Osama Bin Laden's Death

As I was sitting in Marguerite D'Youville Parish on Monday Evening, before seeing the One Man Play "Vianney" which is being performed across the Archdiocese of Toronto this week, I was speaking with a parishioner about the capture / death / assassination of Osama bin Laden.  She was quite concerned about the reactions of many - and the sense of joy and jubilation some people felt. "It just doesn't sit well within me - in my gut" she said.  I agreed.

Today I saw the quote from the Vatican News service that I feel puts this kind of uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach into accurate words:

"Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions for this purpose. 

In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred."

While we may rightly feel that Osama bin Laden has been Monstrous in his actions, it would not be right to call him a monster. And while we might be relieved that he has been found, our goals must always be the growth of peace and not of hatred... 


Just some thoughts in the middle of a very full week, where some of our LifeTeen CORE have spent time at St. Michael's Secondary School as part of the healthy living fair, and are getting ready for 2 Liturgies at Pope John Paul II Elementary School to celebrate the former Pope's Beatification this past Sunday, as well as preparing for Confirmation retreats on Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning!


Peace