Category: News

We would all agree that respect for diverse religious tradition is part of what has made Australia a nation that enjoys multiculturalism.

Recent events in Melbourne raise concerns about what is happening to undermine social cohesion, and has heightened concerns about safety for faith communities.

The arson attack on the East Melbourne synagogue was a criminal act that could have been so much worse had the Fire Brigade around the corner not been able to respond as quickly as it did. Rev Fr Michael Bowie (St Peter’s Eastern Hill Anglican Church) was able to offer practical support to the congregation. Archbishop Comensoli organised a gathering of faith leaders to show solidarity with the Jewish congregation.

On July 7th, Shia Muslims held a procession that was part of a religious commemoration of Ashura – a significant day in Islam, particularly for Shia Muslims. It marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who stood against injustice and oppression 1400 years ago and died for what he believed in – which happened to be a peaceful and spiritual version of Islam. Processions take place in major cities all over the world. In Melbourne, this procession has happened for the last 12 years without incident. It was peaceful again this year, and praised by the Victorian Police. But some are making mischief and deliberately misrepresenting the procession. Archbishop Peter Comensoli has issued a statement to counter the false claims being circulated on social media. He writes:

‘Friends- I wish to make you aware of the following Statement that I have made available today (23rd July)…
“On 7 July, members of the Shia Muslim faith community in Melbourne engaged in a religious procession through the streets of Melbourne. This was a peaceful event that has occurred annually for over a decade. This procession has been misrepresented in some quarters as an attack on Christians and, specifically, on St Patrick’s Cathedral. This is simply not the case. Like all Victorians, the Islamic community is entitled to exercise freedom of religion. As Catholics, we expect nothing less. I am now aware of a rally being organised for this weekend which appears to be a protest against the procession. Such a rally does nothing for peace and harmony, nor for promoting religious freedom. I strongly urge people not to attend the rally and hope the organisers have the wisdom to call it off. Instead, I urge Catholics and all people of good will to take up the call of Pope Leo to pray for peace in our world, for an end to war and suffering. As Catholics, we place our trust in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. May He reign in all our hearts”.

And in this past week, three disturbing incidents.

On Friday, a suspicious package was found in the city mosque, and as a result Friday prayers had to be shut down and the congregation evacuated. The incident is a shameful act to deliberately interfere with the worshipping community for Friday prayers.

On Monday night 4 hooded persons defaced the Swami Narayan Temple (Hindu) in Boronia with a vile slogan and image. (No media attention to date). The Premier has responded with a strong letter of support.

As she points out, the incident is hateful and racist.

Congregations and community groups in the Boronia area (and beyond) – consider reaching out to the Swami Narayan Temple to offer support in the light of this disturbing incident.

Makarand Bhagwat, President, Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria), wrote: ‘Yes, the community is hurt. We do gather together in such tragic moments to express our solidarity and issue a statement. Which is really good. But in my view much more is needed beyond issuing a statement. I think the (perpetrators) don’t understand the contribution we as a multicultural / migrant community bring to the State and Nation. Without this contribution the Centrelink would be bankrupt, for example. We are marching on the vision of Hon Gough Whitlam and Hon Malcolm Fraser who envisioned the power of migration and we continue to do more’.

Rt Revd Dr Paul Barker responded:

“I am so sad to read and see of this and hope that the perpetrators will be found. On behalf of the Anglican church we abhor this activity and want you and your community to know we stand with you in solidarity, in peace and harmony, and delight in your contributions to our multicultural and multi-faith diverse community. We are happy to continue to work with you and MAG for a more socially cohesive and harmonious society”.
Grace and peace, Paul

And on Tuesday morning an intruder broke into the city mosque and defecated and urinated on the stairway.

This is all very serious, and indicative of a gross disregard for the right to exercise freedom of religion and worship. Such acts have no place in our diverse and inclusive society.

It calls for all communities of faith to stand together and to support each other’s right to worship.

Batul Gulani, a represenative of the AMAFHH Federation, a Shia Muslim organisation, and a member of Victoria’s Multifaith Advisory Group, has stated: ‘An attack on a place of worship is an attack on the shared values of peace, safety and sacredness that unite all faiths. We condemn such hateful acts and offer unwavering support for the right to gather, pray and live without fear’.

Archbishop Comensoli has previously stated: “To be able to stand together, to come together in healing and in reconciliation and in respect of one another is … a message that is so much needed for our city at this moment. There is no place for intimidation. There is no place for violence by way of what we say or even by our actions. There is a place to be able to speak with one another and to grapple with one another … to come to a better sense of truth. And all of that needs to be a part of what we might do as people of faith in the one God and [in] the hope that … we can move towards a way of walking together, rather than a walking and acting apart.’

 

 

 

(an open letter that may be helpful for faith leaders, and congregations/ places of worship in response to the public announcements in Victoria regarding protest actions around places of worship, calling for the government to undertake wide-ranging and close consultation with leaders and members of all Victoria’s faith communities in relation to proposed legislation on protest near places of worship).

Dear Premier/Attorney General/Minister for Multiculturalism,

As leaders of faith communities in Victoria, we are writing in response to the Government’s public announcements proposing that laws be enacted to restrict protest actions around places of worship.

