Social Justice Statement Archive
Social Justice Statement February 2026
In 2026, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is releasing two Social Justice Statements – one in February and the second in August ahead of Social Justice Sunday.
The first, entitled The Cost of Our Living: Economic and Social Justice for the Common Good, was released on February 9. It invites us to reflect deeply on the challenges facing our nation and to respond with faith, hope and love. Across Australia, many people are burdened by the rising cost of life’s necessities.
The Ballarat Diocesan Social Justice Commission celebrated the launch of the February Statement 2026 – “The Cost of Our Living: Economic and Social Justice for the Common Good” with a Webinar on Thursday, February 12.
There was a short, livestreamed interview-style event at 11am AEDT webcast from Canberra on February 9 involving Bishop Tim Harris and Catholic Social Services Australia executive director Jerry Nockles. The livestream link is at LIVESTREAM • Launch of the Social Justice Statement – February 2026
SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT PRAYER
O God of justice and mercy,
look upon the struggling families of Australia
crushed by the rising cost of living –
parents skipping meals, choosing
between medicine and power,
fearful that one more bill will break them.
Lord Jesus, born in poverty,
teach us to see You in every exhausted worker,
every pensioner going cold,
every young adult trapped at home.
Holy Spirit, move the hearts of
lawmakers, employers and landlords
to choose fairness over profit and
the common good over excess.
Strengthen your Church to be
a voice for the voiceless
and a true refuge for the poor.
Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
and St Joseph, protector of workers,
intercede for us that rents and
wages may be just and fair
and no child in this land go
hungry or without a home.
Turn our nation to solidarity and hope –
that honest work may always provide bread,
and no one be forced to choose
between dignity and survival.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Social Justice Statement 2025-2026
Signs of hope in social justice statement
The experience of people living with the challenges of homelessness and mental ill-health has been highlighted in the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s 2025 Social Justice Statement.
Each year since 1940, the Conference has released a statement for reflection and discussion ahead of Social Justice Sunday on a key issue in Australian society.
This year’s statement is Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving People Living in Homelessness and Mental Ill-Health.
To read the 2025 – 2026 Social Justice Statement click here:
The Ballarat Diocesan Social Justice Commission celebrated the launch of the
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2025-2026
“Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving People Living in Homelessness and Mental Ill-Health”
with a Webinar on Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Your can watch the Webinar below:
The Statement was launched officially on Wednesday, August 13 at an event in Queanbeyan, NSW with
Bishop Timothy Harris – Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service and Bishop of Townsville
Fr Peter Day – Home in Queanbeyan Founder
Rose Beynon – St Vincent de Paul Society National Director for policy and research
Peter Arndt – Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace Director
Susan Connelly – Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Chair
The launch event took place at Home in Queanbeyan, a 20-unit community facility just outside Canberra, which was used to illustrate the Social Justice Statement. The community for people with an enduring mental illness who are at risk of homelessness began as an idea 15 years ago out of a parish prayer group.
Bishop of Townsville Tim Harris (pictured below at the launch) was elected as chair of the commission in May, taking over the role from Bishop Vincent Long.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe’s foreword:
Prayer for the Social Justice Statement 2025-2026
A Prayer for Pilgrims of Hope
O God, Source of all Life,
you created earth as our home
and us in your image, out of love.
Set our hearts astir with that same love,
that we might build a culture of encounter
and systems that justly serve
those living in homelessness
and mental ill-health.
Jesus our Brother,
you noticed those living on the edge,
listened, healed and served them, out of love.
Move us from our embarrassment or discomfort
by those who show us your suffering face.
Instead, may we be taught by them,
offer our loving friendship
and share your good news together.
Holy Spirit, Source of all Hope,
you inspire our relationships
with transforming power, out of love.
Deepen our vision and enlarge our hearts
so that the fear and isolation
of homelessness and mental ill-health
may be countered by love’s warmth and certainty,
that we might walk together as pilgrims of hope.
Amen.
Social Justice Statement 2023-2024
The Ballarat launch of the Australian Bishops Social Justice Statement for 2023: Listen Learn Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is pre-recorded and in digital format so that Parish and School communities along with individuals can access these resources at their convenience.
The presentations include an Acknowledgement of Country and prayer, a message from Bishop Paul and reflections about the Statement by prominent people and both sides of The Voice Referendum will be explored.
