Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Bishops' Conference, has put forth a strong appeal calling for refugees to be brought to Australia from offshore detention facilities.
"One of the greatest crisis of our time is the condition of people who have fled their countries for war, persecution or poverty and forced to live without a home, without security and often separated from their families," Hart stated.
"In Australia we endure the shame of expulsion and of the harsh treatment to people seeking our protection and are now held in detention camps on the islands of Nauru and Manus Island off Papua New Guinea. It is time to bring them here."
On behalf of the Australian episcopate, he sent over a note to Fides outlining the shock from international agencies over the conditions in which immigrants live while in detention and the effects on their health, spirit, on self-respect.
Some detainees have also written to Pope Francis, who has expressed his deep concern.
Despite acknowledging the government's effort to find a solution, the Australian Catholic Bishops say its time to transfer prisoners to Australia, pending further decisions about their future.
Fides reports that according to Archbishop Hart, the Catholic community strongly supports the campaign to bring refugees into Australia and are willing to accommodate and support them upon arrival. The Catholic Alliance has stated it is ready to coordinate with other government organisations and civil society.