Archbishop sends words of solidarity after attack
THE Archbishop of Glasgow has sent a message of support from the city to Rouen, in France, following the killing of a priest in a terrorist attack.
Philip Tartaglia contacted his counterpart Mgr Dominique Lebrun, in Rouen, to show solidarity with the city.
Father Jacques Hamel, 84, was killed and hostages taken by two attackers in the church in SaintEtienne-du-Rouvray, in Northern France. The attackers were shot and killed by police.
French president Francois Hollande said that Islamic State was behind the killing and the group afterwards claimed two of its “soldiers” were responsible.
Archbishop Tartaglia sent a letter expressing “shock and sorrow” from the Archdiocese of Glasgow and from Catholics in the city and across Scotland.
He said: “We are truly appalled at the series of attacks which have been perpetrated on France and her people over recent weeks. This latest incident represents a new and shocking development – namely the attack on people engaged in the worship of God in a sacred place.”
He offered prayers for those in France and Germany who he said were “so cruelly targeted by men of evil intent”.
The elderly priest was reported to have had his throat cut by his attackers at the Church in Normandy, according to a nun, Sister Danielle, who was i n the building.
She said: “They forced him to his knees. He wanted to defend himself. And that’s when the tragedy happened.
“They recorded themselves. They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It’s a horror.”
She said Father Hamel was a “great priest”.
Prosecutors in France said one person has been detained following the incident.
The attackers took hostages during morning Mass.
French president, Francois Hollande, called the incident a “vile terrorist attack” and said it is another sign that France is at war with IS.
He said: “We must lead this war with all our means.”
Pope Francis also condemned the attack. Vatican spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi, said the attack hits particularly hard “because this horrific violence took place in a church, a sacred place in which the love of God is announced.”
One of the attackers, named as Adel Kermiche, 19, was on probation and wearing a surveillance tag, officials say, and was arrested twice last year while trying to reach Syria.