Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse
This year’s Social Justice Statement, Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, invites us to engage with a complex and confronting social reality.
Social Justice Sunday will be celebrated on August 28, 2022 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.
In the words of the new President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB:
We hope our message will help our whole community confront violence and abuse wherever they occur and become a community that fosters justice and respect for all.
It explores the roots of violence and abuse, honours the voices of victims, offers a social and theological exploration of the reality of violence, especially against women and children, and invites us to develop relationships in all parts of our lives ‘marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control.’ We welcome this urgent call from our Church to deepen our faith through full and frank discussion and dialogue, advocacy and action.
If the content of the Statement raises issues or concerns for you, please refer to the Getting Help page in the Statement for a list of support channels, or speak to a trusted friend, your GP, your parish priest or parish pastoral worker.
To access the Statement click here.