AUSTRALIAN Catholics have added their voices to the outpouring of sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attack in London on July 7.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane wrote to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster on July 8, expressing his sympathy.
‘Be assured the people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane will be praying for you in the days ahead,’ he wrote.
Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne told The Catholic Leader that, together with many people throughout the world, he ‘was horrified by the bomb blasts’.
‘I invite all people of good will to pray for all those affected because of these barbaric acts.
‘I hope they will also include an intention for the perpetrators that they may rethink these awful acts,’ Archbishop Hart said.
Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide called on South Australian Catholics to pray for the dead and the hundreds injured in the blasts.
The national director of Catholic Mission in Australia, Fr Terry Bell, put aside personal anguish to call for prayers for the victims and the perpetrators.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombings, Fr Bell had been unable to contact his younger sister, Sr Patricia Mary Bell, who is a member of the Little Company of Mary congregation.
It was July 9 before he could contact her and ascertain she was all right.
The Make Poverty History Coalition also offered its prayers and condolences to the victims.
Coalition chairman, Jack de Groot, said he agreed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s comments when he said, it was particularly barbaric that the attack should occur on the day when world leaders were meeting to address problems of poverty in Africa and long-term problems facing the environment.
