Australian churches offer to take in asylum seekers

Australian churches offer to take in asylum seekers

Sydney :Australian churches have said they will offer sanctuary to asylum seekers who face deportation to Nauru.The High Court on Wednesday found Australia’s policy of sending asylum seekers to government-funded offshore processing centres was constitutional.The decision means people, including 37 babies, face deportation to the detention centre on Nauru.The Anglican Dean of Brisbane Dr Peter Catt said they would likely face trauma and abuse if deported.”This fundamentally goes against our faith so our church community is compelled to act, despite the possibility of individual penalty against us,” Dr Catt said in a statement.”Historically churches have afforded sanctuary to those seeking refuge from brutal and oppressive forces.” Ten Anglican and Uniting churches are offering sanctuary, including Brisbane Cathedral. Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition welcomed the move, but said it would be largely symbolic as only about 30 of the asylum seekers were in the community and able to attend a church. The rest are in detention centres.

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