1. Social Justice Statement 2015-2016
FOR THOSE WHO’VE COME ACROSS THE SEAS
JUSTICE FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
Image – unsplash.com
© Australian Catholic Bishops Conference You may download, display, print or reproduce this material for personal or non-commercial use, as long as you acknowledge the copyright holders. All other rights to the material are retained by the original copyright holders.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

2. Pope Francis’ first journey as Pope was to the island of Lampedusa
– the closest land for those fleeing North Africa.
Image - AAP
AFP Photo / Marcello Paternostro

3. He dropped a wreath in the sea to honour those who had perished.
Image – unsplash.com, pixabay.com

4. These brothers and sisters of ours were trying to escape difficult situations to find some serenity and peace.
Image – unsplash.com

5. Has any one of us grieved for the death of these brothers and sisters?
wept for these persons
who were on the boat?
Pope Francis
Image - flickr
Photo ‘it’s raining again’ by followtheseinstructions on flickr

6. This is the response of human beings
This is the response of human beings. It is especially the response of those who profess to follow Jesus. Has it been the response of Australia – its people? - or its government?
Image – unsplash.com

7. Today the panic and mistrust that is stirred up by this debate is out of all proportion to the scale of the issue in Australia.
Source: Refugee Council of Australia Factsheet May 2012
Source: Refugee Council of Australia Factsheet May 2012

8. to the call of the asylum seeker
Responding
to the call of the asylum seeker
Image – unsplash.com

9. In responding to these questions we are guided by Scripture
and the social teaching of the Church.
Image - Imagebank.org.uk

10. When an alien resides with you in your land,
you shall not oppress the alien.
The alien who resides with you shall be to you
as the citizen among you;
you shall love the alien as yourself,
for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:33-34
Image – unsplash.com

11. Jesus embodies these values.
In the New Testament
Jesus embodies these values.
Image - Christimages.org
As an infant, he and his family
were forced to flee their homeland
and find refuge in Egypt.

12. solidarity and the common good
The values Jesus lived
are reflected in the core of the Church's social teaching:
human dignity
option for the poor
solidarity and the common good
Image – unsplash.com

13. human dignity All human beings are precious. We are sacred
and deserve respect
because we are human
and loved by God.
Image - flickr
Photo ‘Group of friends’ by CeeKay’s Pix on Flickr

14. we harm innocent people by detaining them, pushing back their boats
As a nation,
we harm innocent people
by detaining them,
pushing back their boats
and transferring them
to impoverished nations. .
Image - flickr
Manus Island
Detention Centre
Photo ‘Manus Island Detention Centre’ by Sarah Hanson-Young on Flickr

15. We pretend that the pain and diminishment
of one group of people, including children,
is a justifiable price to pay
for sending a message to others.
Image - AAP
EPA/Tolga Bozoglu

16. option for the poor Means that we care firstly
for those who are poorest,
those who are the most disadvantaged.
Image – pixabay.com

17. solidarity and the common good
Our neighbours are not things:
they are people like us, who share a common humanity.
This is why Catholic social teaching
insists on the importance of the relationships
that bind us to one another and to our world.
Image – morguefile.com

18. GLOBAL Movement of people
Asylum seekers
who come to our shore
are a fraction of the
GLOBAL Movement of people
Image - AAP
AP Photo/UNRWA

19. UNHCR 2015 Global Trends – World at War

20. What is the true picture of peoples’ journeys?
For many who are displaced
there is no choice but to flee or perish.
Image – gratisography.com
What is the true picture of peoples’ journeys?
Photo by Ryan McGuire on Gratisography

21. They flee from persecution and violence
Image - flickr
They flee from persecution and violence
Photo ‘Skate and riots’ by Sergio on Flickr
Photo ‘Fleeing Kosovo’ by Cliff on Flickr

22. They embark upon a dangerous journey
"Refugees on a boat" by Unknown - Defense Visual Information Center (Photo ID: N-TW ) Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Image – flickr, unsplash.com, wikipedia.org
They embark upon a dangerous journey
Photo ‘Fleeing Kibati’ by Julien Harneis on Flickr

23. They suffer prolonged detention onshore and offshore
Image – AAP, wikipedia, bigfoto.com
They suffer prolonged detention onshore and offshore
AAP Image/Scott Fisher
By DIAC images [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

24. Detention affects particularly vulnerable groups
Image - AAP
AP Photo/Cesare Abbate
AAP Image/NEWZULU/Michael Debets

25. Many asylum seekers in the community experience poverty
Photo ‘311’ by jamesmellor on Flickr
Image - flickr
Photo ‘Homeless’ by Jan Truter on Flickr
Many asylum seekers in the community experience poverty

26. GLOBAL and regional We are called to a new response
Image – unsplash.com

27. understand the issues better.
As Christians,
we can make sure
that Australians
understand the issues better.
Image – dreamstime.com

28. Quiet conversation and example are powerful tools for conversion.
iStock photo © Svetlana Braun
Photo:
iStock/Svetlana Braun

29. We can support the organisations that work to help asylum seekers
Parish support groups
Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
St Vincent de Paul
Refugee Offices of Religious Orders
Asylum
Seeker centres
Image – picjumbo.com
Migrant and Refugee Chaplains
Jesuit Refugee Service
Catholic Social Services
… and
many others.

30. We can make our parishes into welcoming places:
creating social events,
organising or joining support networks,
introducing refugees and hearing their stories.
Image - wikimedia
"Harmony Day ( )" by DIAC images - Harmony DayUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

31. Politicians need to know what we feel about this issue.
Image – flickr, picjumbo.com
Politicians need to know
what we feel about this issue.
Contacting senators and members
does have an effect.
Photo ‘For those who come across the seas - Refugee Action protest 27 July 2013 Melbourne’ by Takyer on Flickr

32. For those who’ve come across the seas
Image - imagebank.org.uk

33. We’ve boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
Image – pixabay.com

34. Jesus is coming tonight, he comes as a child, tender, innocent …
Let us think about the children:
the Child Jesus comes among us,
it is the love and tenderness of God.
May the Lord give us the grace
to receive them with a lot of love.
Pope Francis
Image – pixabay.com

35. To read more about welcoming refugees, pick up a copy of the
Social Justice Statement
Image – unsplash.com

36. towards justice for refugees and asylum seekers
Pick up the leaflet
Ten Steps
towards justice for refugees
and asylum seekers
…for practical suggestions
Image – unsplash.com

37. Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Acknowledgements:
Helen Kearins rsm
Sarah MacRaild
Image – unsplash.com
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council