Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Letters

Consequences of Bali bombing

byStaff writers
10 November 2002
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ACTS of violence are often referred to as senseless, and for the most part that is what they are.

The recent bomb attacks on the largely Hindu island of Bali are senseless not just in general terms but specifically because their consequences can and will only help those that radical Islamic groups count as their enemies. Immediately, they will help John Howard consolidate his support to the Western alliance against terror. Australia strives to be multicultural. It has been struggling with its conscience over Howard’s unstinted support to US President George Bush.

Many Australians are ambivalent about the country’s position in the war against terror.

Indeed, there were in past months, several and determined protests against Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock’s action against the boat people – many of them Muslim – who sought sanctuary in Australia and were turned away.

The Bali event can only serve to dilute such protests.

Most Australians now seem to believe terror has visited their doorstep, and that they must now join the war against it without reservation.

In Indonesia, President Megawati Sukarnoputri had, in the months preceding the Bali attack, walked the tightrope between Western pressures and domestic compulsions, ignoring demands for a crackdown on Islamic fundamentalism. Now, and if she wants any outside help for her severely bruised economy, Megawati will have to act against fringe groups, and be seen to act.

One report from South-East Asia suggests that the traditionally placid Hindus of Bali are so incensed by the weekend’s events that they may engineer a backlash against Muslims on the island. This cannot be good news for a country that is already smarting at the loss of East Timor.

It is the lunatic fringe that is blamed for acts of violence such as those Bali witnessed. When you add up the consequences of this single act, the conclusion is inescapable – it would have required a truly insane Muslim to plan such an attack.

CHRISTOPHER MADEIRA

Related Stories

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

Everton Park, Qld

ShareTweet
Previous Post

THE NUGGET

Next Post

ACU staff say goodbye to campus

Staff writers

Related Posts

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks
Faith

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

17 May 2022
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day
Vatican

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

17 May 2022
Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

16 May 2022
Next Post

ACU staff say goodbye to campus

Threat to religious freedom

Churches hope for joint declaration

Popular News

  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks
Faith

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

by Joe Higgins
17 May 2022
0

SAINT Kateri Tekakwitha was united with the suffering of Christ from an early age. She was born...

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

17 May 2022
Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

16 May 2022
Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

16 May 2022
The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

16 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping