The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council’s (ACSJC) Briefing for September is now up on the website. The Briefing covers issues of Catholic Social Teaching in September 2019, highlighting resources, media items and diary events. It can be read here (ACSJC_Monthly Briefing_No 215)
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 | NSW | ACT | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT
News Monitor
Social Justice Diary
FROM THE OFFICE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: What do Facebook, fast cars and footy have to do with social justice?
The relevance to social justice of a particular theme may not be readily apparent. This was the case five years ago when the Bishops’ Social Justice Statement ‘Our Sporting Nation’ studied the link between sport and social justice. This year the Statement looks at the digital world of
the internet and social media. It is titled ‘Making It Real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world’. The rationale is that social media platforms are vehicles for our social and economic interactions that also underpin our public profile and cultural presence. Read more
ISSUES: Whistle-blowing and national security
The ABC 4 Corners report screened last Monday describes how Australian security personnel put listening devices into the walls of the Timorese Prime Minister’s cabinet offices to eavesdrop on the planning sessions concerning a Timor Sea resources Treaty. One of those involved, now known as “Witness K”, complained to his superiors in Australia and was advised to get a
lawyer, and he and his lawyer subsequently faced charges under the Crimes Act and national security legislation. Josephite Justice Network has expressing particular concern about the case. Read more
PUBLICATIONS: Social Justice Statement ready for order
We are encouraging people to order the annual Social Justice Statement online. The ACSJC is now taking orders for this year’s Statement, ‘Making It Real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world’. The ACSJC website is making resources available for download free of charge ahead of Social Justice Sunday. These include Social Justice Sunday Liturgy Notes, a PowerPoint presentation and community and education resources. Read more
EVENTS: Catholic Season of Creation running all Sundays during September
The resource produced for the Season explores the Sunday scripture readings to help us find the voice of the earth as the voice of the Holy Spirit. Our common Sunday worship is an easy place to start seeing the natural world in God’s plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ by linking the insights of ecology with Scripture. Liturgical resources suitable for Parish Liturgy Groups, Religious Congregations, School RECs and individual groups are available online. Read more
NATIONAL | NSW | ACT | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT
NEWS: Edmund Rice Centre urges Australia to heed Pacific calls to stop coal mining
Coral atolls such as Tuvalu will become uninhabitable within 30 years, said Edmund Rice Centre director Phil Glendenning. He was speaking ahead of August’s 50th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu. ‘Australia cannot claim to be a friend of the Pacific without addressing its own contribution to the issue of climate change, which is threatening to rob Pacific Islanders of their very homes, culture and traditions,’ he said. ‘The Pacific leaders’ recent Nadi declaration makes it very clear: Australia must abandon plans to use carry-over credits to meet Paris climate targets and urgently stop coal-mining.’ Read more
DIARY: Thu 26 Sep – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
‘[Nuclear weapons] exist in the service of a mentality of fear that affects not only the parties in conflict but the entire human race,’ said Pope Francis in an address to the International Symposium on Nuclear Disarmament at the Vatican in 2017. The UN General Assembly commemorates the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on this day. It provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the public – and their leaders – about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. Read more
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.
