Australian Catholics speak out on mandatory asylum detentions
-24/06/06
The Australian
Australian Catholics speak out on mandatory asylum detentions
-24/06/06
The Australian Roman Catholic office concerned with migrants and refugees has denounced the federal government’s latest proposed asylum law changes ìcomplicated and sillyî, reports CathNews and The Catholic Leader.
The comment comes as civic and religious leaders across the world are expressing concern that the climate of fear in developed countries around immigration-related issues is leading to unfair treatment of vulnerable people.
Speaking at a World Refugee Day meeting this week, Australian Catholic and Migrant Refugee Office director Fr John Murphy reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to the policy of mandatory detention.
Amendments have been put forward to the law which would mean ëboatpeopleí (those arriving in the country unregistered) would be processed in offshore detention centres.
These were listed for debate in the House of Representatives on 20 June 2006, but were delayed as the Government continued talks with a group of dissident backbench parliamentarians who oppose the changes.
Fr Murphy said that a letter from the Australian Catholic bishops to Prime Minister John Howard in May 2006 had urged the government to reconsider proposed offshore processing.
Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive was the theme of World Refugee Day 2006. The United Nations declared, ì[On this day] we ask you to remember the millions of refugees under our care who are trying to pick up the pieces of once-peaceful lives. As different as they are from each other, one thing connects them all: hope for a better future and a chance to restore lasting peace to their lives.î
The latest UNHCR statistics indicate that of the 20.8 million displaced people of concern worldwide: 8.4 million are refugees who have fled their countries due to civil wars and ethnic, tribal and religious violence and who cannot return home; 6.6 million are internally displaced persons – people forced to flee their homes, but who have not crossed a border; 2.4 million are stateless people; 1.6 million are returnees; 773,000 are asylum seekers; 960,000 are others of concern.
The main challenge is felt in the developing world, but rich countries complain most about the ëburdení of migrants ñ even though their economic contribution is often substantial.
World population is due to reach 9.1 billion mid-century, say analysts. The global migration situation presents a huge issue for nation states, but the overall context is that the vast majority of people do not move unless forced to.
[Also on Ekklesia: French resistance to unjust asylum laws; Faith groups back alternatives to detention of migrants; Bishop attacks xenophobic bidding war over asylum and immigration; Catholic church publishes asylum seekers guide; Catholics to celebrate migrant workers; Cardinal suggests UK amnesty for illegal immigrants; UN and faith groups highlight harsh treatment of refugees; BNP exploit racist fears and ‘Christian country’ claims; Churches and mosques impacted by French uprisings; Archbishop questions sanctuary of asylum seekers at cathedral; Asylum victims attacked, destitute and vilified say reports; Theologian will attack asylum debate assumptions; Advent call to support UK asylum seekers; Are immigration controls moral? (an Ekklesia viewpoint); Churches join US rallies to support justice for migrants; Churches challenge Canada-US refugee agreement; European and US churches offer fresh support to immigrants]
Australian Catholics speak out on mandatory asylum detentions
-24/06/06
The Australian Roman Catholic office concerned with migrants and refugees has denounced the federal government’s latest proposed asylum law changes ìcomplicated and sillyî, reports CathNews and The Catholic Leader.
The comment comes as civic and religious leaders across the world are expressing concern that the climate of fear in developed countries around immigration-related issues is leading to unfair treatment of vulnerable people.
Speaking at a World Refugee Day meeting this week, Australian Catholic and Migrant Refugee Office director Fr John Murphy reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to the policy of mandatory detention.
Amendments have been put forward to the law which would mean ëboatpeopleí (those arriving in the country unregistered) would be processed in offshore detention centres.
These were listed for debate in the House of Representatives on 20 June 2006, but were delayed as the Government continued talks with a group of dissident backbench parliamentarians who oppose the changes.
Fr Murphy said that a letter from the Australian Catholic bishops to Prime Minister John Howard in May 2006 had urged the government to reconsider proposed offshore processing.
Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive was the theme of World Refugee Day 2006. The United Nations declared, ì[On this day] we ask you to remember the millions of refugees under our care who are trying to pick up the pieces of once-peaceful lives. As different as they are from each other, one thing connects them all: hope for a better future and a chance to restore lasting peace to their lives.î
The latest UNHCR statistics indicate that of the 20.8 million displaced people of concern worldwide: 8.4 million are refugees who have fled their countries due to civil wars and ethnic, tribal and religious violence and who cannot return home; 6.6 million are internally displaced persons – people forced to flee their homes, but who have not crossed a border; 2.4 million are stateless people; 1.6 million are returnees; 773,000 are asylum seekers; 960,000 are others of concern.
The main challenge is felt in the developing world, but rich countries complain most about the ëburdení of migrants ñ even though their economic contribution is often substantial.
World population is due to reach 9.1 billion mid-century, say analysts. The global migration situation presents a huge issue for nation states, but the overall context is that the vast majority of people do not move unless forced to.
[Also on Ekklesia: French resistance to unjust asylum laws; Faith groups back alternatives to detention of migrants; Bishop attacks xenophobic bidding war over asylum and immigration; Catholic church publishes asylum seekers guide; Catholics to celebrate migrant workers; Cardinal suggests UK amnesty for illegal immigrants; UN and faith groups highlight harsh treatment of refugees; BNP exploit racist fears and ‘Christian country’ claims; Churches and mosques impacted by French uprisings; Archbishop questions sanctuary of asylum seekers at cathedral; Asylum victims attacked, destitute and vilified say reports; Theologian will attack asylum debate assumptions; Advent call to support UK asylum seekers; Are immigration controls moral? (an Ekklesia viewpoint); Churches join US rallies to support justice for migrants; Churches challenge Canada-US refugee agreement; European and US churches offer fresh support to immigrants]