Australian Church calls for repentance amid racial attacks

Dismayed over escalating 'racial' attacks on Indian students in Australia, a prominent bishop there has called for repentance while leading a prayer service on Sunday.

Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins pleaded forgiveness for "our prejudice and indifference" to people from different countries as he led a special prayer for "peace and welfare of all Indians in Australia" at the famous Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne.

""Forgive us for not honouring the culture of others, and thus taking away their self-respect . . . forgive us for not listening to the griefs of all who are oppressed in this land, especially for Indians who are feeling vulnerable," said the bishop of the northern and western regions.

Disgracefully, the very next day after the prayer being held, media reported of fresh attack on two Indian students aged 18 and 22 respectively. Both the students sustained injuries.

The attack comes just weeks after another Indian, Nitin Garg, was stabbed to death by unknown assailants in Melbourne. A spate of related incidents further caused public clamor and has even affected the diplomatic ties between the nations.

During the Sunday prayer, Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier urged Australians to have more empathy for members of the Indian community, especially those who were grieving.

"I think the present situation of the anxiety of people of Indian descent, of people who have come here as students or come here in recent years, is something that challenges Australians who have been here longer," he was quoted saying by The Australian.

He added: "I think we need a leap of empathy to understand what it feels like for people in India, for parents, for family members . . . who are anxious for the welfare of their family member in our country."

Indian students comprise the second largest group, after China, for international students coming to Australia. There is an estimated 97,000 Indian students in Australia.

The Catholic Church in India, meanwhile, welcomed the statements of the bishops calling for repentance. "We welcome the gesture," said Father Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India