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Churches in Bendigo are considering whether to join a nation-wide movement to offer sanctuary to the 276 asylum seekers – including 37 babies – facing immediate deportation to Nauru.
More than 10 Anglican churches invoked the ancient Christian tradition to offer protection to the asylum seekers last week following a High Court ruling which upheld the legality of the government's offshore processing regime.
Dean John Roundhill said St Paul’s Cathedral was “seriously considering” joining the growing number of churches willing to face the prospect of police raids by offering sanctuary.
“Certainly we’ll be doing our best to support those cathedrals that are offering sanctuary and we ourselves will consider if it would be useful for us to do so here as well,” Dean Roundhill said.
The Anglican dean said a decision must be made by the cathedral council and taken to the congregation – a process which would occur within a fortnight.
“In the meantime, we will do our best to help support the 267 people who are in limbo between Australia and Nauru,” he said.
Anglican churches in Melbourne last week said they could not offer sanctuary to asylum seekers because they were not equipped to provide accommodation – putting the Melbourne Anglican diocese at great odds with its counterparts around the rest of the country.
Only one church in Melbourne – St John's Uniting Church in Essendon – publicly expressed interest in invoking the ancient Christian tradition last week, although others have since followed suit.
Uniting churches in Bendigo are also considering whether to follow the example of St John’s.
The minister for Eaglehawk, Reverend Cynthia Page, said she could not comment for the church before a meeting on the subject this Wednesday.
“Speaking for myself, I’m strongly against sending children back [to Nauru],” Reverend Page said.
“I want our government to keep them here.”
Reverend Page said she would be attending the ‘Let Them Stay’ rally tonight. The rally is being held at the View Street end of Rosalind Park from 7pm.
Reverend Page’s personal sentiments were shared by Dean Roundhill.
“As a fundamental human right, children do not belong in detention – it’s doing enormous damage to a young and innocent generation ” he said.
“And children belong with their families, that should be another point of principle.
“I think we should be incredibly cautious about offshoring our responsibility to other places and that, as a country, we should do our best to offer hospitality and welcome.”
It is not a sentiment shared by the entire community however.
Last month, St Paul’s ‘Let’s Fully Welcome Refugees’ poster was stolen from the front of the building.