Archbishop of Sydney

Unity in Adversity

By + George Pell
ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY
18 November 2001

By any international standard Australia is an example of community harmony but the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the war in Afghanistan have increased fear and tensions here in Australia also.

a mosque was burnt in Brisbane, there have been fires in Sydney churches, synagogues have been vandalised, Moslem girls in scarves and Jewish youths insulted. Minority groups especially are nervous about their safety.

Seventy percent of Australians are Christians and we must unite with other religions to ensure that religion does not become a cause or pretext for strife. Secondly we must work to make public opinion completely intolerant of violence as a means of expressing our differences.

a have included here the words a spoke at Government House on behalf of the Catholic community.

"Jesus Christ himself spelt out the two great Christian commandments, love of God and love of neighbour. The golden rule "love your neighbour as yourself" has entered the Australian soul. We now call it the right to a fair go. And Jesus of Nazareth defined his neighbour as a foreigner, from a race his people detested.

"Few communities had the brutal origins of the colony of New South Wales. But even fewer countries have built such a wonderful way of life for their people in one hundred and then two hundred years.

"We Australians have come here from many nations and religions, sometimes traditional enemies. Bad mistakes were made as the original inhabitants were dispossessed, often carelessly, sometimes brutally. It was adversity more than prosperity that has made us what we are; the struggle to open up the land, to educate children, to find and hold a job, to survive droughts, floods, war and depression.

"Australia has been good to us. We have prospered, we have protected our different traditions. We belong together with these differences-not despite them. In these new and challenging times-we should clearly acknowledge this. All Australians continue to deserve a fair go.

"Many experts tell us September 11 has changed our world. They may be right. Certainly we face a long, hard war against a terrorism inspired by fanatics who want to re-ignite ancient enmities. But new external challenges can be surmounted by strength at home.

"We Catholics, deriving from many nations, are proud and grateful Australians. We reject any notions of racial and religious war. We commit ourselves once again to respect the ancient rule of law, to celebrate and protect legitimate diversity, to pursue truth and faith, to foster generosity and compassion, to practise good will towards all our fellow Australians, whatever their race or beliefs."

Let us hope we can practise regularly what we preach. A couple of weeks ago a saintly old priest from Italy wrote to me urging that a ask people to pray for peace in the world. He was right. All those who pray in any way should be working and praying for peace at home and abroad.