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Solidarity with the Spanish people and condemnation of any form of terrorism: that is what was expressed by the Christian Churches of Europe immediately after last Thursday’s terrorist attack on the railway stations in Madrid. In a message of “deep solidarity” published in Spanish, the World Council of Churches expressed “sadness and consternation” due to the high number of victims and underlined the “total rejection” of “these terrible terrorist acts”. “We reaffirm writes Georges Lemopoulos on behalf of the WCC that our Christian vocation is opposed to any form of violence and commits Christians to the search for peace”. This commitment adds Lemopoulos is testified by the decision of the Churches to call the years 2001-2010 the “Decade for overcoming violence” which plans a series of initiatives in favour of peace and reconciliation between peoples. “We pray concludes the message for the people of Spain so that in the midst of their difficulties they may be able to reaffirm their democratic vocation and contribute to the construction of a more charitable world in the community of nations”. On the very day of the attack, the Anglican Church of Spain issued a communiqué: “We believe says the document that life is the most precious gift given by God, and that’s why we condemn every act of violence, whatever its objective. We ask all the members of our Church to pray for the families of the victims and to join in all the demonstrations being promoted in the country against these indescribable acts of terrorism”. The Anglican community met in the Cathedral of “El Redentor” in Madrid for a moment of silence in memory of the victims. The Christian Churches of Great Britain that form part of the ecumenical organization “ Churches Together in Britain and Ireland” opted, in turn, for a joint message of condolence and “solidarity” with the Churches of Spain and, in particular, with the “Spanish Committee for interconfessional cooperation”. “We wish you to know says the message that we are praying for you in these days of sorrow and reflection. The pastoral role of the Churches and their message of hope and forgiveness are of particular importance in times like these. May God give you strength in your task”. The Catholic bishops of Italy, Austria, France and other European countries also expressed condolences and solidarity with the Spanish people, and condemned terrorism in the strongest terms. In Madrid all priests were called by the archdiocese to give comfort to the families of the victims of the attacks. The Catholic faithful also participated in the huge public demonstration of 12 March to express “grief, condemnation and rejection of terrorism”. In the Isema congress centre (where the mortuary chambers had been installed) priests and religious spoke with the families of the victims throughout the night, and requiem masses for the victims were celebrated every hour in a little chapel installed to one side of the centre. The auxiliary bishops of Madrid also paid visits to the hospitals where the injured are being treated.
