Reports follow on the Archbishop’s comments; Secretary General’s plea to Anglican Communion: ‘Please pray for Pakistan’; UK churches call for greater protection of Pakistani Christians
The Archbishop of Canterbury has drawn attention to the fact that Christians in Peshawar were talking of forgiveness immediately after suicide bombers attacked All Saints Church on Sunday.
But he added that Christians in Peshawar are also ‘crying out vigorously’ for justice and protection following the worst attack on Christians in Pakistan’s history.
The attack, which was launched as people were leaving Sunday Mass, killed 85 people and injured more than 120.
Speaking on Radio 4’s World at One today, the Archbishop described the bombing as ‘an absolutely appalling attack’ and called on Pakistan’s government to ensure that minority citizens are given proper protection and that all people are treated equally under its law.
The Archbishop added that we have seen ‘more than 80 martyrs’ in Peshawar in the last few days.
‘They have been attacked because they were testifying to their faith in Jesus Christ by going to church. And that is outside any acceptable expression, in any circumstances for any reason, of religious difference,’ he said.
He continued: ‘When you look at what Christians teach, we are deeply committed to justice – we pray for justice for the victims, justice to be established. But Jesus, at his crucifixion, prayed also for those who were ill treating him. And that has been the pattern of Christian witness throughout the centuries.’
People in Peshawar spoke of forgiveness immediately after Sunday’s attack at All Saints Church, the Archbishop said during an interview with Radio 4′s World at One today.
But he stressed that mourners in Peshawar are also ‘crying out vigorously’ for justice and protection following the worst attack on Christians in Pakistan’s history, which killed 85 people and injured more than 120.
He continued: ‘When you look at what Christians teach, we are deeply committed to justice – we pray for justice for the victims, justice to be established.
‘But Jesus, at his crucifixion, prayed also for those who were ill-treating him. And that has been the pattern of Christian witness throughout the centuries.’
Describing the bombings as ‘an absolutely appalling attack’, the Archbishop called on Pakistan’s government to ensure minority citizens are given proper protection and that all people are treated equally under its law.
In the same interview, Archbishop Justin said we have seen ‘more than 80 martyrs’ in Peshawar in recent days.
‘They have been attacked because they were testifying to their faith in Jesus Christ by going to church. And that is outside any acceptable expression, in any circumstances for any reason, of religious difference,’ he said.
Secretary General to Anglican Communion: ‘Please pray for Pakistan’
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion has asked for Communion-wide prayer following the suicide attack on a church in Pakistan that left than 78 dead and more than 100 injured.
In a letter to the Anglican Communion’s Primates — its most senior bishops — Canon Kenneth Kearon wrote, “Messages of condolences have been coming in from around the Communion, and I write to ask you to consider requesting your parishes and dioceses to remember in prayer those who died or were bereaved and those who were injured or live in fear because of the tragedy.”
This call comes following an attack on All Saint’s Church, Peshawar, that has been labelled the worst assault on the country’s Christian minority in many years.
Already leaders from around the Anglican world have expressed their shock and sorrow at the incident. Today leaders from countries including India and Tanzania wrote to Peshawar Diocese Bishop Humphrey Peters and Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Bishop Samuel Azariah to assure them of their prayers and support.
Canon Kearon proposed that churches around the world prayed for Pakistan this coming Sunday, the 29 September.
Those who do pray for the country, will no doubt also remember those affected by today’s powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that reports say has killed at least 30 people in a remote area of south-west Pakistan.
Call for greater protection of Pakistani Christians
Churches and organisations around the UK call for greater protection for Christian minorities following the suicide attack on a church in Pakistan.
Two suicide bombers detonated their devices outside All Saints’ Church as worshippers were leaving Sunday Mass, killing 80 people and leaving more than 100 injured.
It is believed to be the worst attack on Pakistani Christians in years, with many of those killed being children.
One victim, Shalom Nazir, lost his parents and older sister in the attack, telling Barnabas Fund: “I came [to church] in the morning with my whole family for prayers and worship but returned home with no one.”
Nationwide protests are taking place against the Government and their failure to protect Pakistan’s religious minorities. Local authorities have been accused of not following up on previous bomb threats or taking any action to protect the community preceding the attack.
UK human rights organisation, the Global Minorities Alliance (GMA), is concerned about the lack of protection for religious minorities in Pakistan and is assisting victims.
Shahid Khan, vice-chairperson of the GMA, said: “It is a security lapse where the government has failed to protect the minorities. There are so many people [still] missing and there is no help for the deeply-shocked Christian community.”
GMA’s chief executive, Manassi Bernard, is also shocked at the lack of medical help for the many injured saying: “There are not enough doctors available in the local Lady Reading Hospital, no help desk provided and the Christian community has no one to get help from.”
Similar comments have come from a spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales who said that the Pakistani Government must do more to protect Pakistani Christians.
He said: “Christians show great courage in giving witness to their faith in Pakistan and Sunday’s attack is a terrible demonstration of the threat facing Christians and other minorities from terrorists and their violent ideology.
“The Pakistani Government has an obligation to ensure that Pakistani Christians and other minorities are protected from further atrocities.”
Release International, another organisation supporting the Christian community in Pakistan, appealed to Christians in the UK to stand by their Pakistani brothers and sisters.
Paul Robinson, Release Chief Executive, said: “Pakistan must take immediate and effective action to protect its Christian minority, and we, as believers in the UK and Ireland, must stand in prayer with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Pakistan and around the world, who are being attacked and killed simply because of their faith.”
On Tuesday, British Pakistani Christians gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in London to express their frustration over the lack of security for believers in Pakistan. The protest was organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association, which later handed in a petition to 10 Downing Street asking that the UK government step in to help Christians in Pakistan.