRO speaks out on Asylum Seeker Bill

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office has called on senators to safeguard and defend the human dignity of asylum-seekers, as a group of prominent Australians, including Broken Bay's new Bishop, record a song for child asylum seekers. Read more

 

 

DIARY: 12 February - 10th anniversary of murder of Sr Dorothy Stang

The US born religious sister was killed in the Amazon Basin city of Anapu, Brazil. She had been outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment, and had previously received death threats from loggers and land owners. Read more

 

 

 

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL 

PO Box 7246, Alexandria NSW 2015.

Tel: (02) 8306 3499, Fax: (02) 8306 3498, Email: admin@acsjc.org.auWebsite: http://socialjustice.catholic.org.au. ACSJC Briefing is sent by email at the beginning of each month (except January). To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email to admin@acsjc.org.au