Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Desecration of Israeli memorial contemptible

Priest's desecration of Israeli memorial contemptible

Kiwi Friends of Israel, a newly formed Israeli support group, has called on the Catholic Church distance itself from Fr Gerard Burns, over his desecration of the Wellington Memorial to former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Fr Burns, the Parish Priest of Te Parisi o te Ngakau Tapu, led over a thousand anti-Israel demonstrators on a march to the Yitzhak Rabin peace memorial in Wellington's CBD. After addressing the crowd, Fr Burns smeared the memorial to former Prime Minister Rabin with a mixture of blood and paint. An independent account of the march, and photos of Fr Burns throwing paint on the memorial can be found here, on Scoop.co.nz.

"The Catholic Church should distance itself from this tasteless vandalism and join Kiwi Friends of Israel in calling for a full and unqualified apology from the Priest in question.

"Kiwi Friends of Israel strongly supports the right of all New Zealanders to have a robust debate on the rights and wrongs of Israel's policies but attacking peace memorials isn't legimitate behaviour.

"Fr Burns is entitled to his views - however wrongheaded - but he crossed a line when he decided to daub blood and paint on a memorial to the murdered Prime Minister. The desecration is doubly contemptible given Mr Rabin's lifelong commitment to peace and stability in Israel and Palestine.

"Gerard Burns' actions are beyond what is acceptable from a community and faith leader. He should apologise for his behaviour and try to voice his political beliefs without vandalising memorials next time," says the group.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.