The president of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference has said the Church will continue its dialogue with Muslim communities in the wake of two attacks by suspected Islamist terrorists last week in which two Canadian soldiers died.
One was killed when a lone man drove his car at him in Quebec; the other was fatally shot while guarding the national war memorial in the capital, Ottawa. The assailant then stormed into the parliament building and exchanged fire with security guards.
“This is a time of profound national sadness for all Canadians. The recent acts of violence in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, have touched the hearts of many people. We worry that the horror of terrorism is taking root in our soil, so long a land of peace, cooperation, and inter-cultural collaboration,” the Archbishop of Gatineau, Paul-André Durocher, said in a statement.
“God created us to experience the fullness of life and love. This outbreak of violence contradicts God’s intention for each one of us,” he added.
Gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Muslim covert, recorded a video of himself before the attack, police said.
Archbishop Durocher said that Catholics in Canada remained “unequivocally” committed to dialogue with Muslims.
“We recognise that violent distortions of Islam are causing misunderstanding and suffering in the world and in Canada for peace-loving Muslims as well as non-Muslim communities,” he said.
A multi-faith service called A Prayer for Ottowa was held at Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday.
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