We agree that people practicing their faith should be able to do so safely, free from harassment, intimidation and violence. Acts of violence or intimidation against people attending places of worship or members of multicultural communities are abhorrent and should be treated with the utmost seriousness. However, instances of violence, harassment or intimidation in the vicinity of religious institutions are already covered by existing legislation, including provisions in the Crimes Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

Public protests in Victoria or anywhere else should not be conflated with interference with the practice of worship or violent acts towards faith communities. We believe restrictions on the right to protest should be kept to a minimum because of the important role public protest actions play in helping to create a more ethical, just, peaceful and environmentally-safe society. For people of faith, participating in protest actions can be an integral part of living out our values. This can include participating in actions outside our own and other places of worship.

The Premier’s suggestion of ‘no-protest zones’ around places of worship is concerning. This kind of blanket restriction could effectively restrict the freedom of faith communities to express their support for social and environmental causes, from calling for an end to approvals of new coal and gas projects, to condemning child sex abuse by clergy, to standing up for the rights of refugees. Churches and other faith communities’ places of worship have long served as hubs for public dialogue as well as of worship. Restricting protests near them risks symbolically isolating them from democratic life and undermining their public mission.

We also note that many places of worship are located near common protest locations, including throughout Melbourne CBD, as well as in town and city centres around Victoria. Any restrictions on protests in these locations would have a serious impact on the capacity of all communities in Victoria to express their views.

We urge that, in your legitimate concern to protect worshippers, you do not introduce legislation that may have the unintended consequence of preventing faith communities from speaking out against the wrongs they see around them and from encouraging public dialogue.

Given the significant impact of the proposed laws, we request that your government undertake wide-ranging and close consultation with leaders and members of all Victoria’s faith communities.

Yours faithfully,

Ian Weeks
Ian Weeks was born in Azamgarth, UP, India. He taught Religious Studies, Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion at the University of Melbourne, Yale University (USA), McMaster University (Canada), and Deakin University. He has had a research interest in Jewish and Islamic mysticism. He has published widely in journals, given lectures on Radio National and acted as a judge in the Blake Prize for Religious Art.

Ian also had a long history of contributing to Ecumenical committees across the UCA Synod of VicTas. He passed away last week,

A Memorial Service will be held at Wesley Uniting Church,
100 Yarra Street, Geelong on Friday 27th June at 11.30am.

12 June 2025

‘Even the stones cry out’ for Palestine and Israel

Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’ As he came near and saw the city [of Jerusalem], he wept over it saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes.’ (Luke 19:40-43, NRSVA)

As Christians around the world celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, we hear again the call to envisage a world that deeply honours every member of the human family and God’s creation. The coming of the Holy Spirit proclaims a vision of unity that does not erase our differences or force uniformity. Instead, cultural and linguistic diversity is witnessed and affirmed, and we discover a family resemblance not based on colour, language, ethnicity or race.

In sharing this Pentecost dream of a renewed world, our hearts at this time are heavy as we name the tremendous suffering of our world that is caused when we fail to see the image of God in one another.

We restate our commitment to care for the most marginalised and vulnerable, working for a more just world, sharing resources as our Christian faith holds us to a vision of God’s love that includes all people.

Where there are places of conflict and disaster, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) provides aid and support through our international aid agency, Act for Peace.

In Gaza the situation is more desperate and dangerous by the day. Act for Peace is working with partners on the ground to provide primary health care for women and children, medical care for those injured from shrapnel and by sustained bombardment of schools and hospitals, endure lack of shelter, food, clean water and face infection and malnourishment as every day goes by without humanitarian assistance.

Mr Archie Law AM, Interim CEO Act for Peace:

“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza demands immediate action from world leaders. There must be an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing. Humanitarian agencies must be guaranteed full, safe, and unrestricted access to reach civilians who are in desperate need of food, water, shelter and medical assistance. “

Katie Roxburgh, Programme Officer, Israel & the occupied Palestinian territory at Christian Aid (CAID), about the humanitarian programme being run in Gaza with the support of Act for Peace and NCCA:

“Christian Aid’s local partners in Gaza are deeply rooted in their communities and have been the first responders to this humanitarian crisis and continue to provide lifesaving assistance to communities in need. Our partners have shown incredible strength in what is a horrendous situation on the ground. They are using what is available to them, including local farmers producing fruit and vegetables to distribute to the most vulnerable, rehabilitating destroyed wells for water supply and setting up makeshift classrooms in shelters for children’s education.”

Rev John Gilmore, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA):

We support the statement of the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee on 15 May 2025 that condemns the atrocities being perpetrated in Gaza by the State of Israel, recognizing that the current government is pursuing policies that are not supported by many Israelis.

We cannot sit by any longer. Churches in Australia and the world cannot remain silent in the face of such appalling inhumanity. Together with the WCC executive committee, we call urgently for:

• An immediate and unconditional ceasefire;
• An end to the blockade of Gaza, and to all forms of collective punishment of the population of the territory;
• Immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need in Gaza; and
• Coordinated international action to halt the destruction, to provide sufficient humanitarian assistance commensurate with the scale of the need as assessed by the United Nations and independent humanitarian agencies, and to bring perpetrators of crimes under international law to justice.