Social Justice Statement 2023-2024
“Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples”
Social Justice Sunday is August 27, 2023 and the new ACBC Social Justice Statement, “Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples” was launched on Thursday, August 17 at Holy Family Primary School, Emerton, Parramatta Diocese at 9.00am.
Social Justice Statement 2022-2023:
Bishop Paul Bird talks about this year’s statement, titled Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse below:
Social Justice Statement 2022-2023:
The Australian Catholic Bishops have released their annual social justice statement – a practice dating back to the 1940s. This year’s statement, titled Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, addresses the scourge of domestic and family violence in society. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB writes in the statement’s foreword that “The teaching of Christ urges us to promote relationships marked by respect and freedom rather than coercion and control. The message of the Gospel is not a message of domination of one person over another but a message of mutual esteem and kindness.”
The Social Justice Statement is attached here, and can also be found on the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace website. Other resources, including images, prayer and liturgy material, newsletter notices and multimedia files, can also be found on that website.
The Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse Social Justice Statement has been published ahead of the Church’s celebration of Social Justice Sunday on August 28.
Social Justice Statement 2021-2022:
Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor
The Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021-22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, affirms that “we human beings need a change of heart, mind, and behaviour”. It draws from Scripture, from the theological tradition, from Catholic Social Teaching, and from the wisdom of the world, including the insights of the First Nations.
To download the Statement and for further resources and information regarding the Social Justice Statement, visit the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council website.
A Ballarat Response To The Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement 2021-2022 “Cry Of The Earth Cry Of The Poor”
The Creator of all calls us to practice a new way of living, one that is “good, true and beautiful.” (LS 205)
We commit to take action together because it is “urgent and necessary.” (LS 57)
www.laudatosiactionplatform.com
Ballarat Diocesan Social Justice Commission forum – Listening, learning…change.
Inspired by the latest Social Justice Statement, “Cry of the Earth Cry of the Poor”, the Ballarat Diocesan Social Justice Commission hosted a forum on Saturday, November 6, 2021 from 10.00am – 3.00pm. The forum was attended in person and via parish hubs. Key messages from the Statement were selected and the following experts were invited to respond:
- Jeanette Morris: Acknowledgement of Country and Opening Prayer.
- Bishop Paul Bird: Introduce the Bishops Statement “Cry of the Earth Cry of the Poor”.
- Dr Mark Diesendorf: Listening to and learning from the world – what the science is telling us.
- Dr Sandie Cornish: Listening and drawing wisdom from our own wells – responding to the “Cry of the Earth Cry of the Poor.”
- Vicki Clark: Listening to creation – a call to care for Country.
- Jacqui Remond: Caring for creation – watering the seeds of change.
“We were made for love,” and deeper relationships
will nourish us wherever the Holy Spirit leads. (LS 58)
www.laudatosiactionplatform.org
A report from the Conference was published in the dicoesan e-News on November 30, 2021:
Social Justice Statement 2020-2021:
To Live Life to the Full
Mental Health Webinar
BDSJC hosted a Zoom webinar launching the 2020-2021 Bishop’s Conference Social Justice Statement ‘To Live Life to the Full, Mental Health in Australia Today’. The statement offers information on how we can care for our most vulnerable during the pandemic. It encourages faith communities, governments and each one of us, to make mental health a priority. Bishop Paul Bird introduced the Statement and outlined its contents highlighting the vulnerabilities in Australia. Bishop Paul outlined the challenges faced in seeking help for mental ill health and the human and financial costs involved. He reminded participants of how Jesus suffered psychological distress and offered care and healing to others.
Graeme Davy-Watts (Manager of Centacare, Mildura) talked to participants about the availability of mental health services in Australia today and what solutions-based supports, services and programs are available for parents and families for preventing mental ill health. Graeme shared strategies for maintaining mental health using positive psychology and focusing on personal strengths, connecting with others, being active, continuing to learn, being aware and helping others. The webinar empowered participants to both understand the issues around mental health and to reach out, encourage hope and bring fullness of life to those we love and care for. Participants attended from various areas in regional Victoria.
Download Graeme’s handout here
Watch The Webinar Here
Mental Health For Us All
The Commission also provides contact information of services to assist with mental health.