Editorial: Time for a 'fair go'?

Sydney
10 February 2002

Archbishop steps into fray over detainees

Worldwide theology video link

Archbishop clarifies divorce ban claims

New heads for 23 Sydney schools

Praise for Catholic Women's League as it launches 'into deep'

Archbishop: Red Mass is a reminder of 'different truth'

Like 'white Australia' policy - bishop

Woomera 'concentration camp'

Welfare groups offer care for children

Ecumenical study programs for Lent

Vietnamese New Year Mass

Editorial: Time for a 'fair go'?

Letters: Think of what the Lord's Prayer says

Conversation: Youth, mission and a 'call to sainthood' - Selina Hasham, World Youth Day co-ordinator

Reflections: In the steps of the Good Samaritan

Pope John Paul II: pilgrimage of peace

As one in hope

Lent: Words of Jesus 'ring out for us today'

No school, no running water for the folk who live in this not so super Dome

Inspirations: Would-be pilgrims' progress

Editorial: Time for a 'fair go'?

"These people are not terrorists, they're not criminals or soldiers in an opposing army, they've made the mistake of wanting to come and live here." So said Archbishop Pell recently on the 7.30 Report speaking about the need to show compassion to the refugees - many of them from wartorn Afghanistan - currently seeking asylum in Australia.
He was speaking for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which has added its voice to calls for changes to the Government's detention centre policy, including the release of women and children into the community.
Unlike a number of others, however, the archbishop did not castigate the Federal Government. He said he understood it was between a rock and a hard place. For this reason he and the Catholic bishops may well be listened to by the Government. We hope so.
As the archbishop said, the Government has the right to regulate the number of immigrants, but the concern is the amount of suffering the refugees are undergoing.
Speeding up processing of their applications would alleviate this. After all, New Zealand processed its asylum seekers' applications in two months and all those detained have now been released.
Australia's history is one of immigration and of taking in the dispossessed - many came from a devastated Europe after World War II.
Maybe these latest newcomers seeking a safe harbour could bring to Australia as much as many of those who came before them have done. Might it not be worth giving them a 'fair go' in the name of compassion?

GIVING HELP AND CHEER
In his Lenten message Pope John Paul II exhorts us to give freely. This is hard to do in a materialistic world. It is also hard to let go of things that may have been hard-won. But there is a freedom in giving that is also an antidote to the hardened hearts and attitudes that can so easily lead to violence and despair.
We tend to focus on material things when it comes to giving, but it is probably worth remembering as we embark on Lent that we can give of ourselves, too - we can give our time and our help, and do so with good cheer. Cheer is often sadly lacking and as such can be as gratefully received by others as a material gift.