(ENInews)—Australian clerics are dismayed that the federal government has backed a plan to assess offshore those seeking asylum. They maintain such moves are short of a compassionate response as the government tries to curb people smuggling. The Uniting Church, Australia’s third largest denomination, said on 17 August that the government’s legislative endorsement of 22 recommendations from an expert panel headed by former Australian Defence Force Chief Angus Houston was “dismaying and distressing.” [350 words, ENI-12-0486]