UPDATE 1 -- Pope expresses sadness over 'senseless' violence against Christians in Nigeria

[News_Editor]

UPDATE 1 -- Pope expresses sadness over 'senseless' violence against Christians in Nigeria

2011-12-26 21:38:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

VATICAN CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Pope Benedict XVI on Monday expressed his deep sadness about the 'senseless' violence against Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Day, leaving at least 40 people killed and dozens more injured.

The bomb and shooting attacks happened on Sunday in the Nigerian cities of Madalla, Jos, Gadaka and Damaturu. Most of the victims died in Madalla, near the capital of Abuja, when a suicide bomber targeted Christians who were leaving the St Theresa's Catholic Church after a morning service.

Addressing tens of thousands of people at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City, the Pope expressed his sadness about the "senseless acts" which left Nigerian lands "drenched with innocent blood." He also expressed his closeness to the Christian community in Nigeria and those who have been affected.

"I bid you all to pray for the many victims," the pontiff added.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said it condemns the attacks. "Regretfully, the attacks at the Church of Saint Theresa's near Abuja, timed to coincide with Christmas Day celebrations, are once against the expression of the cruelty of blind and absurd hatred devoid of any respect for human life and represent an attempt to generate and fuel further hatred and confusion," he said.

Father Lombardi added: "We express our closeness to the suffering of the Church and of all the Nigerian people who have been affected by violent terrorism even during these days that should be of joy and peace. While we pray for the victims, we also express the hope that this senseless violence will not weaken the will for peaceful cohabitation and dialogue in the nation."

According to Nigerian media reports, the Boko Haram Islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for the deadly Christmas Day attacks. The group has been blamed for most of the region's terrorist attacks and seeks the imposition of an extremist stance of the Shariah law, which is a Muslim code of conduct. The group's name, in the local language of Hausa, roughly translates as 'Western religion is sacrilegious' or 'non-Islamic religion is a sin.'

In early November, a series of bomb and shooting attacks targeting police stations, mosques and churches in northeastern Nigeria left at least 82 people killed and more than 100 injured. The attacks, also claimed by Boko Haram, happened just before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

On Christmas Eve 2010, at least 80 people were killed when a series of bomb blasts rocked multiple locations in Jos, including a Catholic church. Two churches in Maiduguri were also attacked by gunmen on the same day, leaving six more people killed.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-26

[Steely Dan]

So where's the excuse? You can't use the stock excuse that the violence was a response to western interference, all we have is an election, which was reported to be one of the fairest in Nigeria's history. But as politics there divides on religious grounds we have a massacre based on nothing other than religiously motivated hatred from the usual suspects.

P.S 100+ deaths according to the latest news.

http://online.wsj.co...=googlenews_wsj

Edited December 26, 2011 by Steely Dan

[koheesti]

Maybe the Pope should revert back a thousand years and call for the destruction of the enemies of Christianity and send "missionairies" down there to wipe them out.

[Steely Dan]

Maybe the Pope should revert back a thousand years and call for the destruction of the enemies of Christianity and send "missionairies" down there to wipe them out.

Coincidentally I was just reading about the crusades, and contrary to popular misconceptions the 463 years between Mohammad's death and the first crusade was not a period of peaceful coexistence but one of persistent incursions into Europe as far as Southern France, during which time countless cities were sacked and looted.

Returning to Nigeria, the motive for Boko Haram can hardly be clearer, yet denial and complacency still reign.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/286672/christmas-bombings-nigeria-paul-marshall

[bonobo]

Maybe the Pope should revert back a thousand years and call for the destruction of the enemies of Christianity and send "missionairies" down there to wipe them out.

Coincidentally I was just reading about the crusades, and contrary to popular misconceptions the 463 years between Mohammad's death and the first crusade was not a period of peaceful coexistence but one of persistent incursions into Europe as far as Southern France, during which time countless cities were sacked and looted.

Returning to Nigeria, the motive for Boko Haram can hardly be clearer, yet denial and complacency still reign.

http://www.nationalr...a-paul-marshall

It was 100 years after the death of Mohammad that Charles "The Hammer" Martel turned back the Muslim onslaught of Europe at the Battle of Tours. Many historians think that has Charles lost the battle, all of Gaul and possibly lands further east would have become Muslim lands. So you are correct in asserting that Christians and Muslims were not living in harmony before the advent of the Crusades.

[trompelemonde]

This again a bit off topic, but whilst large parts of Iberia were invaded and subject to rule by Muslims (the "Moors") they did co-exist in relative peace with Christians and indeed the Jews. It's not fair to compare what happened in Iberia with later religious wars in Asia Minor and also Europe itself - different Caliphate.

Remember, when Ferdinand and Isabella completed the re-conquest they allowed the Moors to leave Iberia back to North Africa.This generosity was never extended to the Jews who forced to either leave or convert.

[koheesti]

Maybe the Pope should revert back a thousand years and call for the destruction of the enemies of Christianity and send "missionairies" down there to wipe them out.

Coincidentally I was just reading about the crusades, and contrary to popular misconceptions the 463 years between Mohammad's death and the first crusade was not a period of peaceful coexistence but one of persistent incursions into Europe as far as Southern France, during which time countless cities were sacked and looted.

Returning to Nigeria, the motive for Boko Haram can hardly be clearer, yet denial and complacency still reign.

http://www.nationalr...a-paul-marshall

It was 100 years after the death of Mohammad that Charles "The Hammer" Martel turned back the Muslim onslaught of Europe at the Battle of Tours. Many historians think that has Charles lost the battle, all of Gaul and possibly lands further east would have become Muslim lands. So you are correct in asserting that Christians and Muslims were not living in harmony before the advent of the Crusades.

Have those historians been to the Paris suburbs lately?

Anyway, the Pope expressing sadness means about as much as the UN condemning something. It makes a nice feelgood headline but that's about it.

[Steely Dan]

Perhaps the Pope should fire from the hip and speak the truth for once, we really do need an Emperor's new clothes moment in order to wake up to this insanity. How about simply stating we have a clash of good against evil of a forgiving benevolent God and the indescribable evil of Satan - Though it may sound better in Latin.