The Executive of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has affirmed the Bringing Them Home report and its recommendations.
The statement was adopted after consultation between national heads of churches and the NCCA’s Aboriginal and Islander Commission. It appears on the eve of May 26 commemorations of the Journey of Healing.
Text follows :-
Australian governments of the past adopted laws which gave warrant to practices resulting in many Indigenous children being inappropriately and forcibly removed from their families.
It was a complex tragedy. But the fundamental truth of the stories of the Stolen Generations, and their pain, cannot be denied. As representatives of the churches, we call on our people, and the nation at large, to acknowledge the validity of the Bringing Them Home report and its recommendations.
The harm experienced by Indigenous people, and the healing that has been too long delayed, cry out for attention by governments, by others involved, by all Australians.
Christians must try to understand what happened from the perspective of the Christian faith. As church leaders, we commit ourselves to reflect theologically on the trauma experienced by the Stolen Generations and by the nation as a whole, and on our calling to be bearers of reconciliation.
In consultation with the Stolen Generations, we will
- help educate the churches on their involvement in the history of the Indigenous child removal,
- make church and agency records accessible,
- identify ways of supporting Indigenous groups working with removed people, and
- address instances of alleged abuses, particularly in church-related institutions.
Many churches have offered apologies and taken steps towards reconciliation. Reaffirming these initiatives, recognising the pain and trauma of the Stolen Generations, we advocate the establishment of a healing commission. The churches stand ready to participate in such a commission in whatever way may be appropriate.
Further, the churches support the establishment by the Council of Australian Governments of a national fund, as part of the healing process. We call on all Australian governments, whose predecessors legislated for laws which gave warrant to practices leading to the Stolen Generations, to contribute generously to the fund. Because all Australians were represented by those governments, all Australians and all agencies – including church agencies – which cooperated with such practices are urged to contribute to the fund.
Our churches will continue to pray and work for the healing of the nation.
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This statement has been endorsed by the following churches:
- Anglican Church of Australia - Archbishop Peter Carnley
- Antiochian Orthodox Church - Archbishop Paul Saliba
- Armenian Apostolic Church - Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
- Churches of Christ - The Revd Peter Overton
- Greek Orthodox Church - Archbishop Stylianos
- Lutheran Church of Australia - The Revd Mike Semmler
- Religious Society of Friends - Colin Wendell-Smith
- Roman Catholic Church - Archbishop Francis Carroll
- Romanian Orthodox Church - The Revd Dr Gabriel Popescu
- Salvation Army (Eastern Territory) - Commissioner Brian Morgan
- Salvation Army (Southern Territory) - Commissioner Douglas Davis
- Syrian Orthodox Church - The Very Revd Zeki Zitoun
- Uniting Church in Australia - The Revd Professor James Haire
