Bishop: Australia should be more open to ‘genuine refugees’

August 31, 2010

An Australian bishop has called upon his nation’s government to be more open to “genuine refugees.”

“We are challenged to remain open to newcomers, valuing the common human dignity we share,” said Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong during an August 29 multicultural Mass. “Terrorism, racism or the economic downturn can all be used as reasons to reject newcomers.”

“This attitude only fosters distrust and is contrary to the Australian spirit and our Christian heritage, which fundamentally is a call to care for the human person, whatever their circumstance,” he continued. “I call for a bipartisan political approach to genuine refugees who come from traumatic situations, fleeing conflict and persecution.”

 

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Further information:

• Call for refugee tolerance (Illawarra Mercury)