Beyond Gaza, we are concerned that the policies and actions of the Israeli authorities are posing increasingly grave threats to the Palestinian communities of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including for the churches and Christian communities of the region. We appeal for equal justice and rights for all people, in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and throughout the region.

We thank our Australian Government for joining with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom in committing to sanctions against Israeli Government Ministers. 

With the Patriarchs and heads of churches of the Holy Land we are compelled to speak out against the grave threat of mass displacement. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow over the suffering being endured in the land where Jesus walked.

The Pentecost vision is of a world renewed where all of God’s children are valued, protected, safe and given the opportunity to flourish.

END
Contact: NCCA Secretariat, secretariat@ncca.org.au  Tel. 02 9299 2215

Justice Matters Camp ignites Young Hearts and Minds
(originally published in Sandpiper e-news, 13 June 2025)

An energetic group of 80 students and teachers from ten Sandhurst Catholic secondary colleges gathered in Beechworth last week for the 22nd annual Justice Matters Camp, a fast-paced, 24-hour experience designed to awaken, equip and empower young leaders for justice.

Coordinated by Catholic Education Sandhurst (CESL) in partnership with Caritas Australia and schools, the camp invited students to explore complex social justice issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

Now more than ever, students, teachers and schools are becoming increasingly engaged, global citizens through robust global education curriculum in schools. The camp aims to empower students to make a difference in their communities and the world.

Kylie Smith, CESL’s Source of Life Curriculum Learning Leader and camp organiser, said the goal was for students to see that justice begins at home. “We want students to know they can be socially conscious people and justice leaders in their own lives, in their own communities,” she said.

After some spirited icebreakers, students dived into a series of elective workshops on topics ranging from First Nations’ justice, refugee support, human trafficking and modern-day slavery, environmental stewardship, and sustainable eating. Kylie’s own workshop on ecological spirituality ended with a tactile meditation using gum nuts and banksia pods. “For many, it was the first time they’d ever touched a banksia pod,” she said. “We invited students to take home the seeds that fell from the banskia pods and plant them in their gardens or in pots as a small but powerful act of hope.”

In a standout experience, students took part in Caritas’ Global Reality Meal, where food was unevenly distributed to simulate global inequality: 20% received a feast, others had a basic meal, and the rest received plain rice. “It wasn’t fair – and that was exactly the point,” said one student. The experience brought home the reality of global food injustice and lit a fire for action.

The day concluded with a quiet and deeply moving Compline Prayer and Meditation and Ignatian Examen led by Kylie. “It’s a time to pause, reflect, and ask: How did I grow today? When did God feel closest?” she said. “It was a beautiful moment of calm after such a full day.”

Day two turned reflection into action. Students explored how to move from charity to justice – beyond awareness to meaningful change – and each school developed a plan to bring the Caritas Turn Debt into Hope campaign to life back home.

The final liturgy sent everyone out with a mission: to be the spark that ignites the flame of justice in their communities.

As Sandhurst Social Justice and Caritas Coordinator, Kerry Stone put it, “It was a joy to work with so many passionate young people. They left fired up, ready to make a difference.”

 

A number of issues emerged over the ANZAC 2025 weekend that shone a spotlight on these concerns.

Melbourne Storm cancelled a welcome to country at its Anzac Day NRL match, leaving Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, an Aboriginal elder, “broken-hearted”. Auntie Joy said, “We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them [realise] that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.”

The cancellation came after several people interrupted the Welcome to Country at a Melbourne dawn service when Bunurong elder Mark Brown began his Welcome to Country. Their booing was drowned out by the rest of the crowd, who cheered in protest against the disruption. (Statement from Bunurong Senior Elder Uncle Mark Brown in response to the booing during his Welcome To Country at the ANZAC Day Service here).

At the MCG later in the day, there was then warm applause before and after Wurundjeri man Uncle Colin Hunter junior gave the Welcome to Country.

Noting on ANZAC Day that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have served in every major war involving Australia, from the Boer War to Afghanistan. They have served in the ground, air, sea, and on horseback. Despite restrictions and discrimination, thousands have enlisted and served. Regrettably, there has been a historical erasure of the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people in mainstream media.

Some politicians (and others in the community) suggest the Welcome to Country/Acknowledgement of Country is overdone. There is pushback to having the Acknowledgement of Country at the start of meetings and church services. There are political aspirants who say they don’t need to be welcomed to their own country.

As an important side note, Anglican Canon Glenn Loughrey has said that the acknowledgement of country is important but only needs to be done once at a meeting or event, not by every speaker.

It is disappointing to hear in the political debates leading up to the election that there is a conflation of the Referendum ‘no’ on the Voice with other aspects that have not been tested (Truth, Treaty), and a preparedness to abandon all aspects of the Uluru statement. Truth and Treaty are core to the ongoing Yoorrook Commission in Victoria, which will hand down its report in June. 

How will we navigate this going forward, Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together?