Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church in Australia has welcomed Prime Minister John Howard’s announcement made on World Day for Refugees (June 20th ) that asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Australia will be given better treatment in the future. Many times the local Church denounced the poor treatment reserved for immigrants to Australia calling for measures which show more respect for the dignity of every person and for the right to be accepted.
Bishop Joseph Grech, head of the Bishops’ Conference Commission for Migrants and Refugees welcomed the Premier’s announcement in particular the fact that families will be accommodated in special homes rather than places of detention similar to prisons.
The Bishop endorsed the Church’s call for more compassion and transparency in treatment of immigrants and respect for the international standards on human rights, recalling that refugees are escaping from precarious living conditions, war and poverty hoping for a better life in Australia.
The Australian Bishops’ Conference had called for a revision of the government’s immigration policy insisting that every refugee should be accepted and respected as a human person.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2005 righe 223 parole 221)
