In the light of the recent commentary on the nature of Australian society as multicultural or monocultural; the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) recognises and affirms that Australia is a multicultural and multi-religious society.
Australia’s multicultural society is a source of strength and hope. People from many cultures, languages, and religious traditions enrich our communities, broaden our understanding of one another, and contribute to the common good.
“Freedom to practice religion and religious diversity are deeply held Christian values. They stem from the belief that we are all, irrespective of our differences, made in the image of God, with equal dignity and human rights”, said Rev John Gilmore, president of NCCA.
Christians are called to welcome the stranger, love our neighbour, and work for justice and peace. These values are held in common within the great Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Indeed most religions have a version of the Golden Rule – ‘to do to others as you would have them do to you’.
To disparage or denigrate any religion is profoundly disrespectful and we have all seen the evidence that it leads to discrimination, violence and even death. We appeal to all, especially elected representatives, to stop the hate speech and the language of fear and division.
“As an ecumenical body, the NCCA’s mission is to listen and foster dialogue to build bridges. Church leaders meet with the leaders of other religions in Australia. We believe that cultural and religious diversity is not something to fear; when accompanied by mutual respect and shared values, it can become a powerful expression of our common humanity. That does not mean pretending conflict doesn’t exist. What matters is whether we approach differences with enough openness and curiosity to understand another view, even if we do not fully agree”, said Rev Gilmore.
The NCCA seeks to reflect the love of Christ, who welcomed all people and calls us to be peacemakers and builders of communities marked by compassion, justice, and hope.
We reject prejudice, racism, and discrimination in all their forms and commit ourselves to fostering understanding, reconciliation, and friendship across cultures and faiths.