(CP) An Assyrian bishop stabbed while preaching a sermon at a church in Wakeley, Australia, earlier this month says he has suffered visual impairment in one in all his eyes on account of the incident.
Two weeks after the April 15 stabbing, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel addressed the group gathered on the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley during a Sunday evening service.
The bishop wore an eyepatch over his right eye as he shared an Arabic and English sermon.
During his Arabic sermon, Emmanuel put his eye injury into perspective by stating that the attention may very well be viewed as a “sacrifice,” The Guardian translated him as saying. He also said it needs to be taken as a gesture of affection to Muslims. Emmanuel shared that he forgives his attacker.
“I’ll at all times pray for you; I’ll at all times wish you nothing but the perfect,” Emmanuel said.
Emmanuel was stabbed in the course of a sermon during a church service. The 53-year-old spent several days following the stabbing recovering within the hospital.
The clergyman shared his thoughts on freedom of speech as a legal battle between the Australian government and the social media site X, formerly called Twitter, has erupted in recent days. X and its owner, Elon Musk, have stated they may contest an Australian government order that the platform remove video showing the attack on the bishop. The platform faces each day fines of $500,000.
“I say to our beloved, the Australian government and our beloved prime minister, the honorable Mr. Albanese. … Every human being has the proper to their freedom of speech and freedom of faith, every human being,” Emmanuel said.
“The Buddhist has the proper to specific their belief; the Hindus have the proper to specific their beliefs; the Muslims have the proper to specific their beliefs; the atheists have the proper to specific their beliefs. Also, the Christians have the proper to specific their beliefs,” he added, in line with The Guardian.
“For us to say that free speech is dangerous, that free speech can’t be possible in a democratic country, I’m yet to fathom this. We should have the opportunity as civilized human beings, as intellectuals, we should always have the opportunity to criticize, to talk and possibly at some certain times, we may sound, or we may come across offensive to somewhat degree, but we should always have the opportunity to say I mustn’t worry for my life to be exposed to threat or to be taken away.”
Emmanuel added, “a non-Christian can criticize my faith, can attack my faith [but], I’ll say one thing: may god forgive you and should God bless you.”
“This is a civilized way, an mental way, of approaching such events if or after they happen,” he said.
This is not the primary time Emmanuel has expressed his willingness to forgive his attacker. Days after the incident, the church released an audio statement from Emmanuel sharing a message of hope. At the time, Emmanuel said he was recovering well, and he also advised his supporters to wish for the attacker.
“I forgive whoever has done this act. And I say to him, ‘You’re my son. I really like you, and I’ll at all times pray for you.’ And whoever sent you to do that, I forgive them as well, in Jesus’s mighty name. I actually have nothing in my heart but love for everybody. Whether that person is a Christian or not, it’s very inappropriate,” Emmanuel said within the audio statement.
The bishop’s statement got here just days after tense protests erupted outside the church following the incident, prompting lots of of officers to reply to disperse the group. There were reports of demonstrators turning violent on police.
“There is not any should be apprehensive or concerned. And a chunk of recommendation to all our beloved faithfuls — I want you to act Christlike,” the bishop said. “The Lord Jesus never taught us to fight. The Lord Jesus never taught us to retaliate. The Lord Jesus never said to us, ‘an eye fixed for an eye fixed and a tooth for a tooth.'”
Police arrested not less than five people for his or her alleged involvement within the protest violence.
The 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing the bishop has been charged with a terrorism offense. The teen’s identity has not been released. Last week, law enforcement in Australia arrested seven teenagers accused of being a part of an extremist network that the 16-year-old suspect is allegedly an element of.
Four teens were charged last Thursday with conspiring to plan a terror attack on Jews days after the church attack, in line with The Associated Press.
© The Christian Post
