Christian-Islamic Spiritual Summit
10 May 2011
Statement
Initiated
by the Australian Christian-Islamic Friendship Society, under the auspice of
the Most Rev Issam John Darwish BSO, DD on this date, at the Melkite Catholic
Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, and in the presence of the Eminencies,
the Excellencies and the representatives of Eastern Churches in Australia, this
Christian-Islamic Spiritual Summit was held, to discuss the critical recent
developments around the Arab world. The attendees denounced the unprecedented
violence towards the helpless citizens, who roared the streets seeking freedom
and democracy, and denounced the counter attacks by various factions, only
pushing those nations into religious and denominational conflicts and civil wars.
The
Egyptian scene is typically suspicious where we see various organisations and
bodies thriving the flames of religious conflicts, after the failure to face
the youth’ revolutionary acts, where the Cross and the Crescent solidly
embraced, aiming to achieve liberty and freedom. It is equally hurting to see
other Arab countries going through similar events, costing the nation thousands
of martyrs and casualties let alone what
has happened in Iraq earlier. All those scenes are not beneficial in any way to
our Arabic Nation, through which various civilisations and heavenly religions
once lived in peace.
We
insist and call for the necessity of solidarity and unity of people to preserve
the unity of our nations, the peace of our people the freedom of our lands,
destiny and wealths, and of prime importance is the human being in whom God
bestowed His Spirit.
Additionally,
we emphasise that extremism and terrorism, of any party, denomination or
religion, have no identification or belonging except to evil, who continually
work on inflicting hatred and hostility among people, wherever possible. The
attendees strictly and clearly condemn attacks on all religious minorities
around the Arab world, especially the Christians in Egypt
and Iraq.
The attendees also condemn attacks on churches, mosques and all places of
worship. This Summit
address this call to all those in-charge, both spiritually and politically,
mainly the following dignitaries:
1- His Holiness Pope Benedictus 16th,
who had, few months ago, held a Synod attended by Christian and Islamic leaders
in Vatican.
The Synod’s main objects were the Middle Eastern Christians, and to support
their coexisting with their Muslim brethren as has been in the past and over
the centuries.
2- The honoured institute of Al-Azhar
and its scholars, who have adopted a moderate stance towards all forms of
religious conflicts. We ask them to renew their calls for religious and
patriotic education both in Egypt
and its neighbouring countries.
3- We call all rulers and leaders of
Arabic countries, especially the Egyptian Government, to root out all religious
conflicts and to take clear measures which in effect disallow such conflicts
from spreading among Arab races.
4- We Call the United Nations to
undertake its humanitarian role to protect people and human rights.
5- We call on the Public Opinion
through accredited embassies in Australia,
to retain communications with Australian Government, to denounce all violent
practices and place measures on fighting and aggression.
6- The Attendees denounce and
condemn the aggressive and inhumane practices by Israel
towards the innocent helpless citizens both at South Lebanon, Palestine, Golan, especially those sad events
during the recent calamity memorial.
7- We, Muslims and Christians, pray
and call God, to bestow His peace to our Arab world, to distance the religious
fractions to achieve peaceful cohabitation. We also call all members of various
Arabic communities within Australia
not to be dragged into those conflicts. We ask all to do more, or the most
could be done, to achieve harmony and solidarity, which would reflect
positively on our mother-lands, and to reflect an ideal civilian model for
peace and communal living.
Issued
from Christian-Islamic Spiritual Summit
Sydney, Australia.
19
May 2011
Signed
by,
Sheikh
Malek Zeidan, Representative of Fatwa’ House,
Lebanon.
Sheikh
Kamal Moselmane, Representative, Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, Australia.
Sheikh
Yehia Safy, Imam, Mosque of El-Imam, Lakemba, Sydney.
Sheikh,
Dr. Abdel Nasser Shamsein, President, Islamic Legislating Council.
Sheikh
Mounir El-Hahim, Endorsee, Druze, Sydney.
Metropolitan
Aad abi-Karam, Pastor, Diocese of Australia, represented by Father Dr Antoin
Tarabay.
Metropolitan
Youhanna Darwish, Pastor, Roman Melekite Catholic Diocese of Australia & New Zealand.
Very
Reverend Father Tadros Simon, Vicar General, Coptic Orthodox Diocese, Sydney & Affiliated
Regions.
Very
Reverend Father Shenouda Mansour, Parish Priest, St Antonious & St Paul Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Sydney & Affiliated Regions.
Reverend
Father Melhem Haikal, Secretary, Roman Catholic Diocese, Australia.