WHILE Australia, according to the census, has a majority of its population describing themselves as Christians, it seems that there has been little notice taken of the statement of concern about refugee policies, issued last month by the national leaders of all major Christian churches.
They expressed “grave concern at the passing of legislation to allow for the offshore processing and indefinite detention of asylum seekers … we are deeply troubled by the potential for asylum seekers to suffer adverse mental health consequences and to experience other detrimental impacts as a result of this legislation”.
“We are concerned that this damages our credibility and, in particular, our ability to negotiate a humane regional system of protection … Core to the Christian faith is the principle of ‘welcoming the stranger (as seen in) Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan …,” they said.
“As Christians, we are called to cross the road to help, to not turn away those in need.”
Also, we are sending some people back to danger of torture and death, as seen in the case of a Tamil asylum seeker “Anja”, whom the Government has ordered to be returned to Sri Lanka.
Legal action has fortunately managed to at least delay this until January.
In recent months the British High Court has intervened to stop the deportation of Tamil asylum seekers from Britain to Sri Lanka because of the threat of torture they face.
Those appalled at the current refugee policies of both the Labor Government and the Coalition Opposition may feel unable to change this shameful situation but we can at least ensure this is not being done “in our name” by speaking out about it, and notifying our parliamentary representatives of our views, since, as we know, silence gives consent.
The matter is complex but we could surely learn from the more just and compassionate policies of the Fraser Government (accepted by the Labor Opposition of that time), in regard to the Vietnamese “boat people” of an earlier era.
FR RON PERRETT
Gunnedah, NSW
