AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-1998
WA: Archbishops Christmas wish for peace
PERTH, Dec 25 AAP - Perth's archbishops pleaded for world peace today as their Christmas
sermons turned to the recent conflict in Iraq.
Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey described this century as the worst of all for violence
and conflict and asked people to love and forgive one another.
"It is quite unrealistic to think that world peace will ever be achieved through military
action and killing," Archbishop Hickey told his congregation.
"The cessation of hostilities is all that can be achieved until the resentments surface
again in violence.
"International respect and cooperation are necessary prerequisites for peace on a world
scale, just as genuine love, respect and forgiveness are necessary conditions for peace in
families and among friends."
Anglican Archbishop Peter Carnley said not only the approach to Christmas but that
of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan had been shattered by the bombing of Baghdad.
He said all Australians had been implicated in the violence by the federal government's
support of the United States and British action.
"We can only hope and pray that the decision to bomb was wisely taken and absolutely
necessary given the longer term security interests in the Middle East," Archbishop Carnley
said.
"Whatever the outcome of the judgment on history in relation to these matters, our peace
this Christmas has been shattered."
He warned against thinking peace meant inactivity.
"Real peace is won by engagement not in silence. It is the outcome of grappling
responsibility with tension rather than shelving all responsibilities or backing away from
disturbing issues," Archbishop Carnley said.
"Peace is something that is achieved with the gracious help of God with us in the quest
for justice and equity, a fair share in the delivery of care and well being in the community."
AAP kbw/cfm/br
KEYWORD: XMAS CHURCHES WA
1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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