Palestinians wielding guns and firebombs attacked five churches in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that angered many Muslims…
Later Saturday, four masked gunmen doused the main doors of Nablus’ Roman and Greek Catholic churches with lighter fluid, then set them afire. They also opened fire on the buildings, striking both with bullets.
In Gaza City, militants opened fire from a car at a Greek Orthodox church, …. Explosive devices were set off at the same Gaza church on Friday…
Firebombings left black scorch marks on the walls and windows of Nablus’ Anglican and Greek Orthodox churches. At least five firebombs hit the Anglican church and its door was later set ablaze. Smoke billowed from the church as firefighters put out the flames.
In a phone call to The Associated Press, a group calling itself the “Lions of Monotheism” claimed responsibility for those attacks, saying they were carried out to protest the pope’s remarks in a speech this week in Germany linking Islam and violence.
Can they not see the irony of carrying out violent attacks to protest being called violent? I wonder what they would do if they had a chance to meet the Pope.. would they hold a gun to his head and force him to say that they are not violent?
The media just reports the events, but I think they are too afraid to actually point out the irony.
As my dad used to say.. “It boggles my mind!”
Update: Some Australian media had insightful editorials here and here.