Priest refuses to condemn robbers

-13/12/05

A priest has said he will not condemn three


Priest refuses to condemn robbers

-13/12/05

A priest has said he will not condemn three men who tied him up and robbed him after he had given them food and money just minutes earlier.

Father Martin Collins answered the door at Holy Family Church in Kirkholt, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, to three men who said they were homeless.

He gave them food and cash but they attacked him, forced him to hand over more money before stealing his car.

Det Sgt Jared Sudworth, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “These offenders took advantage of this man’s generosity and stole money from him.

“He showed them nothing but kindness and it is reprehensible that they could treat anybody – let alone someone who has shown compassion – like this.”

But Fr Collins said he did not condemn the men and revealed the incident would not stop him helping others.

“It’s not unusual to have people genuinely in need of help at the door,” he said.

“This is one isolated incident where the people had very different intentions.

“I don’t condemn them, and I hope it would not stop me offering help to others in a similar situation.”

The incident follows a number of high-profile cases of public forgiveness by Christians.

The mother of Anthony Walker who was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack, spoke of her forgiveness for her sons killers, stemming from her Christian faith.

Yesterday, it was announced that London Radio Station LBC London’s commercial talk radio station LBC 97.3 will also be opening the airwaves to a message of forgiveness this Christmas.

On Friday 23rd December at 6pm LBC will broadcast a special programme titled ‘Impossible Forgiveness’ exploring the subject of forgiveness with a focus on this year’s 7/7 bombings in London.

The one-hour live programme will look at John and Lisa Mosey’s whose 19-year old daughter was killed in the Lockerbie plane crash, but who have also spoken of their forgiveness for those who planted the bomb on board.


Priest refuses to condemn robbers

-13/12/05

A priest has said he will not condemn three men who tied him up and robbed him after he had given them food and money just minutes earlier.

Father Martin Collins answered the door at Holy Family Church in Kirkholt, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, to three men who said they were homeless.

He gave them food and cash but they attacked him, forced him to hand over more money before stealing his car.

Det Sgt Jared Sudworth, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “These offenders took advantage of this man’s generosity and stole money from him.

“He showed them nothing but kindness and it is reprehensible that they could treat anybody – let alone someone who has shown compassion – like this.”

But Fr Collins said he did not condemn the men and revealed the incident would not stop him helping others.

“It’s not unusual to have people genuinely in need of help at the door,” he said.

“This is one isolated incident where the people had very different intentions.

“I don’t condemn them, and I hope it would not stop me offering help to others in a similar situation.”

The incident follows a number of high-profile cases of public forgiveness by Christians.

The mother of Anthony Walker who was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack, spoke of her forgiveness for her sons killers, stemming from her Christian faith.

Yesterday, it was announced that London Radio Station LBC London’s commercial talk radio station LBC 97.3 will also be opening the airwaves to a message of forgiveness this Christmas.

On Friday 23rd December at 6pm LBC will broadcast a special programme titled ‘Impossible Forgiveness’ exploring the subject of forgiveness with a focus on this year’s 7/7 bombings in London.

The one-hour live programme will look at John and Lisa Mosey’s whose 19-year old daughter was killed in the Lockerbie plane crash, but who have also spoken of their forgiveness for those who planted the bomb on board.