Last Tuesday our local member, Maria Vamvakinou MHR, invited Kevin Rudd MHR to address representatives from the Christian Churches and other faiths to discuss interfaith dialogue in multicultural communities. The Sunbury clergy from the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist Churches postponed their normal monthly meeting to be present.
He began by saying multiculturalism had benefitted Australians in three ways: firstly by enriching our cuisine; secondly, new migrants and refugees brought us a freshness, by their spirit of enterprise making employment opportunities; and thirdly, each wave of migrants challenges those already present here, but it keeps our country young.
We can show the world how to do get on as we work well togther. It also gives us bridges back to the world.
Some state that faith and religion divide people. Not so, he said. The Abrahamic religions (Jewish, Christian, Moslem) all have mutual respect at their core.
Kevin Rudd said he is optimistic for the future. Australia has a first-class relationship with Indonesia, the largest Moslem country in the world with 260 million peopls. Our relationship shows the world how to co-exist. Another miracle of modern Australia is how our indigenous brothers and sisters have accepted our apology and reconiliation is proceeding. Most Australians have respect for diversity. It is better to ignore the hate– talkers as what the haters fear most is non-publicity.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 