Violence Escalates Against Christians In Pakistan Over Florida Quran Burning

I had no clue that the wacko Gainesville, Florida Christian pastor Terry Jones wound up burning the Quran until I started reading about the uproar it's been causing in Muslim lands. Well, the Holy Book was actually burned by Pastor Wayne Sapp, under the supervision of Jones. I recall the initial outrage his first threats to burn the Quran caused, and the subsequent condemnation by pretty much every one in the United States, including many who are critical of radical Islam. All of us Christians and Jews, right wing, left wing and moderates condemned in no uncertain words what Jones was planning to do. I think we all figured he had opted to not go through with it and pretty much forgot about the whole publicity-seeking stunt of one small-time Florida preacher. We hoped people would realize that one wacko does not represent a whole religious community, which is obviously a concept foreign to many, since Christian communities in countries like Pakistan are suffering the consequences of one loony religious Christian fanatic thousands of miles away.

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How hard is it to understand that just like ordinary Muslims should not be held responsible for what their radicals do, neither should the ordinary adherents of other religions be held accountable for the actions of the fanatics in their midst. And yet, at least 3 Pakistani Christian churches have been attacked because the stupid radicals in that country have no clue. One Catholic Church near Islamabad was attacked by about six or seven armed extremists who tried to destroy the building. Although the militants had guns, they thankfully did not fire the weapons because the church is located near a "high security" military area, and they obviously feared retaliation. Father Yousaf, the parish priest, tried to allay the fears of the Christian community but many have no faith in the ability of the police to protect them and with a group that already suffers persecution and discrimination, it must be a difficult task.

In spite of the fact that the Pakistani Christian community has absolutely nothing to do with Jone's dubious Dove World Outreach Center, they are still being targeted. Probably just another excuse to persecute the minority religions in the country. But the Christian leaders in Pakistan are still trying to persuade the fanatics in their country that they truly have no affiliation. The Bishop of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Monsignor Anthony Rufin, said "We have already explained...we are Pakistani Christians, not Americans. We have repeatedly reiterated that we should not be equated to the Americans. " I'd like to add that, neither does anyone else in the United States, other than the few people who attend the church, and there aren't many.

In Lahore and Hyderabad, churches and Christians there did not fare as well. Several were killed, Bibles burned and property was destroyed as mobs of fundamentalists attacked two churches in those cities, seeking revenge for something that happened in another country. Ironically, a Pentecostal Church and a Full Gospel Assembly Church were burned to the ground because Muslim fanatics have no way of discerning the difference between Christian fanatics and faithful ordinary Christians. Sadly, there is no way of reasoning with fanatics of any religion, so crazy Christians like Pastor Jones will continue to burn Qurans and crazy Islamic fundamentalists will continue to target anyone who doesn't happen to toe the extremist line, and people of other religions will suffer the consequences. I don't see any difference between the two.

Sources: Ansamed AsiaNews