Australian Catholic Social Justice Council_March Briefing

The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council’s (ACSJC) Briefing for March is now up on the website. The Briefing covers issues of Catholic social teaching in March 2019, highlighting resources, media items and diary events. It can be read here (ACSJC_Monthly Briefing_No 209)

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.

In This Issue:

From the Secretariat

Current Issues/Resources

ACSJC Publications

News Monitor

Social Justice DiaryNational | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC

Social Justice Events (WA)

From the Secretariat:

Ash Wednesday launch of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal

Project Compassion, one of Australia’s largest humanitarian fundraising and awareness raising campaigns, will run through the six weeks of Lent. It brings together communities across the country in solidarity with the world’s poor with the aim of eradicating poverty and building communities of hope. In welcoming the Project Compassion appeal for 2019, Bishop Greg O’Kelly, former Chairman of Caritas, has emphasised the theme of ‘giving Lent 100% in the name of hope’. He said: ‘Hope is one of the three pillars of Christian virtue. The other two being faith and charity. It is a powerful force for good and often helps to transform lives. … read more From the Secretariat

John Ferguson
National Executive Officer

Current Issues/Resources:

Pope commends healing power of repentance and forgiveness through fasting

In his Lenten message, Pope Francis draws on St Paul’s Letter to the Romans, saying the ‘mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation’. He says that the ‘rupture of communion with God’ undermines our relationship with others and with creation itself; ‘the environment in which we are called to live, so that the garden has become a wilderness’. … see more Current Issues/Resources

ACSJC Publications:

It’s not too late to order the 2019 Social Justice Diary

The 2019 Social Justice Diary includes the dates of significant events, anniversaries and special days which celebrate particular aspects of social justice. The Diary provides a social justice program for the full year. Information and ideas for prayer and reflection are included. It is an essential resource for teachers and parishes. … see more Publications

Social Justice Events:

5 March – Forum on increasing resistance to Church & social justice movements in the Philippines

Sr Pat Fox began by working with street kids and women in housing commission flats. Ultimately her support for people struggling for human rights and social justice antagonised powerful figures in the Philippines, and she was forced by President Duterte to leave in November 2018. 7.30 to 9.00 pm, Yarra Theological Union Study Centre, Box Hill, Melbourne. … Read more

All events:

National | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

This includes information about social justice events by various organisations around Australia. Event details may have changed since being posted – please confirm with the organiser.

News Monitor:

LGBTI community adds its voice

About 80 people from the LGBTI community, including some prominent campaigners in the same-sex marriage debate, took part in a Plenary Council session run by the Melbourne Archdiocese. In an unprecedented move that has divided some within the Church, the Archdiocese this month invited gay Catholics to a 2 1/2 hour meeting that formed part of consultations for what will next year be the most significant conference Australian Catholic bishops have held in 80 years: the Plenary Council 2020. Archdiocesan communications director Shane Healy told The Age: ‘It was a really positive experience for all who attended.’ … see more News items

Social Justice Diary:

5 Mar 1970 – International Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States. It is regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. … see more Diary items