German bishops condemn Nigeria violence

(January 23, 2012) Germany’s Catholic bishops have expressed dismay and sorrow over continuing violence in Nigeria, in which many Christian churches are targets. In a statement on Sunday, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, president of the German Bishops Conference, expressed his sympathy to the families of victims and urged German Christians to pray for them, their families and for peace in Nigeria. The prelate observed that the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is not only the most dangerous enemy of Nigeria but also a threat for the world community because of its extremist targets, just like Al-Qaida. Archbishop Zollitsch visited the West African nation in 2009, and, since then, he has made appeals for a peaceful settlement of Nigeria’s conflicts. After the recent terrorist attacks against Christian churches at Christmas 2011, the archbishop sent a message of sympathy and solidarity to the bishops and Christians of Nigeria, emphasising that “these despicable attacks against God’s Houses are unconceivable actions, guided by blind hatred”. Since Christmas, Boko Haram attacks have killed hundreds of people, many of whom were Christians.