2014-05-22 11:08:00

Oceania bishops call on Australia to review migrant policy


(Vatican Radio) The  Assembly of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania met in New Zealand last week to discuss “Evangelisation in the spirit of Pope Francis,” and held formal and informal discussions on the Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. 

The meeting, held every four years, was also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, the Archbishop Martin Krebs.

On the agenda for both formal in formal discussions were some of the challenges faced by today's secular society and loss of Catholic identity in public life. The relationship between faith and secularism was explored as were pastoral themes and innovative and effective ways of helping students to pray and to practice their faith.

The issue of Australia's immigration policy and detention centers both on shore and off shore were also discussed, and a motion unanimously passed by all bishops at the Assembly.

"The Catholic bishops of Oceania from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Pacific Island nations gathered in Wellington for their Federation meeting have shared their experiences of listening to the stories of those people who have attempted to enter Australia by boat," the motion began.

"We express our solidarity with our fellow bishops, priests and pastoral workers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea who are attempting to respond compassionately to the presence and plight of asylum seekers transferred to these nations.

"We appeal to the leaders of Papua New Guinea and Australia to ensure that the 'Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea is reviewed as provided for in Clause  of the Arrangement, with a view to developing a more humane approach to asylum seekers attempting to reach Australian shores." (source: Catholic Communications Office, Archdiocese of Sydney)








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