Asylum seekers:
where is the leadership?

Peter Whiting

Peter reports on Anna Burke’s talk at the SPC forum on political leaders espousing bad policy because they believe that’s what electors want. The lesson: make your voices for humanity heard.

Photo Anna Burke at SPC Forum 19 August 2014.

The First World War –
the aftermath

Bill Frilay

Major wars are never simply over. Their effects burn through the hearts and minds of veterans, families, and communities for generations. Bill Frilay reflects on how World War I changed us all.

Photo Reeve 37283 Otis Historical Archives National Museum of Health & Medicine flickr cc.


Why Pope Francis is highlighting inequality

Bruce Duncan

Pope Francis repeatedly attacks severe inequality as inhumane and undermining of social and economic security even in western countries. Bruce Duncan looks at how some leading economists support the Pope’s views.

Photo Korea_Official_Welcome_Ceremony_for_Pope_Francis_01 Republic of Korea flickr cc


Sustaining our selves &
our values in a frantic world

Stephen Ames

Stephen Ames examines the impact of the new digital technologies on our values and our self-understanding, as relationships between faith and science, and between markets and morality, take new forms.

Photo Le voyage alchimique Michel Schmid flickr cc


Non-combatant immunity
in Gaza

Brian Johnstone

The shocking destruction in Gaza raised widespread concern about the moral imperative not to kill innocent people. Brian Johnstone draws from Catholic thinking insisting on the duty of non-combatant immunity.

Photo Confrontation – Jaballah Camp Gaza Strip Palestine Robert Croma flickr cc


camilleri_optProfessor Joe Camilleri launches new website

After 45 years of teaching and writing 25 books, Joe Camilleri, Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University, is expanding the circle of conversation about world affairs with his new website at www.josephcamilleri.org. The site is easy to follow, and gathers much of Joe’s enormous output in journals and opinion pieces, lectures, radio talks, publications, and at conferences. It also traces pathways to additional information, networks, and online media.The website will initially offer a series of conversations moderated by experts, beginning with three topics: religion and science, climate change, and nuclear weapons. You are invited to take part in these conversations through the ‘engage’ function on the website.


Professor Joe Camilleri

Rethinking our Future

A series of public lectures
Tuesdays in October 6-8pm
St Michael’s Church 120 Collins Street Melbourne
$15 per lecture, $50 for the series
The USA, Russia, & China: the prospect of a new cold war Tuesday 7 October
Coping with risk & uncertainty: volatile markets, anxious states, & tentative social movements Tuesday 14 October
The Middle East: Holy Land or crucible of conflict? Tuesday 21 October
Australia adrift: navigating new pathways  Tuesday 28 October

Charting the future for Pax Christi

40 years in retrospect
& challenges ahead

Tuesday 16 September 6-9pm
Kildara Centre Rear 39 Stanhope Street Malvern
Conversations with
Rev Merrill Kitchen OAM Fellow of the University of Divinity, former principal of the Churches of Christ Theological College Melbourne.
Fr Brian Johnstone CSsR Emeritus Professor of Moral Theology/Ethics, Pontifical Gregorian University Rome, and Catholic University of America.
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), and national president of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War.
Moderated by Professor Joseph Camilleri OAM
A consultation of the ecumenical peace network, Pax Christi, a significant voice in Australia for justice and peace, including the Vietnam war, nuclear power and weapons, East Timor, the Iraq war, conflict in Syria, refugees and asylum seekers, human rights, and our relations with Asian countries and the USA.

Donate to SPC

Support SPC in its social advocacy and
engagement of public opinion
We rely completely on donations and membership fees to continue this work, and particularly on the probono contributions of our board members and helpers.
How to donate
  • Send your cheque or money order to PO Box 505 Box Hill Victoria 3128
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Donations to SPC are not tax deductible, unfortunately.

Books available at SPC

NEW A World United or a World Exploited? Christian Perspectives on Globalisation Edited by Peter Price $20+$5 postage & handling.
Social Justice: Fuller Life in a Fairer World Bruce Duncan $25+$5 postage & handling.
Sufficient for the Day: Towards a Sustainable Culture Geoff Lacey $20+$5 postage & handling.
Young People, Faith, & Social Justice Joan Daw $20+$5 postage & handling.

Anna Burke
Refugees: we can do better.
What to do to heal this ‘running sore’

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