17/12/2025
We receive, embrace and share the response of our CRC chairman Bill Vasilakis
A PERSONAL RESPONSE TO THE BONDI MASSACRE
By Bill Vasilakis
Dear Fellow CRC Pastors, Delegates and Leaders
The Bondi massacre is heart breaking and tragic and I’ve found myself praying with very moist eyes for the victims’ families…their pain is just unimaginable.
Many responsible people predicted something like this was bound to happen and my son and I talked about its inevitability several times over the past couple of years.
The anti-Jewish/Israel genie was released a few days after the massacre of over 1200 Jews and the taking of around 250 hostages by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, 2023. This poisonous venom was first seen on the steps of our iconic Opera House in Sydney, and it was way before Israel retaliated against Hamas.
The vile devilish words hundreds of raging demonstrators were shouting not just about the State of Israel but Jewish peoples generally, shocked us and were criminal in their intent.
What’s totally unconscionable is how our Federal Government was on the back foot. It seemed like they were playing base politics instead of being principle centred, fearing they might lose some crucial electorates at the 2025 election. They just didn’t deal with this crisis quickly or appropriately, unlike the NSW Minn’s Govt which has been exemplary.
New Federal and State laws should have been enacted immediately and the police granted expanded powers to charge people who spew violent inciting speech. If this was done and a few hundred people were convicted, fined tens of thousands of dollars or jailed, this malevolent manifestation of antisemitism could have been nipped in the bud and not spread like a malignant cancer across our peaceful land.
The PM and his Govt ministers, like all decent Aussies abhor what has now taken place, but it must be stated they have failed in their primary duty to protect Australians especially our vulnerable Jewish citizens. Selfish politics have really hurt these wonderful people who have made such a positive contribution to our nation, especially the persecuted migrants from WW2. Our National Government initially were neglectful and slow to grasp how quickly this hatred of Jews was metastasising.
This could be a massive spiritual turning point for Australia and awaken multitudes to think about God and be drawn into our Churches at this Christmas season. I’m also praying for Jesus’ peace to prevail and not the devil’s retribution by angry lawless individuals and groups. I urge you to lead your Churches to pray for our nation this coming weekend and expect people to join you who are deeply troubled by this awful new phenomenon manifesting in our country.
I think the PM and his govt are in a lot of trouble over this as they were warned by Australian and world Leaders. Their naivety and lack of wisdom is breath-taking. They were appealed to many times by our Jewish Aussies whose parents experienced this horror in N**i Europe and by some fanatical regimes in the Middle East to take strong action.
What’s hard to comprehend is their wilful blindness in ignoring the plain lessons from the many examples of history. A casual reading of reputable historians reveals how easily the seeds of ugly, hateful, racist speech will radicalise a small minority with false beliefs and incite them to murderous violence. A society will reap what it sows, whether in the positive or negative.
To not openly support the democratic State of Israel as they faced an existential threat to their very existence by designated terrorist organisations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards etc is almost beyond belief. And to top it off they unwisely and prematurely recognised Palestine while the terrible war with Hamas was going on. These actions encouraged a small number of violent fanatics to attack Aussie Jewish schools, synagogues, restaurants, the electoral offices of Jewish MP’s and even Jewish leaders’ homes.
I pray the lessons will be learned very quickly and our governments will take immediate action to address what should have occurred two years ago.
…Pray for the PM to make the right choices in the coming days.
…Encourage your people to write to their Federal members of Parliament (especially government members) so maximum pressure is applied to the PM and his government to respond strongly and positively to deal with the terrible division being unleashed in Australia.
Let’s especially pray Jesus’ healing and comforting presence for the victim’s families, and for peace and harmony between our many ethnic and religious groups, and for unity to be maintained in our wonderful nation.
Jesus is sovereign over all things and evil never wins in the long term and His love and grace and power always counteract the nefarious designs of men and devils. Isaiah’s prophetic words about Jesus often quoted at Christmas gives us the answer for our deeply troubled world.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
May the following verse guide your praying at this traumatic time for all Australians.
“But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
Psalms 10:14 NIV
Jesus have mercy
Pastor Bill Vasilakis
CRC Churches National Chairman
