Don’t Use Church Attack to ‘Serve Political Interests’: Bishop

‘It would be of great concern if people use the attack on me to serve their own political interests to control free speech.’

Senior Parish Priest Fr. Isaac Royel (left) and Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during the 2023 Holy Resurrection Feast services. AAP Image/Supplied by Christ The Good Shepherd Church

Orthodox Christian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has issued a second public message following the stabbing attack, emphasising that he does not want the incident to be exploited for political purposes.

He stressed the importance of preserving the videos of the stabbing online, arguing that freedom of speech and freedom of religion are God-given rights.

“I do not wish for what has happened to me to be used as a way … to be a threat to the very human freedom and freedom of religion,” he said in a video posted on the Christ The Good Shepherd Church YouTube channel on April 24.

The comment came after eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant won another 16-day injunction against X, forcing the social media giant to block 65 tweets containing footage of a terror-inspired stabbing of Mr. Emmanuel in a Western Sydney church.

Australian authorities have chastised X and pushed for harsher sanctions to combat misinformation online.

“These laws need to get to the heart of the problem and that is the profits they make off the algorithms they use and the data that they use,” said Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

“It’s no wonder that Elon Musk, the narcissistic cowboy, thinks he can just give the middle finger to the Australian government because for too long, we’ve had little to no regulation.”

However, some have raised concerns that the bill would legalise censorship as it would exclude content produced by the government, mainstream media, and foreign government bodies.

Free Speech A Core Part Of Human Dignity: Bishop

In the video, Mr. Emmanuel warned against authorities politicising the matter.

“I do acknowledged the Australian government’s desire to have the videos removed because of their graphic nature,” he said, adding that he doesn’t “condone any acts of terrorism or violence.”

“However, noting our God-given right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I’m not opposed to the videos remaining on social media.

“It would be of great concern if people use the attack on me to serve their own political interests to control free speech.”

The bishop argued that freedom of speech and freedom of religion is at the core of “human dignity and human identity” regardless of one’s faith, religious background, race, colour, and gender.

“Without being exposed to any violence, any terrorist attack, or being persecuted for just expressing their belief, the moment we oppress this very freedom of speech and religion, we are losing the very human identity and dignity as well,” he said.

In a tribute to Anzac Day, the bishop also honoured the sacrifices made by soldiers who gave their lives for Australia and the very identity of Australia. He described himself as “a very proud Aussie.”

“We salute those warriors who sacrificed for the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion always given to that human,” he said.