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The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP), have joined with Christian organisations and communities across the country to launch “Welcome the Stranger,” a new campaign aimed at defending the right to asylum and protecting people seeking sanctuary.

At the heart of the Gospel is the simple truth that every person is precious, because God is present in everyone. Welcoming people seeking safety is an integral part of our faith, and is a response to the dignity that God has placed in every human life.

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) reminds us that every person is made in the image of God, and that solidarity does not stop at borders. In fact, CST takes a broader view of who needs protection than the 1951 Refugee Convention, clearly setting out that we have a responsibility to all those who are forced to leave their homes – whether because of persecution, war, poverty, climate crisis, or injustice.

The “Welcome the Stranger” campaign calls for lawmakers to restore the right to asylum, put dignity and protection at the heart of the asylum system and end immigration detention, helping to build a society that welcomes, protects, and stands alongside people seeking safety.

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Image: Bishop McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, CBCEW.‍