THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS AT THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AND THE AUSTRALIAN INTERCULTURAL SOCIETY FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE FETHULLAH GULEN CHAIR IN THE STUDY OF ISLAM AND MUSLIM-CATHOLIC RELATIONS, AT CENTRAL HALL AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

Friday 24^th November, 2007

Professor Peter Sheehan, AO

Vice Chancellor, Australian Catholic University

Professor Gabrielle McMullen

Pro Vice Chancellor, Australian Catholic University

Professor Raymond Canning

Director and Executive Officer, The Asia-Pacific Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue, Australian Catholic University

Mr Orhan Cicek

Executive Advisor, Australian Intercultural Society

Professor Greg Barton

Herb Feith Research Professor for the Study of Indonesia, Monash University

Monsignor Peter Kenny

Episcopal Vicar and Chair, Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Professor Ismail Albayrak

Fethullah Gülen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations

Many distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and custodians of this land, the Kulin Nations, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

Jan and I are truly delighted to be here with you this evening for the launch of the Fethullah Gulen Chair for the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations. The aim of the Chair, to promote an accurate scholarly understanding of Islam in all its varied dimensions and also to promote understanding and good relations between Muslims and Catholics, is so important at this time.

Australia’s population has increased substantially since the end of the Second World War through immigration and by the provision of asylum to refugees. The patterns of immigration have varied over that 52 year period. The initial increase consisted of refugees and immigrants who arrived following the Second World War and this wave of migration was significantly influenced by the White Australia policy that remained in force until the mid-seventies. This led to a predominantly European source of the migrant and refugee population which included Jewish people and Europeans from colonies of the British Empire. These joined the Anglo-Saxon and Chinese who had populated Australia after the time of European settlement.

Subsequent waves were composed of migrants from a much wider set of countries, bringing people of diverse ethnic backgrounds and skin colour. These were added to by refugees fleeing their countries after a range of conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam wars and unrest and racial conflict in Asia, the Middle East, South America and more recently, Africa. The resultant population mix is one of substantial ethnic and religious diversity.

Despite the fact that many of those who arrived were enemies in their country of origin, there has been a relatively peaceful “assimilation” of these new Australians into our society creating a multicultural society of significant dimensions. However, in recent times, fuelled by the threat of terrorism, there has been an increasing level of tension that has manifested itself in laws being formulated to combat terrorism and new and more complex tests for citizenship of this country. Regrettably these developments have focussed on points of difference rather than seeking points of commonality and agreement between those of differing religions and ethnicity. They fail to recognise the enormous contribution by those post-war immigrants who, despite limited fluency with the English language, have contributed immensely to the development of this country.

We must always remember to extend tolerance to each other and our different religions. It is particularly important at this time, when throughout parts of the world there are conflicts that continue between different ethnic groups, often closely tied to beliefs arising from their differing faiths. In some instances these conflicts have arisen between different branches of the same faith such as the long conflict in Northern Ireland between the Catholic and Protestant denominations of the Christian religion, hopefully now resolved to allow them to live in peace, and in the Middle East between differing branches of Islam, the Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

We must all respect the beliefs of each other and in the multicultural society which is Australia today we must remove all prejudice and intolerance. Each of us who have a religion must always remember that we have had to undertake a faith-journey and to be aware that faith is defined as a belief without logical proof. Let us use the commonality of our beliefs to come together to support core values of a Society that respects all citizens regardless of their religion or ethnicity, a society that provides justice for all and which seeks to support all people in their desire for health, happiness, employment and an environment that allows everyone the opportunity to develop fully their intellectual capacity. Pope Benedict XVI wrote at the conclusion of his visit to the Hagia Sophia museum in November last year: “In our diversity, we find ourselves before faith in the one God. May God enlighten us and help us find the path of love and peace.”

If we can accept the right of each citizen to a religion of their choice, provided that it does not contravene the right of each person to the basic tenets outlined earlier, we should seek to marginalise and isolate those that would promote discrimination or divisiveness in our society.

Victoria has a growing Muslim and Islamic community and creating social cohesion between new and developing communities and those already established is vital. I commend the ACU and The Australian Intercultural Society for their commitment to the creation of this chair and all that is represents and aims to achieve. I was impressed to hear that the Chair will have a strong emphasis on community engagement. This Chair will play such an important role in promoting understanding and respect between different religious communities in Victoria through the development of programs, promoting dialogue and friendship and providing information, which in turn will help to promote a peaceful coexistence as well as foster social cohesion and inclusiveness. I would like to quote Fethullah Gülen’s whose commitment to interfaith dialogue arises out of fundamental Islamic principles of respect for others. He says “that dialogue is among the duties of Muslims to make our world a more peaceful and safer place.” We must all learn to work together in order for Victoria and Australia to grow as a successful multicultural and multi-faith nation.

Thank you