The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum is calling for urgent intervention from the federal Government to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all people seeking refuge and asylum in Australia.
CAPSA has made the call ahead of Palm Sunday on April 13, when rallies will be held in across Australia to draw attention to the difficult situation for many refugees and people seeking asylum.
‘‘Policies of past and present federal governments have undermined the rights, safety and wellbeing of people seeking asylum in this country,” said Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which is one of 10 national peak organisations of CAPSA.
“The wellbeing of thousands of people continues to be affected. Seeking refuge for fear of one’s safety is a tragedy, not a crime.
“Legally and morally, Australia has an obligation to welcome asylum seekers, to humanely assess their circumstances and to provide the necessary support.”
CAPSA convenor Julie Edwards, chief executive of Jesuit Social Services, said: “Since Pope Francis was elected in 2013, he has urged host countries to welcome refugees trying to escape difficult situations to find some serenity and peace.
“In this year’s Lenten message on the theme ‘Let us journey together in hope’, the Pope asks us to ‘compare our daily life with that of migrants or foreigners, to learn how to sympathise with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us.’
“This sublime and timely message contrasts with the actions of Australian governments that have a lamentable record when it comes to handling people coming here seeking refuge, particularly those who came by boat,” Bishop Long said.
CAPSA is urging the Government to end the uncertainty for people seeking asylum by providing fair and timely pathways to permanent residence in Australia.
“With a federal election around the corner, we urge both major parties to commit to humane policies that uphold the rights of people seeking asylum,” Ms Edwards said.
Bishop Long said the Palm Sunday rallies “will help focus attention on the lengthy mishandling of this crisis by successive governments, much to the detriment of innocent people from a wide variety of countries”.
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Palm Sunday highlights Australia’s refugee justice crisis (CAPSA)
