Sheik Tag Eldin El Hilali, Bishop Kevin Manning and Issam John Darwish Archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church of Australia and New Zealand, pictured in 2004, break bread.
RELIGION took second place to friendship last month when a farewell tribute dinner was organised for former “advocate of love” Bishop Kevin Manning by Islamic leader Keysar Trad.
The Islamic Friendship Association president was one of many people from different beliefs who lauded the former Catholic Bishop of Parramatta, who retired in March after 13 years in the position.
“The event was very good and everyone was extremely happy to see the bishop’s work to be honoured,” Mr Trad said.
The dinner at the Australian Union of African and Arab Association peace function centre, Lakemba, attracted more than 110 guests including multicultural figures, politicians and former refugee Maqsood Alshams who credited the bishop for helping him accelerate the process of leaving the Villawood Detention Centre.
Lakemba Mosque’s Sheik Tag Eldin El Hilali named Bishop Manning, along with former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Paul Keating, as three people in Australia he treasured.
“I’ve been affected by three people in Australia and I will never forget them because of their sincerity and their contribution,” he said through an interpreter.
“I’ve always found him to be an advocate of love and compassion.”
Sheik El Hilali, who missed the farewell dinner because his flight from Istanbul was delayed, has known Bishop Manning for 10 years.
The sheik said the Bishop was particularly supportive during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
“We’ve gotten together on more than one occasion to support human rights and I felt a great deal of warmth from him and friendship whether I was meeting him here at the mosque or the church,” he said.
“We pray that there will be more people like him.”
Source: whereilive
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