The Missionary Work of the Catholic
Church
The Welfare of Seafarers
We, the Catholic Bishops of Australia are
deeply edified by the response of the
Maritime Industry to the Forum on Seafarers’
Welfare held in Melbourne on 22-23 August
2000, sponsored by the Department of
Transport and Regional Services and hosted
by the Apostleship of the Sea and the
Australian Council of the Mission to
Seafarers.
We welcome and support the initiative
taken by the Governmental and Maritime
Industry to develop a National Seafarers’
Welfare Advisory Council and Port Welfare
Committees throughout Australia. It is vital
that the on-ship environment not put
seafarers’ lives in unnecessary danger or
seafarers in sub-human conditions of life
and work.
It is distressing that not all
ship-owners and charterers appear to be
earnestly seeking to ensure that their ships
are safe and their seafarers’ conditions
worthy of human beings. For example, some
“Flags of Convenience” ships continue to
operate with impunity, despite their having
little regard for human dignity, for our
country’s laws, and for our environment. As
we commend Australia’s maritime safety
authority for the stronger line it is taking
with regard to such ‘ships of shame’,
ceaseless vigilance and action on the part
of all who must or can assist the needs of
seafarers are called for.
The now scheduled development of Port
Seafarers’ Welfare Committees will not only
ensure the support of the work of seafarers’
welfare agencies: it will, at each local
level, help the efficiency and enhance the
reputation of the Australian Maritime
Industry and show the world that Australia
has deeply at heart the welfare of all.
The Australian Catholic
Bishops' Conference
May 2001 |
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In
fulfilling this mission to Seafarers, you
face a most challenging and difficult task.
You are dealing
with people who live in a dispersed milieu.
They face
painful problems, such as separation from
family and friends and the resulting
feelings of isolation and loneliness; for
extended periods of time they live and work
at a great distance from a territorial
parish.
In a real sense,
the Seafaring world has become a missionary
world.
Remember that
you are not alone in this awesome task. The
whole Church is one with you in solicitude
and prayer.
The local
Churches have a special role to play in the
pastoral care of seafarers and other migrant
groups.
John
Paul II
Vatican, 27 October 1982
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