Father Rod Bower of Gosford Anglican Church says Mr Abbott's comments are "extraordinary", particularly as they come just days before the 10 year anniversary of the Cronulla Riots, an explosion of violent, racist hatred that is widely regarded as one of the most disgraceful days in Australia's recent history.
"His statements are really the epitome of 'the new racism'," Father Rod Bower, of Gosford Anglican Church, told ninemsn.
"Racism is no longer based in ethnic biology. The new racism is based in culture and religion … and it is certainly not acceptable for any of our elected leaders to be championing the new racism.
"We need leaders who will be bringing communities together, not dividing them."
Father Rod also disputed Mr Abbott's claim Islam has never had an "enlightenment", or that one culture can be better than another.
"To say that Islam has never had an enlightenment is just historically untrue … [Western culture] is a wonderful culture – it's not the only good culture," he said, going on to question the motives of the former PM, who also claimed today that he would have won the 2016 federal election had he remained in the leadership.
"It's clear Mr Abbott's path back to the Lodge will be paved – can only be paved – with national security issues," Father Rod told ninemsn.
"You have to ask the question, why would he be using such clearly inflammatory statements that clearly cause division, that clearly aid the radicalisation of young men, other than it being for his own purposes, and it is just unacceptable.
"This is a time when all our leaders need to be reaching out across cultural boundaries and bringing people together, and these statements are the antithesis to that," Father Rod said.
"(They are) unworthy of a former prime minister and unworthy of any member of parliament."
