9/11 Brings Religions Together
APRO is an umbrella group representing most religions throughout Australia. APRO has issued a statement on the 10th anniversary of 9/11…the day the twin towers in New York were attacked by terrorists.
Their statement reads:
We, the representatives of the major religions affiliated to the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations (APRO), remember with sorrow the events which took place in the United States ten years ago on September 11 (“9/11”). We mourn the victims, and unite in condemnation of all acts of violence perpetrated in the name of religion.
As members of APRO, we resolve to play our part in the effort to ensure that such actions are relegated to history.
Accordingly, we undertake to continue and intensify our endeavour to combat all forms of religious prejudice, discrimination and the incitement of religious hatred. To this end, the leaders of the religions affiliated to APRO will act vigorously to encourage the pursuit of knowledge and peaceful dialogue among people of all religious beliefs, and to prevent the emergence of any material and practice that denigrates, insults or vilifies the followers of any other religion.
Our organisations acknowledge the Australian achievement of an open and welcoming society in which the members of all religious groups enjoy mutual respect and acceptance. We will be vigilant to preserve this achievement, and to act as partners in the creation of a culture of peace and respect for human rights and dignity.
We call on all our members to develop and improve information, discussion and educational exchange programs which encourage personal contact and respectful
understanding between the members of the different religions.
The signatories:
Australian Baha’i Community
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
Australian Multicultural Foundation
Australian Sangha Association
Executive Council of Australian Jewry
Federation of African Communities Councils
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia’s Women’s Interfaith Network Hindu Community
National Council of Churches in Australia
Religions for Peace (Australia)
Settlement Council of Australia
Sikh Community
UNESCO Chair, Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific, Monash University
Am I the only one missing APRO calling on their members to not only re-educate Australians so they may become better dhimmies; but to actually cleanse, abrogate or purge their own scripture, commentary and doctrine from all ongoing incitement to violence, eternal glorification of violence against non-believers, and demeaning and discriminatory commentary towards non-believers and the female-half of humanity?
It pays to consider not all religions and cultures are equally suited to become the foundation of a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society.
Once we acknowledge there are not too many reports of Jewish highjackers flying airplanes into structures in islamabad, or Buddhist terror commandos killing non-Buddhists, or Christian suicide bombers blowing up mosques; once we make this honest assessment of the facts before us, only then can we face the real problem and – hopefully – constructively work towards a real solution. Closing our eyes and singing kumbajah does not make the elephant in the room into a butterfly.
It just makes the animal more brazen. Thank You