Bishop Eugene Hurley of Darwin was quoted on the ABC's PM program, 20th October 2011, commenting during the Australian Bishops' Ad Limina visit to the Vatican on social issues in Australia.
MARK COLVIN: The Pope has heard in person the concerns of some in the church in Australia about this country's treatment of asylum seekers. They were raised as a priority issue in Rome as part of a visit by Australian bishops.
The bishops are about to wrap-up a significant pilgrimage to Italy, and the Bishop of Darwin, Eugene Hurley, believes his campaign against mandatory detention of asylum seekers is making a difference to public opinion.
The bishops are required to visit the Pope in Rome every five years but this month's visit is the first such pilgrimage in seven years.
MICHAEL COGGAN: Australian bishops visiting Rome as part of the first ad limina pilgrimage in seven years have been discussing those challenges in recent days directly with Pope Benedict.
The Bishop of Darwin, Eugene Hurley, says arguing against Australia's mandatory detention of asylum seekers continues to be one of his priorities.
EUGENE HURLEY: Sadly I've had to report that I'm embarrassed by the way we have treated them and I'm concerned about the leadership of my country.
MICHAEL COGGAN: Bishop Hurley believes Australian public opinion is beginning to turn against mandatory detention.
EUGENE HURLEY: But I think there is a change of heart. I think that Australians are basically people with a big heart. I believe that. I love being an Australia. I love being over here and very publicly Australian.
I think we've got a big heart and that's what makes me feel hurt and sad when we appear to be so miserable.
MICHAEL COGGAN: Eugene Hurley is also advocating for long term policies to support people living in remote Aboriginal communities.
EUGENE HURLEY: We need generational plans for our Indigenous people who have been so disposed and who find themselves now on the permitter of their own country which is a scandal.
MICHAEL COGGAN: Bishop Hurley says his message is being heard in Rome, and that can make a difference.
Earlier this year, July 6th 2011, Bishop Hurley spoke on Detention Centres:
The Northern Territory's Catholic Bishop says the Federal Government must respond to five attempted suicides in the past week at Darwin's Immigration Detention Centre by speeding up the processing of claims.
Meeting with refugee advocates in Darwin last night, Bishop Eugene Hurley said the Government's "political solution" to dealing with asylum seekers is pushing detainees to attempt suicide in unacceptable numbers.
"It's a psychological sign that people are beyond caring or beyond their limits of coping," he said.
The meeting focused on a recent spike in attempted harm, hunger strikes and five suicide attempts in the past week.
The Government says it is trying to speed up processing and is offering counselling.
Carl O'Connor from the Darwin asylum seeker support network says after initial checks have been done, asylum seekers should be released.
"Then they [could] live in facilities run by organisations like the Red Cross until their claims are processed," he said.
Mr O'Connor says the Government must do something to stop the self-harming.
Bishop Hurley says detention centres are "factories for mental illness" because of the lengthy delays in processing the refugee status of detainees.
"These are signs and symptoms of serious mental stress," he said.
"I have seen a young man swan dive into the razor wire ... in a detention centre.
"It is an ugly sight. People don't do that, as I say, just for fun or because they are having a bit of a tantrum."
Bishop Hurley says some people had been granted refugee status but had been waiting more than 12 months for final clearance check by ASIO.
