Ignores fact that murder of these men drowned any desire for ‘dialogue’ in their own blood
“The lives of 19 religious men and women martyred during the Algerian civil war are a testament to God’s plan of love and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims,” Pope Francis said.
A more serious analyst would note that they were, after all, murdered, so they might not be that great a testimony to peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. But this is the Pope who has said that “Muslim terrorism does not exist.” So he affirms that “by beatifying our 19 brothers and sisters, the church wishes to bear witness to her desire to continue to work for dialogue, harmony and friendship,” ignoring the fact that the murder of these people drowned their desire for “dialogue, harmony and friendship” in their own blood. There may be some room for dialogue, but only if it is informed and realistic, not based on wishful thinking and willful ignorance.
“Algerian martyrs bear witness to Christian-Muslim peace, Pope Francis says,” by Catholic News Service, December 10, 2018:
VATICAN – The lives of 19 religious men and women martyred during the Algerian civil war are a testament to God’s plan of love and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis said. …
Both Christians and Muslims in Algeria “have been victims of the same violence for having lived, with faithfulness and respect for each other, their duties as believers and citizens in this blessed land. It is for them, too, that we pray and express our grateful tribute,” the Pope said.
Among those who were beatified were Blessed Christian de Cherge and six of his fellow Trappists — Fathers Christophe Lebreton, Bruno Lemarchand and Celestin Ringeard as well as Brothers Luc Dochier, Michel Fleury and Paul Favre-Miville — who were murdered in 1996 by members of the Armed Islamic Group in Tibhirine, Algeria.
Full article: Pope: Christians Murdered by Muslims Testament to God’s Plan for Coexistence (Church Militant)
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