We must not fall into the trap of
a religious war fomented by fanatics, the head of the Italian
Bishops Conference (CEI) said Wednesday.
"Let us not fall into the trap...laid by fanatics with the
intent to provoke and justify a clash of civilizations," said
Monsignor Nunzio Galantino.
"(Muslim communities) have clearly and unanimously raised
their voices to condemns the violence that was perpetrated,
declaring their solidarity with the victims and their loved
ones, and their extraneousness to ways of thinking that are so
contrary to their faith," he continued.
"They did so through their gesture of participating in
Sunday Mass alongside Catholics, which was so eloquent and
admirable".
Italy's Islamic Religious Community (COREIS) said last
week it would send delegates to churches and parishes
across Italy on Sunday, July 31, "to bear witness to spiritual
brotherhood" after a July 26 attack in which two
knife-wielding French nationals entered a church in the town of
Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen during Mass, took
84-year-old Father Jacques Hamel hostage along with four other
people, and slit the priest's throat before being killed by
security forces.
They did so in the name of Islam, and the so-called Islamic
State (ISIS) extremist group has hailed the attack.
Italy's Muslim community heeded the call of the French
Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies (IHEI), which also sent
delegates to French churches last Sunday.
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