Australia & Immigration
Andrew Hamilton comments on the recent changes in the government and opposition’s immigration policies.  
In ‘Abbott’s Immigration Paranoia,’ Kerry Murphy responds to the federal opposition leader’s call for 'real action to stop illegal immigration’.  

The Edmund Rice Centre responds to these policies and the treatment of Sri Lankan asylum seekers on repatriation.  

In America
Thomas Berg draws the principles of Catholic Social Teaching into the immigration debate.  
The Jesuits in California reflect on the anti-migrant law that was recently passed in the state of Arizona.  

Solidarity in South Africa: World Cup 2010
The Convention on Cluster Munitions will come into effect on August 7th. JRS Cambodia has called on the international community to encourage footballers participating in the 2010 World Cup to speak out publicly in favour of the convention.  

World Environment Day
To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5th, 2010 choose from a number of events throughout Australia listed under the United Nations Environment Programme ‘Activities Around the World’.  

Simply Sharing Week
From June 6-12 Simply Sharing Week explores the journey that many refugees are forced to take, and reminds us that refugees and asylum seekers are unique individuals — with their own experiences, strengths and identities.  

‘Freedom from Fear’ Refugee Week 2010
In 2010, Refugee Week will be celebrated from Sunday, June 20 to Saturday, June 26, to coincide with World Refugee Day. For more information.  

more events ...  

World Environment Day
The Columban Mission Society offers material on the scientific, social and religious imperative to protect the environment by Sean McDonagh.  

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sunday
Start planning now for 4 July and keep an eye on the NATSICC website for liturgy materials.  

Asylum Seekers are much in the news now. And later this month we celebrate World Refugee Day.

These events may seem distant from the Church’s liturgical year. We are returning to ordinary time, after a cycle of important feasts which call us to reflect on God’s abiding love for us. 

Madeleine Marson
Acting Editor

‘We can say that we are facing a social phenomenon of epoch-making proportions that requires bold, forward-looking policies of international cooperation if it is to be handled effectively. Such policies should set out from close collaboration between the migrants' countries of origin and their countries of destination; it should be accompanied by adequate international norms able to coordinate different legislative systems with a view to safeguarding the needs and rights of individual migrants and their families, and at the same time, those of the host countries. No country can be expected to address today's problems of migration by itself. We are all witnesses of the burden of suffering, the dislocation and the aspirations that accompany the flow of migrants.’

Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI

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