The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce

Tuesday June 28

Honouring my curacy pledge six years on because everyone has a right to live in peace and freedom

“The enduring memory I have of the sanctuary training is the sense of unity felt by people of all ages who came together, raising their voices for refugees whose voices were being ignored. The people who participated were from different faith and no faith backgrounds. I remember one young person saying to me, as we sat on the steps of the Cathedral, ‘If church was like this, I would be a part of it!’” says The Rev’d Sue Grimmett from St Andrew’s, Indooroopilly

Set them free

“The immigration detention of tennis world number one Novak Djokovic leading up to the recent Australian Open brought the international spotlight onto the plight of people who have been detained for much, much longer than him,” says the Justice Unit’s Peter Branjerdporn

Over 100 men are being detained in Brisbane's Kangaroo Point Central Hotel – the majority of these men came to Brisbane under medevac laws and have been detained there since last year following almost seven years in offshore detention on Manus and Nauru

Churches taskforce seeks assurances to reduce detention centre health risks

In an urgent letter to Government health authorities the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce has sought urgent assurances that the people at detention centres in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney have safe accommodation during the continuing pandemic, as social distancing is not possible in the common areas

Remembering the forgotten in the COVID-19 environment

“The safety and wellbeing of our communities can only be protected if we collectively do everything we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all, and this includes for refugees and people seeking asylum,” says the ACSQ Justice Unit’s Peter Branjerdporn, who is also a pharmacist, father and Brisbane detention centre visitor

Lifesaving Medevac repealed

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce and the National Council of Churches in Australia have released a joint media statement in response to the recent decision to repeal lifesaving Medevac legislation, with former Socceroo and human rights advocate Craig Foster calling on us to sign the ‘Game Over: get people to safety’ petition

Holy Innocents Day remains very relevant

“Holy Innocents Day serves as a reminder of the fragility of our peace and way of life in an age when events can change very quickly, often leading to the violent dislocation of people from their communities and cultures,” says The Rev’d Canon Richard Tutin

Churches call on the Senate to protect 'Medevac' legislation

Australian church leaders have called on the Senate to keep the current ‘Medevac’ legislation in place

News
Ecumenical prayer vigil, bell ringing and children’s choir recording for kids on Nauru

Michelle McDonald Thursday 15 November 2018