Opinion: Resisting the hatred

It was a barbaric act that has horrified people worldwide. The grisly murder of an old priest in his church during mass is a crime that mocks the oldest convention of humanity: That holy places – in antiquity they were temples, then synagogues and churches – must be a place of refuge and safety.

It is a barbaric act that has shaken France to its core. Despite being a secular state, it is a country shaped by Catholicism, with deep historical roots. Those little villages in Normandy, Burgundy, the Vendee region are famous; they are dotted around the countryside where the impressively built church is usually dormant. Only once in a while one finds does an old priest celebrate mass there - with unusual dignity. Such is his life.

Prayer against terror and violence

The priest in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray was Jacques Hamel. He was almost 86-years-old and had been a priest for 58 years. Despite having retired ten years ago, he was still conducting mass in the local church. His parish has described him as a sensitive, uncomplicated and friendly man who was loved by the community. He was also poor and humble, like most French country clergymen.

The two terrorists who stormed the church forced the priest to kneel down. When the old man tried to defend himself, they cut his throat. This was done inside the church, in front of the altar. The phrase, ‘martyrdom' has been soiled by Islamist extremists, who want to be celebrated for murdering others. They want to be celebrated as martyrs. But in fact they are only criminals, contemptuous of humanity.

Father Jacques Hamel, however, is a martyr in the original meaning of the word. An innocent, he was murdered in prayer and faith. Despite it's recent history, France is still shocked by such acts. Only recently a square in Paris has been dedicated to the seven Trappist monks who were died as martyrs in 1996 in the Atlas Mountains in Algeria.

The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, learned of the latest murder of the priest while he was celebrating World Youth Day in Krakow. He was shocked. But he found an important message: "The Catholic Church knows of no other weapon except prayer and the brotherhood of mankind." The church in France is dedicating the day to prayer and fasting.

Hate and its henchmen

Behind such a message is the determination not to engage in any eye-for-an-eye-style revenge for this act. The leader of the German bishop's conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has responded in a similar fashion. The murder in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray is an act of hate that "we will resist," he said, adding "everything must be done to prevent this leading to more violence."

But the question remains how the murderer's could be so blinded by hatred. How can we understand such mad system of the so-called "Islamic State," which celebrates death. It is provocative in the extreme. But Muslims in Germany, like Aiman Mazyek, condemn Father Hamel's murder as they do the other recent terrorist attacks. Despite a firm belief in the coexistence of religion, they are also helpless.

When are the sermons at the Saudi-Arabian-funded mosques and schools around the world going to provide a clear condemnation of the self-styled warriors for the "true" teachings of Islam?

Such hatred and barbarity has too many radicals behind it. And there are too many who are just willing to put up with such horror.

If you would like to join the discussion, please add your comments below. The thread will automatically close 24 hours after publication.