RE ATAR UNIT 2: Current Issues for a Religion

Church Response

How does the Catholic Church Respond to the Issue?

The Roman Catholic Church primarily responds to the issue of asylum seeker policy through the authority of the Magisterium.

For example:

Pope Francis slams 'rejection' of asylum seekers in Easter Sunday message
In 2016, Pope Francis spoke out against the 'rejection' of asylum seekers as Europe faced its greatest migration crisis since World War II.
Papal Address for the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

Exsul Familia

The Roman Catholic Church responded to the issue of asylum seeker policy through the promulgation of the papal encyclical Exsul Familia.

"The migrant Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil."

The Holy See. (1952, August 1). Exsul Familia. Retrieved from: http://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius12/p12exsul.htm

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 2015-16

The 2015-16 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference was convened with the social justice statement, "For Those Who've Come Across the Seas: Justice for refugees and asylum seekers." The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council and Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Vincent Long Van Nguyen DD, commented that this statement was formed in order to address the long-standing conflict arising over the arrival of asylum seekers in Australia.

For Those Who've Come Across the Sea: Justice for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
This document, published at the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, provides a detailed outline of the social justice concerns that arise in relation to Australian Asylum Seeker policy.

Significant Church Documents

Gaudium Et Spes, 1965
Gaudium et Spes, penned by Pope Paul VI in 1965, is one of the four Constitutions promulgated by Vatican II. This pastoral constitution addresses the state of the Church in the modern world.
Rerum Novarum, 1891
This Papal Encyclical promulgated by Pope Leo XIII was the first move towards the establishment of the Catholic Social Teachings.
Populorum Progressio, 1967
This encyclical of Pope Paul VI, promulgated in 1967 addresses the development of peoples.
Laudato Si
Laudato si' is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. The encyclical has the subtitle "On care for our common home". In it, the Pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action."

Year: Year 11

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Last Updated: Sep 9, 2019 11:23 AM