The lights inside Perth’s St Mary’s Cathedral were last night turned red, the colour of martyrs, to commemorate Red Wednesday on November 28, drawing attention to the plight of those around the globe persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Other landmarks across Australia also followed suit, including Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral and the Great Synagogue in Sydney.
It was the first time Australian landmarks will join other cities such as Rio de Janeiro, London, Rome and Paris in lighting up significant buildings and iconic sites as a sign of solidarity.
Australians were also encouraged to wear the colour red to pray for an end to religious persecution.
Red Wednesday is an initiative of the Catholic Charity, Aid to the Church in Need, and has been marked around the world in previous years with the British Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, major Catholic cathedrals, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and Christ the Redeemer (statue) all being floodlit blood red to raise awareness against abuses of religious freedom.
The aim of the day is for people of all faiths to raise a strong voice in support of the persecuted who cannot profess their religion freely.
It is hoped Red Wednesday will become a nationwide observance in all states and territories in the future, where people can stand up for religious faith and freedom of conscience.