THE Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) will launch a paper, Confronting the Death Penalty: People, Politics and Principle, in Brisbane on Thursday.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane will launch the paper at St Joseph’s Church, Corinda, where convicted Australian drug smuggler Scott Rush’s parents Lee and Christine Rush are parishioners.
The paper comprises a collection of essays by Dr Michael Costigan, Jesuit Father Peter Norden, Brian Deegan and Professor Andrew Byrnes, who each bring a particular approach to the death penalty.
Corinda-Graceville parish priest Fr Tim Harris said he had been invited by the ACSJC to host the launch due to his connection with parishioners Lee and Christine Rush whose son Scott is on death row in Bali.
Scott Rush was arrested with seven other Australians on April 17, 2005, in Denpasar, Bali, while trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin to Australia.
He has been sentenced to death by firing squad.
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission executive officer Peter Arndt urged Catholics to learn about the Church’s teaching on the death penalty.
Confronting the Death Penalty: People, Politics and Principle is an excellent introduction to these teachings, Mr Arndt said.
“The paper is a collection of essays written by Dr Michael Costigan, who worked for the (Australian Catholic) Bishops’ Justice, Development and Peace Committee; Professor Andrew Byrnes; Fr Peter Norden, former prison chaplain and Brian Deegan, whose son Josh was killed in the Bali bombings,” he said.
The launch of Confronting the Death Penalty: People, Politics and Principle will be held at noon on December 20 followed by a light lunch.
Those wishing to attend need to contact (07) 3336 9351 or emericka@bne.catholic.net.au by December 17.
