THE Catholic Church last week stood by its criticism of the Australian Government despite an agreement by New Zealand and Nauru to process 430 asylum seekers who were rescued off Christmas Island.
Church organisations have led the fight for ‘a fair go’ for the asylum seekers who were taken aboard the Norwegian freighter, ‘Tampa’ on August 26 after a distress call.
The Australian Government refused the freighter permission to dock on Australian territory.
On August 31 the Australian bishops called on the Government to rethink its response.
Bishops’ conference president Archbishop Francis Carroll of Canberra and Goulburn re-emphasised the Church’s position that Australia should not be treating people seeking asylum in this manner.
‘Australia has ratified the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees,’ he said. ‘This obliges us not to turn our backs on those seeking asylum.’
