Bishop Anthony’s Statement on the Shooting at Bondi.
Monday 15 December 2025
NO POLITICS - IGNORANT AND VIOLENT ANTISEMITISM MUST END
I write today with a heavy heart, in profound sorrow at the loss of innocent human life in the shooting at Bondi during the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. Families have been shattered, communities left grieving, and our Jewish brothers and sisters once again subjected to fear, trauma, and hatred. No words can undo such loss, yet silence is not an option.
This is a moment of urgency for Australia. We must put down the ways of violence. We must reject hatred in all its forms. We must turn away from brutality and completely reject antisemitism. Violence corrodes the soul of a nation, and when it is directed at a people because of who they are, what they believe, or how they pray, it strikes at the very foundations of our common life.
I wish to speak clearly and respectfully. There has been a call from government and sections of the media to speak of this primarily as “evil”. While the moral horror of such acts is undeniable, civil authorities cannot and must not hide behind language alone.
The responsibility of our elected leaders is to protect the public, to legislate for the wellbeing of all Australian people, and to name, reject, and prosecute crime. The shooting of innocent people at Bondi is a crime. It must be called out as such. Where hate crime culture and behaviour have not been prevented, accountability is required across all sides of government.
This is not a time to play politics. Innocent people have had their lives taken. Families and communities are bereft. Our Jewish community has been abused, yet again……….
You can find the Bishop’s full statement on the electronic version of the bulletin via our website, or you can access the full article at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQHbdp6wMfQjciOaUs1Fawx-Jcb51w2o/view?usp=drive_link
or watch his video statement at https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/about/bishop/messages/no-politics-ignorant-and-violent-antisemitism-must-end
NO POLITICS - IGNORANT AND VIOLENT ANTISEMITISM MUST END
I write today with a heavy heart, in profound sorrow at the loss of innocent human life in the shooting at Bondi during the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. Families have been shattered, communities left grieving, and our Jewish brothers and sisters once again subjected to fear, trauma, and hatred. No words can undo such loss, yet silence is not an option.
This is a moment of urgency for Australia. We must put down the ways of violence. We must reject hatred in all its forms. We must turn away from brutality and completely reject antisemitism. Violence corrodes the soul of a nation, and when it is directed at a people because of who they are, what they believe, or how they pray, it strikes at the very foundations of our common life.
I wish to speak clearly and respectfully. There has been a call from government and sections of the media to speak of this primarily as “evil”. While the moral horror of such acts is undeniable, civil authorities cannot and must not hide behind language alone.
The responsibility of our elected leaders is to protect the public, to legislate for the wellbeing of all Australian people, and to name, reject, and prosecute crime. The shooting of innocent people at Bondi is a crime. It must be called out as such. Where hate crime culture and behaviour have not been prevented, accountability is required across all sides of government.
This is not a time to play politics. Innocent people have had their lives taken. Families and communities are bereft. Our Jewish community has been abused, yet again……….
You can find the Bishop’s full statement on the electronic version of the bulletin via our website, or you can access the full article at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQHbdp6wMfQjciOaUs1Fawx-Jcb51w2o/view?usp=drive_link
or watch his video statement at https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/about/bishop/messages/no-politics-ignorant-and-violent-antisemitism-must-end
