AT the same time as Church representatives are signing an open letter calling for a change of direction in Australia’s asylum-seeker policy (Page 3), we have a Vatican official speaking out on the issue at the United Nations (Page 6).
Surely, with such statements and the High Court’s recent rejection of the Federal Government’s “Malaysian option” for the processing of asylum seekers, the opinion polls that have driven our politicians in the wrong direction will be turning around.
While the politicians maintain their harsh attitude towards asylum seekers, the Church can be expected to continue to influence public opinion to force a change of heart.
PETER BUGDEN
Editor
