CATH NEWS REPORT: Asylum seekers will be moved into presbyteries and other church-owned properties in Melbourne's eastern suburbs before Christmas, as part of the plan to bring families out of detention, reports theHerald Sun.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Hotham Mission Asylum-Seeker Project, behind the scheme, says they are in talks to have the families moved, but residents have raised fears about the program, which has been shrouded in secrecy.
The Catholic church has declined to give details, including what security checks would be in place.
Two presbyteries on offer are in Melbourne's leafy eastern suburbs of Deepdene and Balwyn.Parishioners were told of the plan at a service last week. One parishioner said they were told up to four families would be moving in.
But other locals, not associated with the church, said they had no idea about the plan. Some residents were concerned about the ability of the families to assimilate into the community and the type of security checks that have been done.
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