On the 13th December 2005 religious leaders from the two main denominations came out to condemn extremists from both sides while praising the NSW police for doing a good job at a difficult time. As the media statements were released by these leaders the violence generated at Cornulla on Sunday continue to spread throughout Sydney.
Cardinal George Pell from Sydney releases a statement describing the mob violence as ‘disgraceful’ and believes these senseless actions should be censure by ‘all people of goodwill’.
In the cardinal statement it read: “This trouble has been brewing on the beaches and in the suburbs for some years and was made worse by alcohol and possibly by marijuana. Everyone should be free to go to any beach and be free from harassment, whatever their background. Violent action by vigilante groups anywhere is not acceptable."
Cardinal Pell fully supports the NSW Police Commissioner ‘strong enforcement approach’ and offer to cooperate in ‘useful ways to foster harmony and eliminate violence.’
Dr Peter Jensen the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney also releases a statement deploring the rampage at Cornulla saying it ‘was a substantial concern for all Australians.’ Describing the mob as ‘drunken and hate-filled’ Dr Jensen said: “There is no place in our free, democratic and civil society for racist and mob violence.”
The Archbishop stress a stakeholder approach must be adopted to examine and tackle the root cause of this social disharmony. The State government must ‘create a framework of personal safety and rule of law’ and the citizens ‘must pledge themselves to support the appropriate measures from government and community leaders. He went on to say: “Faith leaders must do much more in their communities to assist.”
As Christmas approaches Archbishop Jensen extol Jesus Christ and use him an example of how he brought peace in a turbulent time. The statement read: “Jesus himself modelled values of peace and justice. The early Christian community was taught to live in harmony with one another, and not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. These are the values of Jesus kingdom; that if they are evidence in a society it will bring peace and harmony to all.”
Sydneyanglicans.net reported the reaction of Anglicans ministers who are rector of their respective churches which are position close by to the Sunday violence. Reverend Ian Cox the rector of Brighton-Rockdale want a greater police presence in the area saying: “People become brazen in their disobedience of the law because there is no policing.” Reverend Richard Humphries the rector of Cronulla believe the ‘unruly’ youth culture is to blame rather than their ethnicity of the mob. The Assistant Minister in Miranda the Reverend Graeme Howells believes part of the solution to this disharmony: “Is found in the underlining heart of the Christian culture.” He is asking local ministry to: “Gather together for prayer and repentance. I think we have to in some ways repent of our culture.”