CATH NEWS REPORT: The former parish priest of Scott Rush, the Australian who has been spared the death sentence in Indonesia, has urged for prayer and support for him, saying it is needed "now more than ever", reports the Catholic Leader.
"The court decision is the end of one struggle and the beginning of another," Fr Harris said. "Scott's sentence still continues in that cell that has housed him for the past six or so years. Ideally Scott should serve the remainder of his term in Australia."Father Tim Harris made the appeal after receiving news that Scott's death sentence had been reduced to life imprisonment by the Indonesian Supreme Court. He was arrested at Bali's Denpasar Airport in April 2005 along with eight other Australians, and charged with heroin smuggling.
Fr Harris' call was echoed by Scott's father Lee Rush and Brisbane's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) executive officer Peter Arndt.
Mr Rush, in a statement to be released to The Catholic Leader, said "although Scott will escape execution, there is still a long way to go ... to have all brought back to Australian shores where their detainment should have taken place".
Mr Arndt, who has organised Good Friday vigils and monthly prayer vigils for Scott and the other two Bali Nine Australians on death row in Indonesia, said "we are, of course, happy that Scott Rush will not have to worry about facing a firing squad any more, but life in prison in Bali is still a dreadful prospect".
Comments