Melbourne Catholic Commission for Justice, Development & Peace: About Us

Charter of the Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace
Archdiocese of Melbourne

Given by the authority of Archbishop Little this day, 29th May, 1992.

Introduction

In response to the signs of the times which the Church examines in the light of the Gospel, and the growth in knowledge of Catholic social teaching during the centenary year of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical letter Rerum Novarum (15 May 1891), the Archdiocese of Melbourne decided to establish a Commission for Justice, Development and Peace.

Archbishop T.F. Little agreed to the Commission’s formation after consultation with the Committee for Justice, development and Peace which had been operating in the Archdiocese since 1984.

The Commission is being set up to make the issues of justice, development and peace a special concern.

In evangelising our culture with the values Jesus Christ proclaims, the Church commends to followers of Christ a preferential for the poor, and recognition of the rights and human dignity of every person.

Pope John Paul II points the way in Centesimus Annus (15 May 1991), the encyclical Letter published on the Rerum Novarum centenary:

“Sacred Scripture speaks to us of an active commitment to our neighbour and demands of us a shared responsibility for all of humanity. This duty is not limited to one’s own family, nation or State, but extends progressively to all mankind… (Page 95).

Mission

The Commission will work for justice, development and peace and in the task of spreading more effectively the social teaching of the Universal Church in a more organised way through parishes, regions and structures of the Archdiocese.

It will aim to give leadership and motivation for justice to the Catholic and wider community in the strong tradition of social justice leadership established in the archdiocese early this century and continued since then.

Its role include listening to, and responding to, the needs of the disadvantaged locally and elsewhere, by creating an awareness of unjust situations, by collaborating with other Church agencies, national and diocesan, and by working for structural change and possible solutions.

The Commission will advise the Archbishop on social justice issues where necessary.

The Aims

The aims of the Commission shall be:

To help educate and give leadership to the Catholic community and wider community in the Gospel message of justice and in the social teachings of the Church.
To work for justice in local, national and international structures and in Church structures.
To seek to assist, and work with, victims of injustice wherever possible.
To collaborate with the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Australian Catholic Relief, the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission, justice and education agencies, and with other religious traditions, in the research and analysis of justice, development and peace issues and to act upon such issues where possible.

Functions

The functions of the Commission shall be:

To research, analyse and act upon, where possible, justice, development and peace issues in archdiocesan areas, parish, deanery, or regional, in conjunction with other interested groups if necessary.
To assist the Archbishop, the Episcopal Vicar for Justice, Development and Peace, or any other nominee of the Archbishop, in addressing social justice issues, and in the task of justice, development and peace education.
To assist in the development of a network of parish, deanery, or regional social justice groups and representatives, and provide resources where possible.
To develop and promote models for action on justice, development and peace problems.
To liaise with the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Australian Catholic relief, the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission and other archdiocesan, diocesan, or parish social justice, Social welfare and education agencies.
To initiate or support activities in the preparation and promotion of Catholic Social Justice statements.
To prepare submission and make representations to government, politicians, public inquiries and other agencies, with the knowledge and consent of the Archbishop or his nominee.
To monitor the development and implementation of public policy as it affects social justice.
To make statements in the Commission’s name on social justice issues after consultation with, and approval of, the Archbishop or his nominee on major issues.
To liaise with the media and seek out opportunities for advocacy on behalf of, and with, disadvantaged groups.
To undertake its functions, the Commission may appoint sub-committees as necessary.




Contact Who are we Charter of the CCJDP Personnel	Charter of the Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace Archdiocese of Melbourne Given by the authority of Archbishop Little this day, 29th May, 1992. Introduction In response to the signs of the times which the Church examines in the light of the Gospel, and the growth in knowledge of Catholic social teaching during the centenary year of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical letter Rerum Novarum (15 May 1891), the Archdiocese of Melbourne decided to establish a Commission for Justice, Development and Peace. Archbishop T.F. Little agreed to the Commission’s formation after consultation with the Committee for Justice, development and Peace which had been operating in the Archdiocese since 1984. The Commission is being set up to make the issues of justice, development and peace a special concern. In evangelising our culture with the values Jesus Christ proclaims, the Church commends to followers of Christ a preferential for the poor, and recognition of the rights and human dignity of every person. Pope John Paul II points the way in Centesimus Annus (15 May 1991), the encyclical Letter published on the Rerum Novarum centenary: “Sacred Scripture speaks to us of an active commitment to our neighbour and demands of us a shared responsibility for all of humanity. This duty is not limited to one’s own family, nation or State, but extends progressively to all mankind… (Page 95). Mission The Commission will work for justice, development and peace and in the task of spreading more effectively the social teaching of the Universal Church in a more organised way through parishes, regions and structures of the Archdiocese. It will aim to give leadership and motivation for justice to the Catholic and wider community in the strong tradition of social justice leadership established in the archdiocese early this century and continued since then. Its role include listening to, and responding to, the needs of the disadvantaged locally and elsewhere, by creating an awareness of unjust situations, by collaborating with other Church agencies, national and diocesan, and by working for structural change and possible solutions. The Commission will advise the Archbishop on social justice issues where necessary. The Aims The aims of the Commission shall be: To help educate and give leadership to the Catholic community and wider community in the Gospel message of justice and in the social teachings of the Church. To work for justice in local, national and international structures and in Church structures. To seek to assist, and work with, victims of injustice wherever possible. To collaborate with the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Australian Catholic Relief, the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission, justice and education agencies, and with other religious traditions, in the research and analysis of justice, development and peace issues and to act upon such issues where possible. Functions The functions of the Commission shall be: To research, analyse and act upon, where possible, justice, development and peace issues in archdiocesan areas, parish, deanery, or regional, in conjunction with other interested groups if necessary. To assist the Archbishop, the Episcopal Vicar for Justice, Development and Peace, or any other nominee of the Archbishop, in addressing social justice issues, and in the task of justice, development and peace education. To assist in the development of a network of parish, deanery, or regional social justice groups and representatives, and provide resources where possible. To develop and promote models for action on justice, development and peace problems. To liaise with the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Australian Catholic relief, the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission and other archdiocesan, diocesan, or parish social justice, Social welfare and education agencies. To initiate or support activities in the preparation and promotion of Catholic Social Justice statements. To prepare submission and make representations to government, politicians, public inquiries and other agencies, with the knowledge and consent of the Archbishop or his nominee. To monitor the development and implementation of public policy as it affects social justice. To make statements in the Commission’s name on social justice issues after consultation with, and approval of, the Archbishop or his nominee on major issues. To liaise with the media and seek out opportunities for advocacy on behalf of, and with, disadvantaged groups. To undertake its functions, the Commission may appoint sub-committees as necessary.