Archbishop remembers Mumbai victims and denounces religious-backed terror
-17/07/06
Th
Archbishop remembers Mumbai victims and denounces religious-backed terror
-17/07/06
Though the worldís news headlines are understandably fixed on the Middle East at the moment ñ and especially the appalling situation in Lebanon, where 200 people have died in exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel ñ the people of Mumbai, India, are confronting the aftermath of last weekís terror bomb blasts.
Over the weekend a message of sympathy for victims of the attacks was offered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans.
He earlier denounced religiously-sanctioned and justified violence against civilians in the strongest possible terms.
In a message to be read at an inter faith memorial gathering on Friday 14 July 2006, Dr Williams said that the anniversary of the 7/7 bomb attacks in London had led people in the UK to a determination to stand with victims of all such atrocities, and assured all involved of his continuing prayers.
During a powerful York Minster sermon at last weekís General Synod of the Church of England, the Archbishop said that suicide bombers and perpetrators of terror attacks who justify their actions in the name of God are committing blasphemy by indulging in the human fantasy of usurping Godís justice.
ìThis represents a condition of spiritual weakness that is both pitiable and terrifying. For the person who resorts to random killing in order to promote the honour of God or the supposed cause of justice, it is clear that God is not to be trusted. God is too weak to look after his own honour and we are the strong ones who must step in to help him. Such is the underlying blasphemy at work,î Dr Williams declared.
He went on: ìLast week the prime minister appealed to ‘moderate’ Muslims to challenge the extremists in their midst … but perhaps we should be saying too that what we look for is not just moderation, if all that means is a measured and unexciting religious commitment … It is people who are extreme in their confidence in God who will most effectively challenge the extremists of murder and fear.î
The full text of the Archbishopís message is as follows:
“We were deeply dismayed to receive the news of the tragedy that unfolded in Mumbai on 11 July following the terrorist attacks of the rail network there. I wrote yesterday to the Moderator of the Church of North India and their Bishop in Mumbai to express my solidarity and that of Anglicans around the world at this time.
“It was only last week that we marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the public transport system in London so these events give rise to particular feelings of distress and a determination to stand with the victims. It is shocking that such senseless acts of violence against innocent people continue, in Mumbai and other places around the world.
“People of all faiths and none will be joining together over the coming days to deplore the violence and remember those who have died, the injured and those who have lost loved ones. Please be assured of my prayers for God’s mercy on the deceased; for grace and fortitude for all the surviving victims; for the selfless dedication of the emergency services and all those working to help people rebuild their lives in the wake of the bombings; and for a deeper peace and harmony in the relations between the communities in the region.”
Dr Williams has also written a letter of condolence to the Indian High Commissioner in London.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mumbai bombs target India-Pakistan accord and secular democracy; Pope calls for massive aid to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan; Indian Christians protest anti-conversion bill in Rajasthan; Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs; Rajasthan governor refuses to sign anti-conversion bill; Bush visit to Ghandi memorial ‘cynical and disrespectful’; Christian-owned company produces cheap AIDS drugs; Secularists join Christians and Muslims to oppose Indian anti-conversion laws; Triple funding success for Traidcraft Exchange; Indian Catholic Church unveils new HIV/AIDS policy; Christians urged to stir up a storm in a tea cup; Christians gather at Davos alternative]
Archbishop remembers Mumbai victims and denounces religious-backed terror
-17/07/06
Though the worldís news headlines are understandably fixed on the Middle East at the moment ñ and especially the appalling situation in Lebanon, where 200 people have died in exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel ñ the people of Mumbai, India, are confronting the aftermath of last weekís terror bomb blasts.
Over the weekend a message of sympathy for victims of the attacks was offered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans.
He earlier denounced religiously-sanctioned and justified violence against civilians in the strongest possible terms.
In a message to be read at an inter faith memorial gathering on Friday 14 July 2006, Dr Williams said that the anniversary of the 7/7 bomb attacks in London had led people in the UK to a determination to stand with victims of all such atrocities, and assured all involved of his continuing prayers.
During a powerful York Minster sermon at last weekís General Synod of the Church of England, the Archbishop said that suicide bombers and perpetrators of terror attacks who justify their actions in the name of God are committing blasphemy by indulging in the human fantasy of usurping Godís justice.
ìThis represents a condition of spiritual weakness that is both pitiable and terrifying. For the person who resorts to random killing in order to promote the honour of God or the supposed cause of justice, it is clear that God is not to be trusted. God is too weak to look after his own honour and we are the strong ones who must step in to help him. Such is the underlying blasphemy at work,î Dr Williams declared.
He went on: ìLast week the prime minister appealed to ‘moderate’ Muslims to challenge the extremists in their midst … but perhaps we should be saying too that what we look for is not just moderation, if all that means is a measured and unexciting religious commitment … It is people who are extreme in their confidence in God who will most effectively challenge the extremists of murder and fear.î
The full text of the Archbishopís message is as follows:
“We were deeply dismayed to receive the news of the tragedy that unfolded in Mumbai on 11 July following the terrorist attacks of the rail network there. I wrote yesterday to the Moderator of the Church of North India and their Bishop in Mumbai to express my solidarity and that of Anglicans around the world at this time.
“It was only last week that we marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the public transport system in London so these events give rise to particular feelings of distress and a determination to stand with the victims. It is shocking that such senseless acts of violence against innocent people continue, in Mumbai and other places around the world.
“People of all faiths and none will be joining together over the coming days to deplore the violence and remember those who have died, the injured and those who have lost loved ones. Please be assured of my prayers for God’s mercy on the deceased; for grace and fortitude for all the surviving victims; for the selfless dedication of the emergency services and all those working to help people rebuild their lives in the wake of the bombings; and for a deeper peace and harmony in the relations between the communities in the region.”
Dr Williams has also written a letter of condolence to the Indian High Commissioner in London.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mumbai bombs target India-Pakistan accord and secular democracy; Pope calls for massive aid to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan; Indian Christians protest anti-conversion bill in Rajasthan; Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs; Rajasthan governor refuses to sign anti-conversion bill; Bush visit to Ghandi memorial ‘cynical and disrespectful’; Christian-owned company produces cheap AIDS drugs; Secularists join Christians and Muslims to oppose Indian anti-conversion laws; Triple funding success for Traidcraft Exchange; Indian Catholic Church unveils new HIV/AIDS policy; Christians urged to stir up a storm in a tea cup; Christians gather at Davos alternative]