31 August 2005
REFUGEES, MIGRANTS AND AUSTRALIAN VALUES
In a statement to mark Refugee and Migrant Sunday last weekend, Bishop Joseph Grech, Chairman of the Committee for Migrants and Refugees of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference quoted from the message prepared by the late Pope John Paul II to mark this day.
In his statement John Paul II rejected growing calls within the community to return to a policy of assimilating migrants into the dominant culture. Rather he spoke of the necessity "to recognize the legitimate plurality of cultures present in a country, in harmony with the preservation of law and order, on which depend social peace and the freedom of citizens." and of combining "the principle of respect for cultural differences with the protection of values that are in common and inalienable, because they are founded on universal human rights."
These principles shed light on the current debate within Australia as to whether Muslim girls should be permitted to wear the scarf (hijab) when atteding a public school.For a further reflection on the discussion regarding what constitutes 'Australian values' see the article on the Australian Jesuit website.
In his statement John Paul II rejected growing calls within the community to return to a policy of assimilating migrants into the dominant culture. Rather he spoke of the necessity "to recognize the legitimate plurality of cultures present in a country, in harmony with the preservation of law and order, on which depend social peace and the freedom of citizens." and of combining "the principle of respect for cultural differences with the protection of values that are in common and inalienable, because they are founded on universal human rights."
These principles shed light on the current debate within Australia as to whether Muslim girls should be permitted to wear the scarf (hijab) when atteding a public school.For a further reflection on the discussion regarding what constitutes 'Australian values' see the article on the Australian Jesuit website.
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