Faith leaders around the globe immediately rushed to prayer after news broke at least 49 people were killed in two mosque massacres in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Among them is Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
I grieve with all New Zealanders.
I pray for all Kiwis.
I call for all of God’s children to repudiate every vestige of hatred, bigotry and intolerance. #NewZealandMosqueShooting— Samuel Rodriguez (@nhclc) March 15, 2019
Reuters reported that a gunman broadcast livestream footage on Facebook of the attack on one mosque in the city of Christchurch, mirroring the carnage played out in video games, after publishing a “manifesto” in which he denounced immigrants, calling them “invaders.”
New Zealand was placed on its highest security threat level, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, adding that “this can now only be described as a terrorist attack.”
Rodriguez wasn’t the only prominent Christian to cry out to God after news of the massacre broke. Several faith-filled people used social media to share their prayers for the victims and country.
Religious liberty means freedom to worship according to one’s conscience without fear. It is one of our most precious freedoms and should be enjoyed by all everywhere. We grieve with our Muslim neighbors, weep with them, and stand unequivocally against this evil act.
— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) March 15, 2019
— Christine Caine (@ChristineCaine) March 15, 2019
This was an act of pure evil.
I’ve been to Christchurch and preached to the wonderful
people there!
Let’s all be praying for the families of those who killed.
This is heartbreaking! https://t.co/aX0P5cH2dd— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) March 15, 2019
Please join us in praying for all of those affected by the tragic shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our hearts are with the families who have lost loved ones and with the entire community during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/12UPAOqnAP
— World Help (@world_help) March 15, 2019
So evil — I condemn all violent, wicked attacks against mosques and Muslim worshippers, and I’m praying for the wounded and all the survivors. https://t.co/lKUiFsqyjx
— Joel C. Rosenberg (@JoelCRosenberg) March 15, 2019
The Most Rev. Joseph D’Souza, moderating bishop of the Good Shepherd Church of India and president of the All India Christian Council:
“Our hearts are with the Muslim community in New Zealand after this heinous attack on the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosques. We applaud the prime minister’s right decision to quickly condemn the attack. This is the latest reminder that our world has descended into a social media-fueled decadence that consumes the political and religious class. That this kind of violence could happen in a peaceful country like New Zealand exposes the great danger all nations face when religious extremists or extreme nationalists take advantage of platforms like social media to propagate their twisted, hate-filled philosophies and call for violence to be unleashed on innocent people like those in Christchurch Friday. Our words and tweets and Facebook posts have an impact on vulnerable minds. We must remember that we reap what we sow. This attack is a reminder that the world is in dire need of peacemakers, who will sow peace and fiercely push back against the evil that aims to suppress the fundamental right of every human being to practice his or her religion as they would choose.”
Charisma News will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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