Launch of Give Me Shelter: Dr Sev Ozdowski (2001)

Launch of Give Me Shelter

Speech by Human Rights Commissioner
Dr Sev Ozdowski at the launch of Give Me Shelter for the South
Australian Council of Churches, Adelaide, South Australia, 28 October
2001.

Recently, Human Rights
Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski visited Adelaide where, amongst other things,
he launched the booklet Give Me Shelter which is an interdenominational
production of the South Australian Council of Churches. The booklet uses
St. Matthew's Gospel to illustrate human rights issues and will assist study
groups in gaining greater understanding and compassion for refugees.

• Recent reports
  that the skeletal remains in the Basilica of Santa Giustina in Padua
  Italy are 99% confirmed by the scientific world to be those of St Luke's
  - gives today's launch an extraordinary feel.
  
  
  
• While the faithful
  may never have doubted the veracity of the gospels - in today's materialistic
  and scientific world - a little independent proof goes a long way!
  
  
  
• The Gospel According
  to St Matthew is probably the most humanistic of the four. Certainly
  it is infused with love and tenderness and, as the introduction to Give
  Me Shelter points out, "of all the Gospels, Matthew is the
  one closest to the refugee experience".
  
  
  
• At a time when
  "compassion for refugees" is in relatively short supply, this
  booklet - which relates actual refugee experiences to St Matthew's account
  of the life of Jesus - could not be better timed.
  
  
  
• Encouraging attendees
  at biblical study groups to reflect on these stories - thereby fostering
  a deeper consideration of the issues involved - can only be a force
  for change.
  
  
  
• As Human Rights
  Commissioner I am only too well aware that education is absolutely essential
  to a greater understanding of human rights issues.
  
  
  
• One of the key
  criteria by which I will benchmark my tenure as Human Rights Commissioner
  will be the extent of improved education and understanding of this subject.
  
  
  
• I am also most
  impressed with the direct and accessible language used to illustrate
  the key points in Give Me Shelter.
  
  
  
• Because much
  of the international human rights language is rooted in legalistic treaties
  and conventions, it is easy for practitioners to become subsumed in
  points of law and specialist acronyms that are unintelligible to the
  average Australian.
  
  
  
• If we are to
  encourage average men and women of Australia to become informed about
  human rights issues in this country it must be couched in direct, everyday
  language that is accessible to all.
  
  
  
• On that score
  this booklet is an outstanding success; one which I will keep in mind
  when composing my own writings.
  
  
  
• In closing can
  I refer briefly to Matthew 25:31-46 (page 24) which I consider to be
  one of those scriptural moments which should be a constant reproach
  to people of our ilk -

  Lord when
  was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave
  you to drink; a stranger and we welcomed you, naked and clothed
  you, sick or in prison and we visited you?

• And the son of
  man will answer:

  Truly I
  tell you, when you did these things to the very least of my family
  members - you did it to me.

• On that poignant
  note - it is my great pleasure to launch
  Give Me Shelter.

Last
updated 1 December 2001