Churches offer asylum seekers sanctuary
February 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm
(This post was last modified: February 4, 2016 at 12:05 am by Aractus.
Edit Reason: added link
)
In response to the appalling human rights abuse of the treatment of asylum seekers by the Australian Government, Anglican and Uniting churches have stepped up to offer safety against oppressive civic authorities, the ABC's Michael Edwards has reported.
The concept of sanctuary has never been tested under the law. The Government was prepared to play dirty with the recent High Court challenge, which they only won by passing bipartisan legislation that legalised their previously illegal activities. Nevertheless, this doesn't remove the ability of a lower court to refuse an oppressive order by the concept of nullification (where the jury or judge actively refuse to follow the letter of an unjust law), although that would be an extraordinary step if we were to see that.
However it would also be extraordinary if the government was prepared to play dirty against churches offering humanitarian services to people in a clearly unjust situation, especially with around 60% of Australians identifying as a Christian. Thus I would expect this action to create an impasse.
It's at times like as this with such displays of generosity that make proud to be an Anglican. Or rather ex-Anglican.
The concept of sanctuary has never been tested under the law. The Government was prepared to play dirty with the recent High Court challenge, which they only won by passing bipartisan legislation that legalised their previously illegal activities. Nevertheless, this doesn't remove the ability of a lower court to refuse an oppressive order by the concept of nullification (where the jury or judge actively refuse to follow the letter of an unjust law), although that would be an extraordinary step if we were to see that.
However it would also be extraordinary if the government was prepared to play dirty against churches offering humanitarian services to people in a clearly unjust situation, especially with around 60% of Australians identifying as a Christian. Thus I would expect this action to create an impasse.
"Sanctuary was a concept that was certainly alive in the Middle Ages when people could go to a church, and particularly to a cathedral, and claim sanctuary and the church authorities could really grant them safety against the civic authorities."
"It was a way of saying I'm entering into God's territory, away from the civic authorities that are oppressing me, and the oppressors generally accepted that the church could offer sanctuary to people."
"So this is really a moral stand and it wouldn't be a good look, I don't think, for someone to enter a church and to drag people away."
-Reverend Dr Peter Catt (ABC news).
"It was a way of saying I'm entering into God's territory, away from the civic authorities that are oppressing me, and the oppressors generally accepted that the church could offer sanctuary to people."
"So this is really a moral stand and it wouldn't be a good look, I don't think, for someone to enter a church and to drag people away."
-Reverend Dr Peter Catt (ABC news).
It's at times like as this with such displays of generosity that make proud to be an Anglican. Or rather ex-Anglican.
For Religion & Health see:[/b][/size] Williams & Sternthal. (2007). Spirituality, religion and health: Evidence and research directions. Med. J. Aust., 186(10), S47-S50. -LINK
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
