July 7, 2005
by Ecumenical News International

GENEVA – World church leaders expressed horror and condemnation after a series of bomb blasts in London on July 7 killed more than 33 people and left hundreds of others seriously injured.

The church spokesmen pleaded for a strengthening of the values terrorists would like to destroy, and said extremists must not be allowed to create divisions between communities.

The Rev. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said: "Peace is the only way to achieve justice for all. When, as it seems on this occasion, violence is deliberately targeting civilians and willing to create terror in the population, it could be described as a crime against humanity. There is nothing that can justify the killing of innocent people anywhere."

In a message to the churches and people of Britain, Kobia added: "This kind of event is a call to all of us, churches, other religious organizations and the whole of humanity, to strengthen our commitment to building a just and peaceful world where all human beings may feel secure and safe in their homes, in their cities and communities."

The Rev. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the Geneva-based World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said: "These senseless and cowardly acts can only come from those who do not value life, peace and good community relationships. People of all faiths need to lift up our voices against such acts and to set the good example of building communities of peace."

Pope Benedict XVI described the bombings as "inhuman" in a telegram sent to Cardinal Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, the Catholic leader of England and Wales.

The telegram, signed by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodana, read: "The Holy Father offers fervent prayers for the victims and for all those who mourn. While he deplores these barbaric acts against humanity, he asks you to convey to the families of the injured his spiritual closeness at this time of grief."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev. Rowan Williams, said during an interfaith visit to northern England, "I want first and foremost to extend my personal sympathy and condolences to everyone who is suffering and grieving at this time."

Williams, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said, "I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire, and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected."

Germany's top Protestant bishop, Wolfgang Huber, said in a message to Williams: "Our prayers are with the people of Britain, especially the residents of London and those worried about relatives and friends."

The general secretary of Britain's United Reformed Church, the Rev David Cornick, said: "Our prayers are first of all with those who have suffered as a result of this atrocity, with those who care for them and those who seek to bring the perpetrators to justice. But in the days to come, alongside our prayers must go the determination on the part of Christians to ensure that we do not allow extremists to create divisions between the communities which make up our nation."

The Rev. David Lacy, moderator of the Church of Scotland and convenor of its Church and Society Council, said: "As we as a nation seek to come to terms with an attack on our freedoms and our democracy, it is to those principles that we must hold. Our reaction must be to strengthen and uphold what terrorism seeks to destroy."

Presbyterian News Service