Faith, Social Justice and Public Policy Talk

Recently our centre hosted a talk by Father Frank Brennan SJ, organised by Sister Denise and JRS Cambodia. Father Frank is a famous ethicist and human rights lawyer in Australia, who has played important parts in Aboriginal land rights, refugee advocacy and is a regular writer in the online journal Eureka Street.

Over fifty of our friends from all across Cambodia, Thailand and even Spain came to hear Frank's thoughts on Faith, Social Justice and Public Policy. Bishop Kike Figaredo introduced the evening and even convinced Sister to give everyone a quick tour of the centre (he's very proud of it). We were treated to many different insights as to how faith can determine one's attitude towards issues of injustice and the formulation of public policy.

Bishop Kike introduces Fr Frank

Frank explained some very complex issues in such a way that even I could understand them, speaking from both his experience as both a priest and a lawyer. Being new to this field, it was good to be led through things step by step. I was particularly taken by his comparison of secular societies to a country like Thailand, where religion plays an almost inseparable role in everyday life. Sadly this is no longer true in Cambodia ever since Pol Pot decided that monks had no place in his little utopia. 

Along with the main talk (attached below for your reading pleasure) we heard from three of our staff and their perspectives on the subject as seen through their work. Tess O'Brien spoke about land evictions along the Siem Reap, Maddie Gleeson (who happens to be Fr Brennan's niece) about trafficking and Nikola Errington on asylum seekers and refugees.

 Kafia gives examples of Islamic social teaching.

 

  Maddie talks about human trafficking.

 Denise intended to bring in a Buddhist monk to give his insight but he unfortunately couldn't make it. We were lucky enough to hear from another volunteer with us, Kafia Yusuf, who shared the Islamic point of view on modern social justice issues. The questions posed at the end by audience members also provoked thought and demonstrated a shared passion for social justice.
  Everyone spoke with sincerity and wisdom.

Kike gives his input from a bishop's point of view

Here is the talk in written form: https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1_nlRFFRJEbRpU_7Nr_Q6WaaEJau4wEY7t3GYJALUx5s