wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Stated Clerk issues statement in wake of Istanbul

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #8025 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

03508
November 21, 2003

Stated Clerk issues statement in wake of Istanbul bombings

Kirkpatrick calls for prayers for the 'innocents'

by Clifton Kirkpatrick
General Assembly Stated Clerk
Presbyterian Church (USA)

LOUISVILLE, Nov. 21 -- The blood of our brothers and sisters is crying out to
God and to us from the streets of Istanbul, India, Iraq and elsewhere in the
world.	We dare not let ourselves be shocked into silence by the continuing
stream of terrorist violence directed against innocent people in pursuit of
political ends.  Such terrorist acts may be horrible and desperate attempts
to manipulate public sentiment and seek to political change, but they are
crimes that are against the will of God and the teaching of all religions.

We are deeply troubled by the bombing of the two synagogues in Istanbul last
Saturday. We offer our prayers and grieve with the families of those who were
killed in those bombings, and share the concern of the Jewish community for
the safety of Jews in Istanbul and elsewhere.  We also grieve for the victims
of the bombing of a mosque in India only last week. The killing of innocent
people at worship is an outrage and deeply painful for us as people of faith

The outrage is compounded by the horrific bombings in Istanbul yesterday of a
British bank and the British Consulate, which has brought death to dozens and
injury to hundreds more. We offer our condolences to all who are the victims
of these atrocities.

We urge Presbyterians and Americans to pray for all those innocents who have
been killed, and especially for the victims of the bombings of synagogues,
churches and mosques.  We must look deeply into the reasons why people of
faith in many countries are targets of terrorist acts, and how groups with
radical and violent political agendas are misusing religion in support of
their actions.	And we must also question the wisdom of an escalating use of
force alone in responding to terrorism.  Is it not time we turn from violence
and pursue the paths of justice and peace?

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