Pakistani prelate calls on US to detain pastor who burned Qur’an
April 05, 2011
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The president of the Pakistani bishops’ conference has called upon the US government to detain Terry Jones, the Florida Protestant minister who oversaw the burning of the Qur’an on March 20.
“The US government should detain the pastor for some time,” said Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana of Lahore. “In view of the effects his actions have had all over the world, he should be controlled and understand the harm that has been done.”
“The US government talks about religious freedom -- but we call upon the U.S. government to prevent such actions by extremists and other fundamentalist Christians,” he added.
Casting doubt on whether three recent attacks on Pakistani churches were linked to the Qur’an burning, Archbishop Saldhana said that “although there have not been any reactions against Christians, it could become ugly.”
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Further information:
- Archbishop in Pakistan condemns Qur'an burning (ACN News)
- Another Christian church attacked in Pakistan (CWN, 3/29)
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Apr. 06, 2011 12:25 PM ET USA
Perhaps Bishop Saldhana would like to contact Rev. Jones directly and tell him the harm he has done. I repeat that Muslims are acting in accord with their own cultural mandates, and it is up to Christians to start acting in accordance with their own, here as well as in Pakistan. I believe it is St. Paul who told us insofar as is possible to avoid giving offense.
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Posted by: extremeCatholic -
Apr. 06, 2011 9:07 AM ET USA
It would have been better for the PBC to have been silent on this, but perhaps their silence would have been seen as complicity with this recent American idiocy, but I condemn their condemnation. This should have been a teaching moment to explain what religious freedom actually is. Rather than calling for Wayne Sapp to be detained, why not call for justice for the Christian victims at the hands of Muslim mobs and assassins?
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Posted by: unum -
Apr. 06, 2011 8:51 AM ET USA
So, Bishop Saldhana, you are saying that the answer to religious intolerance more religious intolerance? I believe you may want to rethink your comment.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 05, 2011 9:46 PM ET USA
I would hold off on e-mailing this Bishop, not because I disagree that his request is preposterous to Americans but because he may be trying to pre-empt further attacks on his own flock by fanatical Islamists with this request to the U.S. government.
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Posted by: Mike in Toronto -
Apr. 05, 2011 8:29 PM ET USA
Earth to Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana: Detain him on what grounds? No law has been broken.
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Posted by: umpynelson3459 -
Apr. 05, 2011 5:06 PM ET USA
Obviously this bishops idea of freedom is not our idea of freedom. If he thinks that someone can be arrested and detained for simply expressing their religious beliefs no matter how ignorant they are. No one was hurt. ( at least not on this side of the world)A book was burned.
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Posted by: jimtotter -
Apr. 05, 2011 4:31 PM ET USA
You may email the Pakistani Bishop's Conference at [email protected],since the prelate is speaking on behalf of that organization. I note for the record that Pakastani law outlaws "speech" defaming Islam, but it is legal to defame Christianity.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 05, 2011 1:42 PM ET USA
doesn't religious freedom mean we CAN burn bibles and Quarans if we feel like it?!? Isn't that what religious freedom is all about?!? And why should this pastor be held responsible for the actions of people around the world? He had no control over them. Shouldn't those who resort to violence at the drop of a hat -over any perceived insult or injustice- be controlled? Shouldn't they be made to see the harm they do? This guy's thinking is as backwards as the riotting mobs.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 05, 2011 11:52 AM ET USA
".. it could become ugly.” It just did.The answer to Muslim fanatics who demand to gain control over the actions of Americans in America is not only "No", but " Hell No"
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Posted by: -
Apr. 05, 2011 8:22 AM ET USA
Dhimmi.
