Message of Support and Condolences to Anglican Bishop of Christchurch

In a letter today (22 February 2011) to the Rt Revd Victoria Matthews, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Christchurch in New Zealand, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba wrote the following:

Dear Victoria,

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the immense damage cause by the earthquake in Christchurch. I have been stunned by the photos which are reaching us with the images of human tragedy, displacement and the physical damage to so many structures, including the lovely and historic Christchurch Cathedral.

On behalf of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, I send our condolences to the families of those who died or are missing and the assurance of our prayerful support in the days ahead.

While we don’t have certainty about what is causing the severe climatic changes we are witnessing around the world, their impact is devastating to all. As COP 17 prepares to come to Durban later this year, my prayer is that honest and in depth discussions that lead to binding protocols will be put in place which will contribute to the reversal of climate change and signal a new global effort and commitment to respect the integrity of creation and our environment.

Again, please be assured of our prayers for you and all the people of Christchurch.

Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town; Inquiries: Wendy Tokata on 021- 763-1320 (office hours)