The Archdiocese of Toronto will look after 100 refugee families from Syria and Iraq, reports The Catholic Herald.
The Archdiocese is asking parishioners and 225 churches to help raise A$3.3 million as part of the Project Hope campaign. The aim of the campaign is to bring in 100 refugee families to Canada within the next year.
Canada’s Office for Refugees has resettled 2,519 refugees. Archdiocesan statistics show that in 2015 the Office for Refugees submitted resettlement requests for 72 Syrians.
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, said: “When a family feels their only hope is to flee their homeland to join hundreds on small, drifting boats; sliding a child beneath razor wire or packing into cargo trucks, we should not only be disturbed but also ashamed.”
In Australia, the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP welcomed the government's decision to accept an additional 12,000 refugees as "a good one and the right one". In a statement he also welcomed the announcement there would be additional funding to various groups assisting in the refugee camps.
"The Archbishop also clarified his statement earlier in the week when he said Syrian and Iraqi Christians and other persecuted minorities should be given preference, not only Christians," the statement added.
The Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn, Christopher Prowse, asked Australians to reach out and help those in need. "The current refugee crisis in Europe is a tragedy of great proportions facing us today. Let us join the international community in helping out in any way we can."
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Toronto archdiocese is to look after 100 refugee families from Syria and Iraq
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