Australian Middle Eastern Church supports Lebanese

Bishops and leaders of Christian communities of Lebanese and Middle Eastern heritage say they "stand firm with our friends and neighbours" from the Lebanese Muslim community following recent public debate about migration from Lebanon.

In a statement released yesterday, the Bishops said: "Recent public comments that may have questioned the prudence of permitting migration to Australia from Lebanon have been difficult to witness.

"The contribution of Australians from Lebanese background to building this wonderful, multicultural, multi-faith society has been overwhelmingly positive since the 1800s."

Although they added: "This is not to minimise the significant problems we face with acts of terrorism which are clearly condemned by both Christians and Muslims from the same ancestry."

The Bishops emphasised that "we will remain resilient in building our ever increasing close working relationship with the Muslim community in Australia, hands bonded as one in a socially cohesive and rich culturally diverse Australian community."