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UN reports critical of NT children’s care Overcrowding and the failure to provide adequate and safe housing for children in the Northern Territory is threatening lives, according to two reports presented at the United Nations. The reports looking at Australia’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child have just been released. Colour, culture and freedom of identity I am deeply proud of my Aboriginal friend, who is now a doctor. I have not had the heart to tell her that once she was judged for not being dark enough to be awarded an Indigenous scholarship. While Andrew Bolt argues about freedom of speech, I argue about freedom of identity. Afghanistan war detainees tortured – UNAMA report A United Nations report just released documents the torture and mistreatment of detainees in a number of detention facilities of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Afghan National Police (ANP) across Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, whose report was released on October 10, is committed to helping the Afghan Government and people to attain the highest standards of human rights and its detention observation programme is a crucial aspect of this work. Save the altar girls America magazine has launched a campaign to “Save The Altar Girls.” It seems that the practice has barely been in place for five minutes yet already there is a backlash against it. A number of parishes in the American midwest have decided to discourage girls as altar servers articulating a growing trend in the wider church—in the priesthood, the liturgy and in the role of the people of God. From now on in Ss Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona, only boys may serve; girls may apply for jobs as sacristans. Why? The rector of the cathedral told The Catholic Sun that the cathedral is not alone in making this regulation. A parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, he argues, have found that replacing girls with boys as servers leads to more vocations to the priesthood . Burma announces amnesty for more than 6,000 prisoners President Thein Sein orders release of inmates, but it is not clear how many will be political prisoners. Burma is to release more than 6,000 prisoners – apparently including political detainees – in a potentially important step by the repressive south-east Asian regime in opening up to the outside world. A total of 6,359 prisoners are to be freed today under an amnesty by Thein Sein, the former military officer who now acts as president of a civilian government which took power in March, Burma's state-run media announced. Cambodia: Judges investigating Khmer Rouge crimes should resign The two investigating judges at the hybrid Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), created to try Khmer Rouge mass crimes and to bring justice to the Cambodian people, have egregiously violated their legal and judicial duties and should resign, Human Rights Watch said today. New Zealand fundraiser for Cambodian landmine survivors
Assisi Formation – animators for sustainability A three day intensive formation program has been developed for those who are passionate about and have responsibilities for bringing about ecological sustainability in their organisations. Your next opportunity to participate is scheduled for November 23-25. Healing a broken world – Jesuits respond to environmental and ecological challenges In the time leading up to the General Congregation (GC) 35, there was much excitement about how the supreme governing body of the Society of Jesus would treat the subject of ecology. Anti-trafficking campaigners use London Olympics to raise profile Masud was 12. His parents were persuaded, tricked, to let him be taken from his home in Bangladesh to a new life in England. He was sold - 'Trafficked'. Masud left his family home with an unknown man who travelled with him to London then onto the South West where he was abandoned in an Indian restaurant. In just under a year (September 21, 2012) the Olympics will kick-off in London and, with the support of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, the lobby group, Stop the Traffik, is using the opportunity to raise awareness about such human trafficking through community roadshows. Mental health impact of indefinite detention a concern at Curtin Centre The Australian Human Rights Commission has raised serious concerns about the mental health impacts of indefinite detention on people held at the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre. Releasing a report on a visit to the centre, Commission President Catherine Branson QC said on September 29, 2011, the Commission is worried about high rates of self-harm at the Curtin centre, which now holds the highest number of detainees. East Africa crisis appeal – dollar-for-dollar Double your giving with the Australian Government’s Dollar-for-Dollar initiative. Up until November 30, 2011 the government will dollar match all public donations to the Caritas Australia East Africa appeal. Abbot and Costello meet Catholic social teaching Former federal treasurer Peter Costello has revealed his fears that Tony Abbott's education in the collectivist principles of Catholic Social Teaching will frustrate the Coalition's ambitions for free market reform of workplace laws. |
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With the presentation of two reports on Aboriginal children to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child this week it is timely to recall the words of Pope John Paul II on his 1986 visit to Australia when he praised Aboriginal reverence for the dignity of the human person. Also see Pope John Paul II's address to the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders 
The Second Vatican Council gave an eloquent demonstration of solidarity, respect and affection for the whole human family by engaging in dialogue with it about many problems, ‘bringing the light kindled from the Gospel and putting at the disposal of the human race the saving resources which the Church has received from her Founder under the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is man himself [sic] who must be saved; it is human society which must be renewed’[20].
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