An open letter calling for compassion for Rohingyan asylum seekers
We stand together as Christians, calling for mercy for Rohingyan asylum seekers. We call on the Australian
Government to display leadership in this crisis and use its influence in the region to broker safe passage for
those trapped at sea.
There are approximately 8,000 Rohingya asylum seekers currently stranded in the waters off Southeast Asia.
These vulnerable men, women and children are facing disease and starvation in this most horrific of
humanitarian crises. Since violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine state two years ago, more than 86,000
people have fled by boat across the Bay of Bengal to seek refugee protection. Thailand, Malaysia and
Indonesia are not signatories to the Refugee Convention, and all three nations have indicated that they will
not allow the boats to land and the asylum seekers aboard to have their claims for refugee protection
processed.
While successive governments in Australia have argued that tough policies serve to stem the flow of asylum
seeker boats and save the lives of those who journey by sea, there is simply no evidence to support the
position that deterrence saves lives. Prime Minister Abbott has strongly defended the rights of Southeast
Asian nations to prevent the boats making landfall - despite the human cost of the policy likely being the
lives of thousands of asylum seekers.
We believe that Australia’s position in the face of this suffering directly contradicts our commitment to
human rights. Jesus taught that to be faithful to God is to live out a mission of hospitality towards the other:
to love our neighbour as ourselves. We believe that refugee and asylum seeker policy should be
underpinned by a spirit of hospitality and compassion, and that any policy or legislation must reflect the
obligations under the international human rights treaties to which we are a signatory.
As Christians, we stand together and call for action. We call for mercy and safe passage for these Rohingyan
asylum seekers.
Supported by:
Louise McKeogh
Carmel Donnelly
Una McGarry
Paul Brodie
John Bosman
Patricia Fox
Elizabeth Gilroy
Mary O’Shannasy
Margaret Farrell
Anne Derwin
Aileen Crowe
Joan Doyle
Monica Cavanagh
Anne Neven
Bill Owens
Salesian Sisters
Xavier Catholic College
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Catholic Education Office, Wollongong
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Little Company of Mary
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation
Sisters of St Joseph
Franciscan Missionaries of Mercy
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Sisters of St Joseph
Catholic Mission Immersions
Claire Cooney
Geraldine Keanney
Celestine Pooley
Michelle Goh
Kerry Shipman
Catherine Mead
Patricia Naughton
Eveline Crotty
Marion Gambin
Paul O’Shea
Sarila Kuriakose
Alison McKenzie
Veronica Lawson
Chris Ehler
Sue Flood
Elisabeth Hariyauk
Yvonne Munro
Leone Wittmack
Stephen O’Neill
Denise Ryan
Margaret Cleary
Connie Dandy
Katrina West
Lecia Coombe
Margaret Donaghy
Geoff Mulhearn
Elizabeth Young
Peter Gates
Helen Owens
Suzanne Gentle
May McDonald
Margaret McGrath
Mai Nguyen
Gaye Lennon
Barbara Bolster
Daphne McKeogh
Jenny Christie
Denis Edwards
Mary Ellen Griffin
Kevin Meese
Patricia Adams
Lynn Shepherd
Margaret Shakeshaft
Anne Cannon
Donna Webber
Agnes Farrugia
Catholic Education Office, Wollongong
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Centacare
Sisters of St Joseph
Holy Spirit Sisters
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Rosebank Catholic College
Holy Spirit Sisters
Chevalier Institute
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
NCLS Research
Ursuline Community
Holy Spirit Sisters
Sisters of St Joseph
Sisters of Charity
Magdalene Catholic High School
St Clare's High School, Taree
Sisters of St Joseph
Franciscan Missionaries of Mercy
St Johns Primary, Cambelltown
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace Office
Diocese of Matland-Newcastle
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Catholic Mission
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Presentation Sisters of Queensland
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
OLSH Sisters
Australian Catholic University
Sisters of St Joseph
Catholic Mission
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
St Paul's Primary, Moss Vale
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Holy Spirit Sisters
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Jenny Coughlan
Patricia Vagg
Catherine McCahill
Michael McEvoy
Suelyn Parkes
Fran Kelly
Heather Weedon
Sue Martin
Carmel Bennett
Carmel Boyle
Miriam Grech
Liz Rothe
Margaret O’Sullivan
Theresia Tina
Maryellen Thomas
Siobhan Marren
Sandie Cornish
Jenny Collins-White
Janet Andrew
Maree Nash
Anne-Maree O’Beirne
Rosemary Kinne
Annette Reen
Maureen Dwan
Shirley Garland
Rita Fitt
David Buckley
Stancea Vichie
Jeff Wild
Laraine Crowe
Veronica McCluskie
Jim Curtain
Suzette Clark
Patricia McDermott
Moya Campbell
Carol Tomlinson
Maree Timpano
Helen Sullivan
Pam Priadko
Jo Brady
Monica Simmons
Rachael Waisman
Sheila Quonoey
Liz Kozwi
Dorothy Makasa
Danielle Peters
St Anthony's School
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Mosman Catenians
Centacare
Catholic Mission
Franciscan Missionaries of Mercy
St Ignatius College, Riverview
Franciscan Missionaries of Mercy
Presentation Sisters of Queensland
Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Loreto Sisters
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Mission
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia
Catholic Schools Office
Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath
Missionary Sisters of Service
National Council of Churches, Act for Peace
Sisters of St Joseph
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
St John of God Accord
Sisters of Charity
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
Catholic Education Office, Wollongong
Sisters of St Joseph
Adelaide Archdiocese
Sisters of St Joseph
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Presentation Sisters of Queensland
Sisters of St Joseph
Catholic Mission
Catholic Education Office, Ballarat
John Mulrooney
Philippa Murphy
Gabrielle Hine
Anne McGuire
Anne Wenham
Patsy Grundy
John Goonan
Teresa Brierley
Monica Barlow
Nance Cale
Carolyn Nolan
Denise McKay
Rita Cusack
Margaret Culhane
Judith Lamb
Debbie Condon
Rhonda Bast
Marea Roberts
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
OLSH Sisters
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
St Stanislaus College, Bathurst
Presentation Sisters of Queensland
Catholic Mission Wagga
Diocese of Matland-Newcastle
Sisters of St Joseph
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Sisters of St Joseph
Presentation Sisters of Queensland
Sisters of St Joseph
Sacred Heart Parish, Sandringham
St John's Primary, Dapto
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG
Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & PNG