ACN-USA News: Pakistan Archbishop condemns Qur'an burning

Pakistan Archbishop condemns Qur’an burning


The leader of the Catholic Church in Pakistan has condemned the decision by a U.S. pastor to burn the Qur’an, an action which triggered protests climaxing with the deaths of at least 24 people in Afghanistan.

Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore condemned the desecration of the Qur’an carried out by Pastor Wayne Sapp under the supervision of Pastor Terry Jones. Since the Qur’an burning took place at the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida on March 20th, protests have been held in many parts of the Muslim world.

In Afghanistan, an attack on a UN base on Friday (April 1st) in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif killed 14 people, seven of them U.S. staff, and the next day at least 10 people were killed in the southern city of Kandahar.

Meanwhile, protests have taken place across Pakistan, and the Qur’an-burning has been linked to attacks on three churches across the country, which is home to 2.5 million Christians.

Speaking from Lahore in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Archbishop Saldanha said, “The U.S. government should detain the pastor for some time.”

“In view of the effects his actions have had all over the world, he should be controlled and understand the harm that has been done.”

Archbishop Saldanha, who is president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Lahore, went on, “The U.S. government talks about religious freedom – but we call upon the U.S. government to prevent such actions by extremists and other fundamentalist Christians.”

Archbishop Saldanha questioned reports from Pakistan linking unrest sparked by the Qur’an-burning to recent attacks on three churches, but he stressed the strength of feeling expressed by Muslims who have protested across the country.

Amid indications of growing Muslim anger on the issue, he said, “Although there have not been any reactions against Christians, it could become ugly.”

In a statement on Saturday (April 2nd), President Barak Obama gave his reaction to the Qur’an-burning and the deaths in Afghanistan.

He declared, “The desecration of any holy text, including the Qur’an is an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry.”

“However, to attack and kill innocent people in response is outrageous and an affront to human decency and dignity.”

In the meantime, churches in Pakistan have put in place extra security measures in recent months, including armed guards, concrete blocks, security cameras and sand bags. Security checks are also carried out on people entering churches for services.


With picture of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore


Editor’s Notes:



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