Indigenous Catholic priest in West Papua issued a statement calling for a United Nations mission.
Catholic Priest in West Papua Appeal
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Tag Archives: Church
World Refugee Week 2010
World Refugee Week 2010 k theme was Freedom from Fear. The Refugee Council of Australia produced a series of resources for the Week including a poster, facts and figures about refugees, an event planning guide and teacher materials.
Fr Pan Jordan op and Sr Wendy Flannery rsm at World Refugee Rally , Brisbane June 20 2010
Among the more than 200 people who gathered in Reddacliff Square, Brisbane on World Refugee Day, June 20, were representatives from parishes, religious communities and the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.
Fr Pan Jordan OP was one of the speakers and spoke of the plight of Tamil refugees.Fr Jordan quoted the report from the International Crisis Group which has gathered evidence of the ongoing human rights abuses among Tamils. He also called on the Federal Government to lift the suspension of processing of refugee claims by people from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
In a recent statement the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission noted that many significant international organisations and some major Sri Lankan bodies such as the Superiors of Major Religious Congregations have expressed serious concerns about the Sri Lankan Government’s lack of commitment to the rule of law, democracy, proper governance, human rights and freedom of the media.They also have doubts about the Sri Lankan Government’s commitment to political reconciliation which will see minorities such as the Tamils freed from discrimination and oppression.
Death Penalty Vigil for Good Friday
Media Release Monday 22 March 2010
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission will once again hold a Good Friday vigil to pray for those on death row in Indonesia and around the world, for their families and for the victims of violence and crime.
As in previous years, the prayer vigil will take place at noon at Christ the King Catholic Church, Churchill Street, Graceville in the home parish of Lee and Chris Rush, the parents of Scott Rush who is one of the “Bali Nine” remaining on death row in Indonesia.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the vigil comes at an important time as Scott Rush’s final appeal may soon be heard.
“We remain committed to this vigil as an important witness to the Gospel of life,” Mr Arndt said.
“The Gospel tells us that all human beings are created in the image of God and, therefore, have a dignity which no-one can take away,” he said.
“That is why the Church is opposed to capital punishment and why we stand in solidarity with those on death row on Good Friday,” he said.
“We are, of course, especially concerned to show support to Scott Rush and his family, but our prayers are for everyone on death row whatever their nationality or crime,” he said.
“It is our hope that our prayers will be accompanied by action aimed at ending capital punishment everywhere,” he said.
“It is encouraging that the Federal Government has introduced legislation into the Parliament to prohibit the reintroduction of the death penalty in any jurisdiction in Australia,” he said.
“There is, however, much more work to do to convince those nations who still use the death penalty to stop the practice,” he said.
“We hope that Catholics will continue to pray for all those on death row and also try to encourage our politicians to bring about an end to capital punishment everywhere,” he said.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Mandate which enables it to speak in its own right when required. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
Commission Calls for Action on Indigenous Rights
10 December 2008
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has called for both the Federal and Queensland Governments to take action on the rights of Indigenous Australians.
In particular, it has called on the Federal Government to become a signatory to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and for the Queensland Government to act on the concerns of Indigenous people about the use of money from its “Stolen Wages” reparations Scheme and the Aboriginal Welfare Fund.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was of the highest priority to the Commission.
“On International Human Rights Day, the Commission wants to express its solidarity with Indigenous people who are still waiting for justice,” Mr Arndt said.
“After speaking with our Indigenous advisors, we urge the Federal Government to act quickly to become a signatory to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” he said.
“The Prime Minister promised to do this at last year’s election, but the Government has not done so yet,” he said.
“The Government was given an opportunity to show its support for the Declaration in the Senate in September, but did not do so,” he said.
“Our Indigenous advisors have also told us that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are very upset with the Queensland Government’s unwillingness to listen to them on the Stolen Wages issue,” he said.
