Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

Post date: Nov 27, 2014 9:06:32 PM

DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE 163

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: Advent begins with National Lament Week of Prayer

Catholic Religious Australia is inviting participation in the National Lament Week of Prayer and Prophetic Witness, as an 'opportunity to be in prayerful solidarity with the people seeking asylum in Australia and with the people being detained in Australia and off-shore'. Read more

ISSUES: Bishops' website for 3 December Day of People with Disability

The Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life has produced an excellent web-based resource for the International Day for People With A Disability, including tips for celebrating the day, liturgy notes and many others resources. Read more

PUBLICATIONS: 2015 Social Justice Diary orders open

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: Until 31 December - Building a Movement National Tour

TEAR speakers are visiting churches in each state with 'Speak for Tomorrow' - an interactive biblical presentation, which addresses the theme of 'courage to imagine', and shares the courageous story of Smita, a woman from Thane, India who is connected to TEAR's partner Saahasee. Read more

NEWS: Bishop fears 'catastrophic' result of WA town closures

Bishop Christopher Saunders' claim that Broome already faces a significant homeless problem that will be exacerbated by the Premier's plan to close remote communities, is backed by a Centacare study of "rough sleepers" that found more than 100 homeless Aborigines. Read more

DIARY: 10 December 1992 - Prime Minister Paul Keating's Redfern Speech

Keating was the first Australian Prime Minister to publicly acknowledge to Indigenous Australians that European settlers were responsible for the difficulties Australian Aboriginal communities continued to face: 'We committed the murders. We took the children from their mothers. We practiced discrimination and exclusion. It was our ignorance and our prejudice.' 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