Catholic Religious Australia says there is “no place in Australia for attacks on places of worship” as it condemned the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday.
In a statement yesterday, CRA – the peak representative body for the leaders of religious institutes and societies of apostolic life – said it condemned the attack “in the strongest terms”.
“People of faith must be safe and secure to practice their religion,” CRA said.
“There is no place in Australia for attacks on places of worship. No person or group should be subject to hatred, intimidation or violence based on their faith, and antisemitism cannot be tolerated.”
CRA said it prayed for peace ahead of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
“We remember in our prayers our Jewish brothers and sisters in their distress and fear, at this time,” CRA said.
“These weeks preparing for the Festival of Hanukkah, a celebration of light and hope, is a special time for the Jewish community and we pray that they can look forward to this festival in peace with family and friends.
“We must always strive to nurture peace and respect for each other to keep our multicultural and multifaith society safe, secure, and free from violence.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday visited the destroyed synagogue and vowed to provide financial support to the Adass Israel community to have it rebuilt, The Age reports.
Mr Albanese also spent almost an hour at a private meeting with leaders of the synagogue and school at the home of Adass Israel community president Michael Spigelman.
There, he listened to the impact that growing levels of hatred against Jews was having on their children, families and neighbourhood.
The Victorian Government has previously pledged $100,000 to kickstart a donation drive to rebuild Adass Israel synagogue.
Late yesterday, it announced an additional 15 community organisations would share in $950,000 in funding to ensure Jews could safely gather and pray.
FULL STORY
Catholic Religious Australia condemns arson attack on synagogue in Melbourne (CRA)
Inside Albanese’s private meeting with Adass Israel leaders (By Chip Le Grand, The Age)
