Diocese of Sydney statement on anti-war rally and damage to St Andrew’s Cathedral

The Anglican Diocese of Sydney asks church members to pray that tensions in our city may ease, after a student protest held in Sydney Square yesterday degenerated into violence.

Before the anti-war rally, protesters entered the Cathedral and sprayed paint over the pulpit. Leadlight windows on the northern side of the Cathedral were smashed at a later stage. Total damage is estimated at between $2,000 and $4,000.

During the rally Cathedral staff were verbally assaulted and pelted with stones and other debris.

The media has reported that café chairs were thrown at police during the rally. These chairs are also owned by the Anglican Church.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, recently emphasised that the current Iraq conflict is not one between Christians and Muslims. In his pastoral letter to churches in the Diocese last week he said that he was personally uneasy about Australia’s involvement in the war, and called on all Anglicans to pray for peace.

“What is important now is that Christian people everywhere be united in praying for a speedy and just resolution to the conflict,” Dr Jensen said in his pastoral letter. “We should recognise also that this is not a war against Islam either at home or abroad. In particular, the Muslim people who live amongst us have all the rights of full citizens of our country, and deserve our respect, concern and practical demonstrations of love at this time.”