{"id":31544,"date":"2016-02-04T13:27:55","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T02:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=31544"},"modified":"2019-04-13T23:54:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T13:54:18","slug":"anglican-church-offers-refugees-sanctuary-from-peterdutton_mps-black-shirts-jansant-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/anglican-church-offers-refugees-sanctuary-from-peterdutton_mps-black-shirts-jansant-reports\/","title":{"rendered":"Anglican church offers #refugees sanctuary from @PeterDutton_MP’s “black shirts”: @jansant reports"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has continued former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s harsh refugee policies. Photo: Wayne Jansson<\/p><\/div>\n

Churches have stepped up their campaign to end Australia’s harmful refugee policies by offering sanctuary to 267 people including 37 babies, facing imminent removal to Nauru.<\/p>\n

Refugee advocates had hoped for a change in the harsh and punitive government policies under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm<\/a>), this has not eventuated.<\/p>\n

The move will draw international attention to Australia’s inhumane refugee policies as news spreads through religious communities around the globe.<\/p>\n

In a prepared statement (full text below), The Anglican Dean of Brisbane and Chair of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce said:<\/p>\n

This is a hugely significant action for any Australian church to take.\u00a0 Historically churches have afforded sanctuary to those seeking refuge from brutal and oppressive forces.<\/p>\n

We offer\u00a0 this\u00a0 refuge because\u00a0 there\u00a0 is\u00a0 irrefutable evidence\u00a0 from health and\u00a0 legal\u00a0 experts\u00a0 that\u00a0 the\u00a0 circumstances asylum seekers, especially children, would face if sent back to Nauru are tantamount to state-sanctioned abuse.<\/p>\n

This fundamentally goes against our faith, so our church community is compelled to act, despite the possibility of individual penalty against us.<\/p>\n

The ancient principle of sanctuary goes back to The Old Testament, and was enshrined in English Common Law.\u00a0 Where a state is causing grievous harm, churches can provide sanctuary and immunity from arrest by authorities.\u00a0 The legality of Sanctuary has never been tested under Australian law, nevertheless we are determined to apply its moral precepts and protect the most vulnerable from certain harm.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fr Rod Bower (@FrBower<\/a>), Archdeacon of the Central Coast, Anglican Priest, who’s joined other churches and cathedrals around the country offering sanctuary to asylum seekers, posted on FaceBook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We join with many churches throughout Australia and the Australian Refugees Task-force in offering Gosford Anglican Church as a place of sanctuary for Asylum Seekers fleeing persecution by the Australian Government.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ancient principle of sanctuary goes back to The Old Testament, and was enshrined in English Common Law. Where a state is causing grievous harm, churches can provide sanctuary and immunity from arrest by authorities. The legality of Sanctuary has never been tested under Australian law, nevertheless we are determined to apply its moral precepts and protect the most vulnerable from certain harm.\u201d Said Dr Peter Catt, Anglican Dean of Brisbane.<\/p>\n

It is a cause of deep distress and shame that the Australian Government are persecuting vulnerable people for political gain. Given Godwin’s Rule of Nazi analogies I have always been cautious about drawing parallels between 1930’s Germany and modern Australia, but I now believe that it would be irresponsible to deny certain similarities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"blackshirts\"<\/p>\n

Disclosure: Fr Bower is an occasional contributor to No Fibs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Misha Coleman, Executive Officer\u00a0 for\u00a0 the Australian\u00a0 Churches Refugee Taskforce,\u00a0 said:<\/p>\n

Cathedrals\u00a0 that have offered\u00a0 to\u00a0 protect\u00a0 asylum\u00a0 seekers\u00a0 from\u00a0 deportation\u00a0 to\u00a0 a\u00a0 place\u00a0 where\u00a0 people\u00a0 face,\u00a0 rape,\u00a0 sexual\u00a0 assault,\u00a0 and unimaginable\u00a0 conditions,\u00a0 include:\u00a0 St\u00a0 John\u2019s Cathedral Brisbane,\u00a0 St George\u2019s Cathedral Perth,\u00a0 St David\u2019s Cathedral Hobart and Christchurch Cathedral Darwin.<\/p>\n

Many priests and vicars of local churches who feel compelled to provide the moral leadership
\nthat their position requires, have also offered Sanctuary. These include: St Cuthbert\u2019s Anglican Church; Darlington, WA; Perth Wesley Uniting Church; Gosford Anglican Church; Pilgrim Uniting Church in Adelaide; St. John\u2019s Uniting Church Essendon; Paddington Anglican Church, Pitt Street Uniting Church and the Wayside Chapel in Sydney. Many other churches have offered to support the Sanctuaries in various ways.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs (@GillianTriggs<\/a>), sent a serious of tweets today highlighting the harmful effects mandatory detention has on children, revealed in the report: The health and well-being of children in immigration detention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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A year since forgotten children report and children still suffering in detention<\/p>\n

\u2014 Gillian Triggs (@GillianTriggs) February 3, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n