Scottish Catholic Observer

The Holy Father has denounced the religious fundamentalism that inspired the three Muslim gunmen believed to be behind the killing spree at the offices of Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and subsequent attacks, saying they were enslaved by a subverted faith that used God as a mere ideological pretext to perpetuate mass killings.

In his annual foreign policy address to Vatican-based ambassadors on Monday, the Pope called for a united response from the international community to end ‘fundamentalist terrorism’ and for Muslim leaders in particular to condemn extremist interpretations of their faith that seek to justify such violence. He said the attack in France’s capital on January 7 and following days were the result of a ‘throwaway culture’ where human beings and God are rejected outright.

“Religious fundamentalism—even before it eliminates human beings by perpetrating horrendous killings—eliminates God Himself, turning him into a mere ideological pretext,” he added.

The Holy Father’s remarks came after millions of people, including Catholic leaders, took part in peaceful protest marches against the violence in Paris and other European cities last Sunday.

According to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris, Catholics should pray that France will continue to show ‘moderation, temperance and control’ in response to the terrorist attacks in their city. In a letter to Parisian Catholics the cardinal writes: “This week our country, and in particular our city, has been the scene of unprecedented acts of violence and barbarity. For us, for many years, death and war were always elsewhere, even though French soldiers were engaged in various countries trying to build peace. Some have paid with their lives. But violent death has suddenly appeared among us. France, and even beyond our borders, are in a state of shock.

“The majority of our fellow citizens have lived this situation as a call to recover certain fundamental values of our republic, such as freedom of religion or freedom of opinion. The spontaneous gatherings of these past few days have been marked by great contemplation, without a show of hatred or violence. The sadness of grief, and the belief that we all have something to defend, unite the French.”

The French cardinal also says its is important to remember that, in the wake of the attack on the magazine office on Wednesday January 7 that a cartoon (even if it is distasteful,) a critique (even if it is gravely unjust,) cannot be put on the same level as murder. Freedom of the press, whatever the cost, is the ‘sign of a mature society,’ he writes.

Police officers Ahmed Merabet and Franck Brinsolaro were among those killed in the attack.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said his ‘thoughts and prayers are with the people of France’ following the attack at the magazine offices. The cardinal, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, made the statement as France began a national day of mourning.

Two days after the first attack on the magazine, two of the suspected perpetrators— brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi—were shot and killed by French police after further terror attacks that killed six more people and culminated in a deadly hostage situation at a kosher supermarket. Cardinal Vingt-Trois lamented that ‘French Jews are once again paying a price for the troubles that are agitating our national community only reinforces their gravity.’ He urged ‘the Catholics of Paris to pray to the Lord for the victims of the terrorists, for their spouses, their children and their families.’

“We pray also for our country, that the moderation, temperance and control that have been displayed so far will be confirmed in the weeks and months ahead and that no one will give in to the easy identification of a few fanatics with an entire religion. And we also pray for the terrorists, who discover the truth of God’s judgment,” he said. “We ask for the grace to be peacemakers. We must never despair of peace, if we build justice.”

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