Social Justice Sunday - Photo:canva.com
The Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement for 2022-2023 is Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse
Social Justice Sunday has been celebrated in the Catholic Church in Australia since 1940. Each year, the Australian Bishops join together to prepare a social justice statement to inspire reflection and action on a critical issue. This year the Bishops have focused their attention on confronting attitudes and behaviours that underlie expressions of violence and abuse in families, church and the wider society. The 2022-23 Social Justice Statement Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse (see link below) says the roots of violence in society lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others. The Australian bishops have used their annual social justice statement to condemn the scourge of violence and abuse, and call for individual and social transformation so that all people can live in peace.
The social justice statement draws on national research that finds family and domestic violence and abuse is a major health and welfare issue that impacts people from all ages and backgrounds, particularly women and children. People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities are also highlighted as particularly vulnerable to abuse. The roots of the family and domestic violence which includes physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse, is the misuse of power and the control of one person over another.
In his launch of the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference says, in some contexts, Scripture has been used to explain or even justify instances of violence against women or children. The social justice statement rejects such distortions. Whilst domestic violence is not restricted to Christian communities, the social justice statement emphasizes that it is “important to realize the power of religious manipulation to keep people in abusive relationships.” The social justice statement explores themes within the Christian tradition, such as forgiveness, submission and leadership, that can be misused to justify and normalize violence. The social justice statement challenges cultural factors in our Church and society that act as enablers that allow violence to flourish. (Click to watch video below).
The social justice statement highlights the destructive and long-lasting impacts of domestic violence and abuse, which is testified by survivors of abuse and the social service agencies who support people and promote societal change. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe says, “the virtue of solidarity challenges us to support those who are seeking justice in the face of such widespread violence.” The teaching of Christ urges us to promote respectful relationships, dignity, reciprocity, freedom and mutual esteem between peoples.
The Australian Catholic Bishops encourage families, communities and organizations to engage with the challenging material in the Social Justice Statement.
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Office
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon
Related links
- Media Release: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Media release of 2022-23 Social Justice Statement
- Watch: Video featuring Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference introducing the 2022-23 Social Justice Statement – Respect: Confronting violence and abuse - (Click here to watch video)
