Christians from across denominations were among the thousands who marched in Australian capital cities yesterday in protest at the Federal Government’s policy on asylum seekers.
DAY OF PROTEST: Some of those who attended the Melbourne march. PICTURE: David Adams
The protests, which took place in cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth on Palm Sunday, came as Christian leaders spoke out about the policies.
In a statement released on Friday, Anglican archbishops from across the country called for more humane treatment of refugees, in particular children.
“As leaders of the Anglican Church of Australia, we wish to put on the record our profound disquiet that at the end of February this year there were more than 950 children in detention facilities and alternative places of detention in Australia, and a further 177 children in offshore detention in Nauru,” they wrote, noting the average time people spend in detention is more than eight months.
The leaders described the children as “innocent victims of tragic circumstances” and said those who flee from desperate circumstances by boat should not be “punished” by prolonged detention in Australia, Nauru or Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
“They are not the people smugglers. They are people made in the image of God, who deserve respect from all Australians, but especially our Government and its agencies.”
The leaders said they were not expressing a “party political opinion” but noted there was “grave disquiet” within the church about the asylum seeker policies of both major parties.