Australians pray for rain as drought-of-the-century continues

Posted 11/26/2006 10:18 AM ET

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Churchgoers prayed for rain Sunday in the hopes of breaking the worst drought to hit Australian farmers in more than a century.

Already the world's driest inhabited continent, Australia has been ravaged in recent months by the worst drought in recorded memory, which has devastated crops and bankrupted many farmers.

Archbishop Philip Wilson, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, called for a national day of prayer Sunday to ask God for more rain.

"We're praying for rain, that God might bless us with rains," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Sunday.

Worshippers were "also praying in solidarity with the people who ... are suffering in their lives because of the drought," he added.

Jock Laurie, the president of the New South Wales Farmers Association, said that while crops have already been lost, the day of prayer could help boost morale.

"I think it just shows that city people really are starting to get a very good understanding of the impact it's having on rural communities," he told the ABC. "You really can't underestimate how ... good it is to have this support."

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