Reflections on Port Moresby: Reflections on humanity & resilience & a Call to Action
About this Event
Hosted by the Justice and Peace Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. Please arrive at 5.30pm for a 6pm start. Event is FREE. Please register as places are limited:
Panelists:
* The Most Reverend Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long Van Nguyen (Order of Friars Minor Conventual)
* Behrouz Boochani (Associate Professor at UNSW, author, journalist, human rights leader and advocate). Virtual attendance.
* Father Peter Smith (Justice and Peace Promoter for The Justice and Peace Office Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney)
* Carolina Gottardo (Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Director and Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) Co-Convener)
About the event:
In early November 2019, a delegation of *Catholic leaders visited Port Moresby. The purpose of the delegation was to witness the situation of the refugees and asylum seekers that were on Manus Island to communicate and demonstrate solidarity with them, and to promise to act with them as fellow human beings deserving dignity and respect.
This public forum will allow members of the delegation to share what they witnessed in Port Moresby and to reflect on the humanity and resilience of the refugees and asylum seekers still in Port Moresby and to come up with a call for action that stands in line with Catholic principles concerning humanity and solidarity.
Our Pope Francis tells us that this is not just about refugees and migrants, “it is about our humanity.” Australia has repeatedly been condemned by the international community for its cruel treatment of people who seek protection. Some of the men that were in Manus are currently in a prison complex named “Bomana” where conditions have been likened to “torture.”
Come along to learn more about what we can all do to ensure that Australia exits one of the darkest chapters of our history including what the Australian Catholic response should be. We welcome and embrace all people from all faiths and beliefs to this public forum.
*The Catholic delegation included the Most Reverend Bishop of Parramatta, Vincent Long Van Nguyen (Order of Friars Minor Conventual), Fr Peter Smith (Justice and Peace Promoter for The Justice and Peace Office Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney), Carolina Gottardo (Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Director and Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) Co-Convener), Fr Gerry Heffernan (Parish Priest of St Joseph and St Anthony Parish), Fr Tom McDonough CP (Executive Member of Catholic Religious Australia), Sr Mary-Clare Holland OP (Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands) and Joshua Lourensz (CAPSA Coordinator).
Event is FREE. Please register as places are limited.