One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's calendar is filling up with meal invitations - this time from the church whose Sunday service was gatecrashed by her anti-Islam supporters.
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Father Rod Bower on Tuesday reached out to Senator Hanson in his characteristically light-hearted, public style - via a sign out the front of Gosford Anglican Church, which read: 'Pauline, how about lunch?'.
It follows an incident on Sunday when about 10 members of the Party for Freedom, an anti-Islam group that staunchly supports Senator Hanson, stormed the church and interrupted Father Bower's morning sermon. Senator Hanson has distanced herself from the incident.
Father Bower on Tuesday told Fairfax Media that Senator Hanson was yet to accept the invitation to break bread, "but let's give her time".
The One Nation website says Australia is "built on Christian values" and says Muslim immigration should cease.
Father Bower said Senator Hanson identifies with Christian culture but "there is some cognitive dissonance between the teachings of Jesus and some of the policies of One Nation".
"We would want to . . . hear what some of her concerns are, and perhaps explore a productive way forward, because I am not entirely sure that what is being offered by One Nation at the moment is a particularly productive way forward," he said.
"Certainly the idea of welcoming the stranger is woven throughout the entire Judeo-Christian scriptures. It's certainly something that just cannot be ignored if you want to identify with that tradition."
The invitation follows that extended by Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who has offered to take the anti-immigration One Nation leader out for a Halal Snack Pack in Sydney's multicultural western suburbs.
Comment has been sought from Senator Hanson on whether she plans to accept Father Bower's invitation.
The Gosford Anglican church is well known for its strident support for asylum seekers and refugees, and its sign frequently bears messages critical of Australia's offshore detention regime.
Senator Hanson on Monday said Sunday's incident, in which the intruders wore Muslim-style dress and yelled anti-Islam rhetoric, was "counterproductive" to the serious argument One Nation was seeking to have in the next Parliament.
But One Nation says the protest reflects public concern over Islam, and claimed the church had made itself a target through the messages displayed on its sign.
The Gosford Anglican church has a prominent social media presence, and on Monday night posted a video of Party for Freedom chairman Nick Folkes being castigated by right-wing commentator Andrew Bolt.
It was accompanied by the comment: "You know your career as a right-wing extremist is over when Andrew Bolt cuts you off. Priceless!!"
