Media Release 18 September 2001
<typohead type=2>Church leaders of New Zealand issue joint statement on terrorist attacks in the USA</typohead>
The Leaders of some Christian churches in New Zealand, meeting in Wellington on Tuesday 18 September, issued a joint statement in response to last week's terrorist attacks in the United States. This is the text of their statement:
"During the past week we have witnessed the horrifying acts of terrorism committed on September 11 in the USA. We express our great sorrow at the number of victims and we offer our condolences to their families and loved ones. We pray for all affected, that they may know that God is with them in their sufferings. Mindful of our Lord Jesus' teaching that we should "forgive those who have sinned against us", we pray also for those whose hatred has become so great that they rejoice or are even willing to engage in crimes against our common humanity. May they realize that such violence creates not justice but greater injustice.
"Respect for human life is the starting point for confronting bloody ethnic, religious and political conflict. For us, respect for life flows from our Christian teaching on the dignity of the human person. It values human beings over ideologies, power and possessions. Respect for the life of each and every person must guide the choices we make in response to this tragedy.
"We pray that a desire for revenge will not seize our hearts and minds and the hearts and minds of decisions makers. Retaliatory strikes against other countries will multiply the death toll, and contribute to an ever-increasing spiral of violence. Again the innocent will suffer. It will be women and children in already impoverished and war-ravaged countries who will be killed or maimed. We are all too conscious of those countries where suffering is an unrelenting reality.
"We want to remind Christians and all people of goodwill in New Zealand that Muslim leaders in the USA and elsewhere, including New Zealand, have condemned the attacks as evil. Let us not engage in ethnic, religious, or national stereotyping for what may be the acts of relatively few terrorists. We appeal to New Zealanders to assist those who may become targets of hate crimes.
"We know that statements will not remove hatred. Our faith challenges each of us to examine how we can contribute to a society which values compassion and forgiveness over vengeance and violence. We call upon New Zealanders to put their trust in God and to turn away from the hatred which is the source of last week's tragedy.
"As leaders of Christian churches in New Zealand we affirm that the true basis for peace is justice and mutual respect. We pray for those who bear the tremendous responsibility of dealing with the aftermath and lessons of the unbelievable events of last week, government leaders in the USA and elsewhere, that they will be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and make thoughtful and just decisions. We support efforts to identify and bring to justice those responsible for last week's terrorist acts, but we are mindful of the moral imperative to act with restraint and respect for civilian lives, always mindful that peacekeeping and peace making are urgent priorities for our world."
This press release is issued by
<typolist>
Rob Yule, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ Kerry Enright, Assembly Executive Secretary, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ Robin Nairn, General Secretary, Anglican Church in Aotearoa NZ & Polynesia Steen Olsen, President, Lutheran Church of NZ Bryce Morris, Chairperson, Congregational Union of NZ (in his own right) Kevin O'Connor, Secretary, Associated Churches of Christ Mike Knott, representing Elim Churches of NZ Brian Winslade, National Leader, Baptist Union of NZ John Walton, R/Leader, New Life Churches of NZ Jill van de Geer, General Secretary, Methodist Church of NZ, Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa John Thornley, Vice-President, Methodist Church of New Zealand, Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa Wayne Hughes, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God in NZ Thomas S Williams, Catholic Archbishop of Wellington
</typolist>