Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) stands with the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) in their renewed call for a more compassionate and just response to people seeking protection in Australia.
As we gather to celebrate Easter, we join CAPSA in urging all Australians to reflect deeply on the season’s meaning of hope, renewal and solidarity with those in need. With a Federal Election approaching, we echo the call for political leaders across all parties to commit to policies that uphold the dignity of every human person, particularly those most vulnerable.
CSSA embraces the core principles of Catholic social teaching that remind us of our moral responsibility to welcome the stranger and protect those fleeing persecution. The Palm Sunday marches, vigils and testimonies held across Australia represent our collective commitment to stand with those seeking asylum and advocate for just policies that reflect our values of compassion, human dignity and the common good.
We support CAPSA’s key policy recommendations:
- Ending uncertainty for people seeking asylum
- Ensuring access to work, study and essential public services
- Ending offshore detention processing
- Increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake and expanding community support programs
In the words of CAPSA Chair Julie Edwards, “Easter is a reminder that even in the face of rejection and death, hope and life can rise again. Our response to people seeking asylum must be one of welcome, not punishment.”
CSSA invites all Australians to join us in this call for a more humane approach to asylum policy – one that reflects our shared values and honours our nation’s commitment to justice, compassion and respect for human dignity.