Print this page
Tuesday, 26 July 2022 15:14

Refugees and Asylum Seekers [JPIC Issue 04]

jpic refugees 350As of May 2022, there were 112 people seeking asylum who remain in Nauru, and as of December 2021 (when Australia’s arrangement with PNG ended) there were 105 people in PNG as a consequence of Australia’s Border Protection Policy (Refugee Council of Australia, 2022).

The Australian Catholic Bishops stated (2017): When we Australians support policies of cruelty and rejection, we close our ears to Christ’s call and turn him away from our doors. We know that we are better than this. As Christians, we know that it is within us to hear the call of Jesus. As Australians, we’ve shown ourselves willing to take the path of generosity and leadership. We can do so again.

The call of the Bishops echoes the call of Pope Francis for our brothers and sisters, “to be shown the love and tenderness of God.” This call is also echoed in our own General Chapter recommendations of 2011: As Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, “we are working with, advocating for and empowering the poor and all who suffer, particularly women and children through our ministries...among refugees and displaced persons.” (FDNSC Generalate, Rome JPIC Bulletin, Feb 2018)

pdf Download Issue 04 of our JPIC Bulletin (1.02 MB)