CAPSA offers to lead coordinated approach to men, women and children seeking asylum
13 October 2016
The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) has offered to lead a coordinated approach of Catholic community organisations to provide support to men, women and children seeking asylum if the Australian Government shows leadership to #BringThemHere.
“CAPSA believes that offshore detention centres in Manus Island and Nauru are cruel and inhumane. We join the calls of millions of Australians that these centres should be immediately closed down and the men, women and children currently in limbo be brought to Australia where their claims for asylum must be processed in a timely manner.
“CAPSA’s advisory group brings together a number of Catholic peak bodies and educational, health and welfare organisations. CASPA is ready and willing to coordinate a response to ensure these vulnerable people receive and support and protection they deserve.”
Ms Edwards welcomes Archbishop Denis Hart’s leadership in publicly calling for the people in detention on Nauru and Manus Island to be brought to Australia.
“Pope Francis has showed courage and in leadership in promoting compassion for people seeking asylum towards the Catholic community across the globe, and we are heartened by Archbishop Hart joining the calls to bring the people in detention on Nauru and Manus Island to Australia,” says Julie Edwards, Chair of CAPSA.
“The Australian Bishops’ annual Social Justice Statement last year called on Australians to reconsider our national response towards people seeking asylum. Right across the world, Catholic communities are uniting to show our leaders that we want more humane approaches towards people fleeing trauma and persecution in search of protection.”
CAPSA was formed in response to intense concern about the conditions for people seeking asylum in Australia, in line with the core Gospel-teachings and words of Pope Francis and the Catholic Bishops.
The Alliance is guided by a number of principles and policy positions including that offshore, mandatory and indefinite detention are wrong; that people seeking asylum in Australia should live in the Australian community and that those living in the community should have the right to work, access to basic services and to some financial support if they cannot find work.