Peace And Understaning Required by All Peoples

Thursday 9 February, 2006 Press release

Peace AndUnderstaning Required by All Peoples

Caritas Aotearoa NewZealand welcomes the outcome of the meeting of media andreligious leaders convened by Race Relations CommissionJoris de Bres. In particular we welcome the apology bymedia for the offence caused, alongside the recognition byreligious leaders of the rights and responsibilities offreedom of speech.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, theCatholic Agency for Justice, Peace and Development believesthat the cartoons originally printed in Danish newspaperswhich have caused considerable offence to the Muslimcommunity should not have been published in New Zealand.

Caritas Director Michael Smith said the agency isthankful we have freedom of speech and freedom of the pressin this country, but such rights also carryresponsibilities. Papers having the legal right to publishoffensive material does not mean that it is always aresponsible decision to do so.

"We accept that the mediahas a right, and even at times an obligation, to publishmaterial that will upset some people," said Mr Smith. "However, in this instance, we believe the pain and anguishthat is caused to people of Muslim beliefs is not justifiedby the editorial context. What has been gained by publishingthese cartoons New Zealand? Nothing positive for NewZealand as a whole, and certainly nothing positive for ourrelationship with Muslim New Zealanders."

Mr Smith said,"It was important to consider and remember that in NewZealand, people of Islamic faith have been victims ofviolence, not perpetrators of it. Incidents such as theattack on Auckland mosques and hate mail in Wellington haveincreased the vulnerability of the Muslim community, whichis very much a peaceful minority in New Zealand. We fearthat local Muslim people will once again be victims in thecrossfire."

In response to the attacks on Muslimcommunities, as well as those on Jewish cemeteries and Asianstudents, Caritas joined the New Zealand Diversity ActionProgramme in 2005 and contributed resources and work oncultural diversity through Social Justice Week in theCatholic Church.

Religious leaders, both here andoverseas, have often expressed their regret over the lack ofcommunication and coordination within and between faiths.They have expressed their apprehension about the lack ofsound understanding of religious teachings and poorknowledge of religions other than one s own. The CatholicChurch has made a commitment to greater inter faithdialogue.

"Through our justice and peace work bothinternationally and in New Zealand, Caritas works withMuslim and many other faith communities. It is clear to usthat faith communities have an important part to play inbuilding peace and understanding through dialogue," said MrSmith.

Caritas does not condone the violence that hasfollowed the publication of the cartoons, but says thatconflict is not unexpected when people are deeply hurt. "Offences against human dignity sometimes produce a resultwhich is itself undignified. We call on the Muslimcommunity to also express their concern and their hurt inwords or other peaceful means rather through violentactions. But we ask the whole community in join us in beingopen and ready to hear what they have to say to us. Peaceand understanding is required by allpeoples"

ENDS
THIS ISSUE Lead NZ News NZ Politics World News FeaturesNew Zealand Politics

POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS: Molesworth & Featherston Weekend: Dec 16 2005 Transtasman Political Letter -- 2nd February 2006 Digest

POLL WATCH:News TNS Political Opinion Poll Results 26/1 -- 2/2/2006

Police: Nats Want Stun-Guns But Advise Caution - National's Simon Power says it is essential that trials of stun guns by police should be well monitored and transparent: "As long as we continue to have unarmed police in New Zealand we should not, at this point of time, be ruling out using stun guns. However, National wants to ensure there is a thorough and well monitored trial of the guns, and full transparency in the decision-making process." See... Care needed over stun gun trial ALSO:Greens - Greens disturbed by news of Taser trials

Employment: Air NZ Cleaners Prepare To Fight For Jobs - Air New Zealand aircraft cleaners are gearing up to fight plans to contract out their work. Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that the airline appeared determined to replace all 124 specialist aircraft cleaners with outside contractors. "Mediation to settle this dispute has failed," he said. "The company appears to be hell-bent on replacing its loyal and hard-working cleaners with contractors -- probably as a cost-cutting move." Mr Little said that the union had lodged court action over the proposal. See... Air NZ cleaners fight out-sourcing

NZ's Employment Rate Best In OCED - New Zealand continues to have the lowest unemployment in the OECD, Statistics New Zealand's latest Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) confirmed today. The quarterly survey showed that New Zealand's official unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. This seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the equal lowest on record, along with the June 2005 and December 2004 quarters. See... Minister: Unemployment remains lowest in OECD

Education: Rongo Wetere Responds to Criticism Over Handling Of Cuban Literacy Programs - I have read the opinion of Julie Webb-Pulman, and wonder how she can arrive at some of her conclusions. Particularly around the fact, that she thinks I am guilty of fraudulent behaviour, and thinks the only reason I am not locked safely away is that. See... Dr Rongo Wetere Responds To Julie Webb-Pulman

Fiji: Peters Signs Off Governance Aid Programme - Today Foreign Minister Winston Peters launched the Fiji Civics Education initiative committing New Zealand funding of FJD$2.53million to UNDP s Good Governance Programme. The programme aims to make the key institutions of governance more relevant and accessible to the people of Fiji. "New Zealand views the provision of this sort of support as a unique opportunity to assist with developing a fair and robust environment for the future development of Fiji." See... Foreign Minister to launch Fiji Civics programme

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