Philippines: bomb explodes during Christmas Mass
December 27, 2010
A bomb exploded during Christmas Mass in a chapel on the island of Jolo, injuring 11. “I was reading the Gospel,” said Father Romeo Villanueva. “I was not yet finished when there was a loud explosion.” The Islamic separatist group Abu Sayyaf is suspected in the attack, which was condemned by the mainstream Muslim National Ulama Conference.
While 82% of the nation’s 90.5 million people are Catholic, the Jolo area is heavily Muslim: fewer than 3% of the area’s 1 million residents are Catholic. Jolo’s previous ordinary, Bishop Benjamin D. de Jesus, was slain in front of the cathedral in 1997.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Bombing wounds 11 at Christmas Mass in Philippines (AP)
- Ulamas condemn Jolo church bombing (CBCP)
- Philippine priest forgives Muslims following bishop’s murder, works for peace (CWN, 11/1/10)
- Grenade thrown at Philippine cathedral (CWN, 1/11/10)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
