Easter Messages from Oz

True Easter message not lost, says Pell

THE Catholic Church's Cardinal George Pell says the message of Easter has not been lost despite the strong commercialisation of the religious holiday.

The head of Sydney's archdiocese said there had been good crowds at Catholic churches across Australia for yesterday's Holy Thursday services.

He said the religious message of the crucifixion was strong despite competition from retailers to

promote the Easter bunny and chocolate.

"It is difficult, there are a lot of distractions," Cardinal Pell told the Nine Network.

"Not everybody around understands the religious significance of Easter,'' he said.

"But many do and our churches will be (full), we had good crowds yesterday for the Holy Thursday celebrations."

Cardinal Pell said he believed that some Australians had turned back to Christianity since the September 11 terror attacks in the United States in 2001.

"I think one reason is the minority of Islamic terrorists that have attacked the West," he said.

"It's made people stop and think, there's no doubt about that."

Cardinal Pell has also ruled out recent suggestions that the Catholic and the Anglican churches may merge.

"The long and short of it is no I don't (think that will happen)."

"We don't need to merge in order to co-operate."
- AAP

Easter messages focus on sacrifice

April 06, 2007

CHRISTIAN leaders have praised the selfless work of volunteers and condemned the continuing trade in human lives in their Easter messages.

Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen highlighted the continuing slave trade, which he said was a "dark stain on human history". "Though the slave trade was ended in 1807, in our own time, the 21st century, there is still a slave trade," Dr Jensen said. "Human trafficking of men, women and children to be economic slaves or sex slaves, or child soldiers exists today," he said. "People are still treated as objects and possessions to be bought and sold. This is also a scar on humanity.

We must support those who fight against it." Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, said God often struggled for media coverage in the modern world.

"A Christian God isn't an insurance broker, and his son had more than his share of troubles," Cardinal Pell said.

"Neither did Jesus say anything on global warming," he said. "Although he said much on the struggle between good and evil, between meaning and fear, between love and hate."

Reverend Keith Garner from the Wesley Mission used his Easter message to pay tribute to volunteers in the community who put the needs of others before themselves.

"Our emergency services personnel, bush fire fighters, doctors and nurses, teachers, volunteer workers, sporting coaches, members of the armed services, and many others are fine examples of people who put the needs of others before themselves," he said.

"This Easter, I think of the millions of mums and dads, grandparents, and aunts and uncles who keep our families and our society strong through their selfless giving, sacrificing their time and resources for the ones they love and those who need a hand in our community," he said.

"Their example runs counter to a culture which puts a price on every deed and assesses every relationship in the light of self interest."
- AAP