Discuss Theology

Christian leaders call for harmony
Jill Rowbotham, Religious affairs writer
December 14, 2005

CHRISTIAN leaders combined yesterday to call on politicians to look at the underlying causes of the cycle of race riots and reprisals afflicting southern Sydney.

Cardinal George Pell, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen and Lebanese Maronite Catholic Bishop Ad Abikaram deplored the violence and offered their help in attacking its root causes.

Bishop Abikaram, who represents Australia’s approximately 130,000 Maronite Christians, reaffirmed their loyalty to Australia and said they were “proud to put Australia first”.

“As Australian Christians of Lebanese background, we offer our unqualified support to the Government in its quest to preserve law and order in our society,” Bishop Abikaram said.

He said his community offered “a hand of friendship to Australian Muslims of Lebanese background, as well as to Australians of all backgrounds, when the need is apparent to work as one community to resolve problems, whatever their cause. We must do this for the sake of the future of Australia.”

“With my fellow Australians, I am appalled at the violence perpetrated. We support the Government and the police in their efforts to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”

He said it was necessary to address the root causes that led young people “to commit wanton acts of vandalism and violence”.

“I believe that it is critical to the resolution of this problem that we as a community foster in all young people a sense of self-esteem and belonging to Australia.”

Cardinal Pell threw the authority of the Catholic Church behind efforts to calm the situation.

“Local Catholic communities and authorities are prepared to co-operate in any useful way to foster harmony and eliminate violence,” Archbishop Pell said.

“The Cronulla riots and the Maroubra reprisals were a disgrace. All people of goodwill should reject the extremists in both camps and work together so that this is the end of major disturbances, not the beginning of something worse.”

Archbishop Jensen urged leaders to examine the causes of community tensions which he said had obviously been building for some time.

“We must look to the root causes of this social disharmony, seek authentic information about them, and deal with those matters,” he said.

“All citizens must pledge themselves to supporting appropriate measures from government and community leaders.”