Posted on 24 June 2016
On 16 May 2016, the Australian Catholic Bishops released a statement on the Federal Election called “A Vote for the Voiceless.” In this statement they pointed out that the Federal Election campaign was likely to focus on economic management and other big issues but “the voices of the thrown-away people will not be heard.” The Bishops are seeking to make people more aware of the needs of a range of marginalised members of our community including:
- Refugees and asylum seekers;
- Indigenous peoples;
- The survivors of sexual abuse;
- Those who suffer family violence;
- Those in the womb;
- The elderly;
- Those suffering mental illness;
- Those suffering addiction;
- Those entrapped in new forms of slavery; and
- The desperately poor beyond our shores.
The Diocese of Parramatta has developed a Federal Election Guide that summarises some of the policies of the Liberal/National Coalition, the Labor Party and the Greens that impact on some of the groups of throw away people outlined by the Australian Catholic Bishops.
This guide is designed to help form the consciences of Catholics in the lead-up to the Federal Election to help them in deciding how they should vote on 2 July 2016. Copies of the election guide will be available in parishes across the Diocese of Parramatta this weekend. To download an electronic copy click here.
