Prelates: Killing of Bin Laden ‘unjustified’

MANILA, Philippines—Some Catholic bishops, reacting to the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, said that although his killing was “unjustified,” it was a “big deal” in curbing terrorist violence in the world

“Although [his death] is a [form] of violence and no act of violence can be justified… it’s a big deal to curb violence,” Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said in a phone interview with reporters on Monday.

Iñiguez, who is also head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee, hoped that the killing of Bin Laden, the architect of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon almost 10 years ago, would pave the way for the decline of terrorist activities around the world, which have claimed many innocent lives.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez viewed Bin Laden’s killing as a double-edged sword. The prelate said it was “good” that the world had one less terrorist to deal with.

“But it is bad because his loyalists will retaliate not only on military and policemen but on innocent civilians,” said Gutierrez.

Security forces should protect the civilians from any possible reprisal of al Qaeda affiliate groups especially in Mindanao, he added.

The southern part of the Philippines has been a breeding ground for terrorist groups such as the Jemaah Islamiyah and the notorious Abu Sayyaf bandit group, believed to be behind several bombing attacks and kidnappings in the region.

Fr. Anton Pascual, manager of the Church-run Radio Veritas, said the death of Bin Laden brought relief to a world longing for lasting peace.

“Let us pray for his soul and all victims of fundamentalist violence,” stated Pascual.

“But we need to address the root problem of the world’s social ills that is neo-capitalist hegemonic expansion exploiting the poor, environment and families in the name of pseudo-development and modernity,” he added.