Statement of the Moderator and the Secretary General on the Church Bombings in Nigeria

A car burns at the scene of a bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja, Nigeria

Religions for Peace condemns and deplores the terrorist attacks across Nigeria which killed scores of people, with the majority dying on the steps of a Catholic Church after celebrating Christmas Mass.

26 December 2011

All of the religious communities in Religions for Peace, present in over 90 countries, are united in mourning for the dead and our concern and sympathy for the injured. Respectful of our different religious traditions, we are all–each in accord with the teachings of our various traditions–in prayerful solidarity with the families, friends, and communities of all the victims of these terrible crimes. Terror in the name of religion is always wrong. It is designed to sow seeds of distrust, suspicion and hostiliy between differing religous communities. The criminals that committed these crimes should be held accountable before the law. At the same time, we utterly reject their gravely depraved attempts to divide religious communities one against the other.

We are committed to re-doubling our efforts to advance respectful and cooperative relationships among the world’s diverse religious communities. We believe religions are for peace. They call their respective believers to advance the common good. We know from forty one years of experienece that religous communities can unite in rejecting terrorism in their name and work together in accord with solid religious principles to advance shared well being.

Yours in partnership,