The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council’s (ACSJC) Briefing for June is now up on the website. The Briefing covers issues of Catholic Social Teaching in June 2019, highlighting resources, media items and diary events. It can be read here (ACSJC_Monthly Briefing_No 212)
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 Office for Social Justice
Current Issues/Resources
ACSJC Publications
Social Justice Events:
National | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA
News Monitor
Social Justice Diary
FROM THE OFFICE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: ‘Humanising our digital world’ announced as theme for Social Justice Statement
The Office for Social Justice and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council are preparing for the launch in September of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement for 2019-2020. This year’s Statement is titled Making it Real – Genuine human encounter in our digital world. It affirms the positive possibilities for encounter and solidarity offered by new digital media, while warning of those elements of our digital world that may be harmful. Read more
ISSUES: ACRATH appeals for funds to continue fight against human trafficking
Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) has launched its national fund-raising appeal in a bid to raise $400,000 to continue its work fighting human trafficking and modern slavery. ACRATH now relies entirely on donations after last year losing its $125,000 a year grant from the Federal Government. Executive Officer Christine Carolan said: ‘We have worked closely with the community and government, health, education and civic leaders to bring about systemic change and prevent human trafficking and slavery.’ Read more
PUBLICATIONS: Jesuit theologian shares own experience of disability in new ACSJC Series Paper:
Justin Glyn SJ relates his experience of physical impairment in a new publication from the ACSJC. He explains how it is the interaction of impairment with the social and physical environment that produces disability. He reminds us that, rather than denying our limitations and impairment, we can see them as features of humanity through which the power of God can shine. He also observes that impairment highlights the fact that we are made for communion with God and each other. The underlying message is that we all have limitations and there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’. Read more
EVENTS: Plastic Free July challenges us to refuse single use plastic bags:
The Plastic Free Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that works on solutions with communities around the world. Its vision is a world without plastic waste, and its mission is to build a global movement that dramatically reduces plastic use and improves recycling, worldwide. More than six out of ten people are already refusing plastic shopping bags, avoiding pre-packed fruit and veg, picking up other people’s litter and avoiding buying bottled water. Read more
NATIONAL | NSW | ACT | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT
NEWS: Call to open Church properties to homeless:
Catholic parishes should make halls and other buildings available to people who are sleeping rough, a homelessness forum has suggested. The call to open up church properties is one of a series of proposals put to the forum, organised by Catholic Social Services Victoria, held in Melbourne in June. The suggested strategy started with personal action and covered initiatives that parishes, schools, the archdiocese and governments should set in place. Read more
DIARY: 6 July 1839 – Massacre of Aboriginal people at Chimney Pots in Victorian Grampians region:
In reprisal for killing sheep, colonists used firearms to kill an estimated 60 indigenous people on this day. One of the perpetrators describes the incident in an account in a local newspaper: ‘The devils had stolen about 100 sheep and driven them away to the ranges. … We all mounted horses and armed with rifles set off in hot pursuit’. Read more
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AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL PO Box 7246, Alexandria NSW 2015. Tel: (02) 8306 3499, Fax: (02) 8306 3498, Email: admin@acsjc.org.au Website: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au. ACSJC Briefing is sent by email at the beginning of each month (except January). To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email to admin@acsjc.org.au.
