Churches split as Anglicans oppose new laws

Sydney, Australia - AUSTRALIA'S churches are sharply divided over the new federal anti-terror laws, with Eastern Orthodox churches strongly supporting the legislation.

The disagreements emerged at a meeting of the National Council of Churches, which had to drop an Anglican motion opposing the laws when the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose members face severe persecution in Egypt, led a group that strongly endorsed the laws.

The Coptic spokesman, Father Shenouda, reportedly said Australians did not know what it was like to live under Muslim rule, and should be alert.

Yesterday Father Shenouda told The Age: "We want to keep our children and community safe. It's clear the Government knows what it is doing — the anti-terror laws are to protect Australian citizens.

"You've seen what's happening, what the police have shown. It's very clear (the men arrested on terror charges) were aiming to make lots of damage to as many Australians as possible."

The council's chairman, Professor James Haire, confirmed this week that there had been a variety of views at the Sydney meeting on November 4 in which "lots of people took positions that were a bit unexpected".

He said some Australian churches supported the Copts, and others were concerned at the anti-terror legislation.

The proposed motion lapsed because there was no consensus. Council members include the Catholics, Anglicans, Uniting Church, Lutherans, Churches of Christ, and seven Eastern Orthodox churches.

Bishop Paul Saliba, of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, said the new legislation was important.

"I have spoken to Muslim leaders, saying 99.99 per cent of Muslims are law-abiding like the rest of us, so they should not make an issue of the laws," he said.

A Melbourne Coptic Orthodox spokesman, Father Makarios, said Copts faced persecution in Egypt. He said there were anti-Christian riots in Alexandria last month, and that many Coptic women had been raped so that they would have to convert to Islam.

The Uniting Church of Australia has expressed reservations about the legislation, and its president, Dr Dean Drayton, has written to the Prime Minister.

The Catholic Church recently urged the Government to allow more time for scrutiny of the legislation.

Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders, chairman of the Catholic Social Justice Council, said he recognised the Government's responsibility to ensure agencies could stop potential terrorist attacks. But he said it was essential that the laws protect the rights of all Australians.

"This legislation will be complex and it could have far-reaching consequences for the civil and political rights that all Australians presently enjoy," he said.