Anglican Archbishop saddened by Auckland vandalism

The leader of the Anglican Church in New Zealand has expressed his sadness and sympathy at the desecration, in the wake of the London bombings, of the six Auckland mosques.

“It is never acceptable to target innocent people,” says The Most Rev Whakahuihui Vercoe. “The people who have been hurt by these attacks on the mosques are innocent, and they are a part of the fabric of this country.”

He says those who vandalised the mosques “are misguided people who don’t know the facts.”

The church’s newly appointed Social Justice Commissioner, The Rev Dr Anthony Dancer, has also spoken against the Auckland attacks.

“We want to show solidarity with the victims of the London bombings,” he says. “We do not solve terrorism by creating more innocent victims.

Dr Dancer says that “RIP London” graffiti that was daubed on the walls of the Auckland mosques (and telecast throughout the world) would be offensive to most Londoners.

“Yes, London has known racism in the past,” he says. “But to a very considerable degree, it has grown out of that. London is a thoroughly multi-cultural city.”

Dr Dancer immigrated to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, after completing his studies at Oxford University.

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