Via Episcopal News Service and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, the Rt. Ret. Pierre Whalon writes about the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo:
As spontaneous gatherings of solidarity with the victims are happening in dozens of cities across France even as I pen these words, it should be clear to all that this attempt to divide and intimidate people has failed. Certainly, Charlie Hebdo is adept at satirizing religion, including my own. It also routinely makes fun of all sorts of other subjects and people. This is their right. Freedom of expression is the only guarantor of liberty, including the freedom of worship, however.
After the cowardly attack here in Paris today on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which included the cold-blooded execution of a wounded police officer, the first voices to express their outrage were Muslim leaders. Among them was Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, whom I have known and admired for many years. I join with him in deploring this ungodly attack, “unworthy of Islam,” and echo his call not to confuse Muslims with the “criminals” who perpetrated this vile act.
I call on all people of good will to pray as they feel able for the repose of the victims, for their families and friends whose lives will never be the same again. We must ask for healing for the wounded as well. We must also pray for the assassins, that they turn from violence and accept judgment. And our prayers must be accompanied by acts to help the nation heal and grow stronger in solidarity. ‘We are all Charlie.’
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Alors même que j’écris ces mots, des manifestations spontanées pour les victimes se déroulent partout en France, montrant que cette tentative de division et d’intimidation a échoué. Charlie Hebdo est un journal satirique, certes, une revue qui se moque des religions, y compris la mienne. Mais il se moque également de toutes sortes de sujets et de personnalités. Ils sont dans leurs droits. La liberté d’expression est le seul garant de la liberté elle-même, y compris la liberté de culte.
Après l’attentat couard ici à Paris aujourd’hui contre la revue, avec l’exécution à bout portant d’un policier blessé, les premières voix à s’élever pour exprimer leurs colères étaient les imams musulmans. Parmi eux se trouvait l’Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, que je connais et que j’admire depuis des années. Je le rejoins pour déplorer cette attaque impie, “indigne de l’islam,” et je répète son appel de ne pas faire l’amalgame entre ces “criminels” et l’islam.
J’appelle toute personne de bonne volonté de prier pour le repos des victimes, pour leurs familles et leurs amis, dont la vie a changé ce matin pour toujours. Il nous faut aussi prier pour les assassins, qu’ils se retournent contre la violence et se rendent. Et nous devons aussi accompagner nos prières par l’action, pour que la nation puisse guérir et la solidarité se renforcer. ‘Nous sommes tous Charlie.’
Graphics provided by the Charlie Hebdo website
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
