AUSTRALIAN Catholics must remain vigilant to ensure anti-terror laws do not undermine the freedoms that terrorists seek to take from us, the nation’s Catholic bishops said.
In a statement released on November 25, after the plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in Sydney, they condemned all acts of terrorism and pledged to intensify their efforts to promote a culture of respect, dialogue and peace in the community.
The statement said communities must always seek to understand the reasons behind acts of terrorism.
The bishops said effective laws and their enforcement were important, but they were not enough.
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) chairman, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, said he had spoken to a growing number of people, even members of the Federal Government, who were concerned about the terror laws.
Bishop Saunders said he was unsure how the proposed sedition laws would affect the right to free speech, but said he was more worried about the surrendering of rights of the Australian people.
Prime Minister John Howard has said he wants to have the controversial anti-terror laws passed by Parliament before Christmas.