“The great majority of Indigenous people consulted by the Government wanted it to use unclaimed funds in its reparations scheme to pay more money to Indigenous workers who had wages taken away from them and never given back,” he said.
“They do not want any of the money from the reparations scheme or the Aboriginal Welfare Fund being used to establish an education fund, but the Government has ignored them,” he said.
“Aboriginal workers have a right to be paid their wages in full,” he said.
“Every Indigenous child also has a right to get a decent education funded by the Government and not just a select few who get a scholarship funded out of Indigenous workers’ wages,” he said.
“The Government should not be taking money from funds put aside to pay Indigenous people what they are owed in wages and using it for other purposes,” he said.
“There is a lot of anger and hurt within Indigenous communities over this issue and the Government must listen,” he said.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The Church and Justice
CJPC Logo
The Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has produced a new resource to promote the principles of Catholic Social Teachings. You can download the card (a pdf file) The Church and Justice Resource
This new resource also features the new logo foe the Commission: The logo image features the Wompoo Fruit Dove, the largest of the Tropical North Queensland fruit-doves.
For more than a century, drawing on scripture and its rich tradition, the Church has developed a significant body of teaching on social concerns. Catholic Social Teaching emphasises that promoting social justice in our world is an essential element of witnessing to the Gospel and hence the responsibility of all Christians.
‘Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.’
Justice in the World
World Synod of Catholic Bishops, 1971
2008 Social Justice Sunday Statement
Social Justice Statement 2008
A Rich Young Nation: The Challenge of Affluence and Poverty in Australia
This year’s statement reflects on the Gospel story of the rich young man who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. The man was shocked when Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow him. He went away, unable to let go of his possessions and see and act in a different way (Mark 10: 17 -22).
The rich man had kept the Law, but he could not step out of his comfort zone and see the plight of the poor and care for them.
Like the rich man, we in Australia are challenged by the Word of God to use its wealth for the good of all, especially for those who have missed out on economic prosperity
Read more about the statement here.
Resources for the 208 Statement
- About
- Greening Resources
- Powerpoint Resource
- Resources Information (pdf file)
- Sample Editorial
- Text and Image (OHT)
Brisbane Group Calls for Zimbabwe Support
Brisbane Group Calls for Zimbabwe Support
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has helped to form a group which aims to rally support for the human rights of the people of Zimbabwe.
Australians Supporting Zimbabwe will hold a public Walk for Peace in Zimbabwe this weekend to draw attention to the plight of Zimbabweans in the period leading up to the Presidential run-off election on 28 June.
Images of the Walk may be viewed here.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that many Australians are not aware of how much violence and intimidation is being used by forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe to stop people from voting for his opponent, Movement for Democratic Change Leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
“Zimbabwe is in a state of almost total economic and social collapse and the people are suffering immensely,” Mr Arndt said.
“Many people are without jobs, homes or sufficient food and their lives are very desperate,” he said.
“We know that groups of war veterans and young men have been sent out to various parts of the country to unleash horrible violence and destruction on those who might support Mr Tsvangirai,” he said.
“Not even Members of Parliament are safe from this violence and intimidation,” he said.
The father of one of our local Brisbane group’s members, Ian Kay, has been arrested and is in leg irons and other influential MPs are being hunted down too,” he said.
“It is a truly horrifying and appalling situation in which there is no respect for human rights, democracy or justice,” he said.
The Walk for Peace in Zimbabwe will be held this Sunday 8 June from 10.00 a.m. It will commence at the Nepalese Peace Pagoda in the Cultural Forecourt of Southbank and will proceed to Davies Park, West End, where there will be speakers, African food and music.
Those who want to enjoy the African food and music are being asked to donate money towards an appeal which will provide emergency assistance to those caught up in the current violence and to public campaigns promoting democracy and justice in Zimbabwe.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
Walk for Peace Rally pdf Flyer
NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Zimbabwean Dissidents Unite in Prayer for Peace
New Flickr group — Zimbabwe: Peace, Justice, Freedom and Democracy
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane 