Ode to hatred… and forgiveness
In the wake of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, former member of the Ancient Assyrian Church of the East and current leader of the Sydney-area Christ the Good Shepherd Church, on the evening of 15 April 2024, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney issued a media release statement expressing its deep sadness and its condemnation of the attack.
The statement, dated 16 April 2024, read:
“The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney, led by His Holiness Pope Tawadros Il and His Grace Bishop Daniel, expresses deep sadness over the recent incident involving Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, an Assyrian Church in Wakeley, NSW [New South Wales]. Our hearts and prayers go out to Bishop Mari Emmanuel for his safety and a quick recovery following the tragic attack that occurred last night.
“We strongly condemn the senseless act of violence that took place during his sermon. Such actions not only bring distress but also contradict the cherished values of compassion and unity that are integral to our Australian identity. The desecration of a sacred space where individuals seek solace and spiritual nourishment is particularly distressing.
“In times of adversity, it is essential for us to stand united in solidarity, offering our unwavering support and empathy to those affected by such violence. Let us reconfirm our dedication to nurturing a community founded on respect, empathy, and mutual understanding, where everyone can worship and coexist peacefully.”
The statement was signed by Father Joshua Tadros, Papal Legate, Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions.
The attack
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel had been attacked by a teenage knifeman the previous evening as the Bishop gave a sermon during a service at his church of Christ the Good Shepherd in Wakeley, Sydney. The sermon was being live-streamed, so the entire incident was captured on video which then went viral on social media. Graphic footage showed a person dressed in black approaching the Bishop and launching a furious attack on his head and upper body.
The 53-year-old Bishop suffered lacerations to his head, and 39-year-old priest, Fr Isaac Royel also sustained lacerations and a shoulder wound as he attempted to intervene in the violence, the police said. They were both moved to hospital.
The young attacker was restrained by members of the congregation and then arrested by the police. He was taken to hospital under police guard where he underwent surgery for injuries in one of his fingers. The injuries had occurred during the attack.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating the stabbing which was attributed to religious motivated extremism. Sydney police have described it as a terrorist attack. The JCTT is a specialist police unit responsible for responding to terror threats in the state.
Praying for attacker
Witnesses said the Bishop prayed for the offender in the moments following the assault.
Violent unrest which took place in the vicinity of the church left some 30 persons, among them members of the police, requiring treatment.
The Good Shepherd Church issued an appeal to its congregation reading: “Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“Our beloved Bishop, His Grace Mar Mari Emmanuel, and Father Isaac have been admitted to hospital. They are in a stable condition.
“We ask for your prayers at this time. It is the Bishop’s and Father’s wishes that you also pray for the perpetrator. We also kindly ask anyone at the Church premises to leave in peace, as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, teaches us.
Thank you.”
Faith leaders’ statement
NSW Premier Chris Minns and the state’s faith leaders issued a joint statement calling for calm and peace in the aftermath of the alleged terror attack.
“Places of worship are places of peace and prayer,” the joint statement read.
“The people who gather there should never feel threatened or unsafe, no matter what religion they follow.
“As faith leaders representing the diverse religious communities of NSW, we stand united against all forms of hate and violence.
“Our prayers are with the victims, and we call on our communities to extend our message of care and compassion to all.
“We have trust in our police and first responders and full confidence in their work.
“Police should never be attacked for keeping our communities safe.
“The scenes we witnessed after the attack are unacceptable to anyone and especially to people of faith.
“For people of faith, religion is never a justification for violence. “It has been a very difficult week, but we are a strong community in NSW.
“We call on everyone to act with kindness and respect for each other.
“Now is the time to show that we are a caring and united community.”
The statement has been agreed to by all members of the NSW Faith Affairs Council:
• Right Reverend Dr Michael Stead, Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney
• Mr Gawaine Powell Davies, Chair, Buddhist Council of NSW • Imam Shadi Alsuleiman, President, Australian National Imams Council
• Dr Ali Al Samail, Resident Scholar (Sheikh), Australian Ahl Al Bait Islamic Centre
• Mr Surinder Kumar Jain, Vice President, Hindu Council of Australia
• Ms Monica Doumit, Director of Public Affairs and Engagement, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
• David Ossip, President, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies
• Rev. Dr Steve Bartlett, Director of Ministries, Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT
• Rev. Dr Manas Ghosh, Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW & ACT
• Rev. Dr Kamal Weerakoon, Minister, Presbyterian Church of Australia
• Mr Darshan Singh Gill, Patron, Australian Sikh Association (ASA) (Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood)
• Very Rev. Fr Christophoros Krikelis, Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
• Rev. Ralph Estherby, National Director/CEO for Chaplaincy Australia, Australian Christian Churches
• Mr Darren Bark, Co-Chair, Better Balanced Futures (Faith NSW)
• Mr Murray Norman, CEO, Better Balanced Futures (Faith NSW)
• Reverend Heather Joyce Topp, Senior Chaplain and Interfaith Minister, Buddhist Council of NSW
• Reverend William Crews AM, Superintendent Minister, Ashfield Parish Mission
• Ms Katherine Xavier, Interfaith Commission Member, Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
• Ms Monica Chahoud, Melkite Charitable Foundation President, Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and all Oceania
The statement was also supported by:
• Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia, Assyrian Church of the East •Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona, Catholic Chaldeans in Australia
•Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Maronite Bishop of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania
• Dr Rateb Jneid, President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
• Mr Hafez Alameddine, President of the Lebanese Muslim Association
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who has a popular youth following on TikTok and was awarded by YouTube in 2023 for hitting 100,000 subscribers, has been a target for criticism, hate and online trolling.
He is known for his anti-LGBTQ views and scepticism over Covid vaccines. He is eminently articulate and strongly expresses his views with power and fearless courage. He has criticised some Islamic teachings, even though he expresses love for Muslims.
Only two days before the attack against the Bishop, a lone knifeman killed six people in a stabbing rampage at a Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction in Sydney. Some dozen people were injured before the attacker, a Queensland man with mental health issues named Joel Cauchi, was shot dead.