Vatican condemns attacks on Kenya churches

(July 02, 2012) The Vatican has condemned Sunday’s coordinated attacks against two Christian churches in the northern Kenyan town of Garissa, in which at least 17 people were killed and more than 60 others injured. Masked assailants launched simultaneous gun and grenade raids on the churches in Garissa, a town which has been used as a base for operations against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia. “Violence against innocent people gathered peacefully in prayer, is unspeakably vile,” said Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi. The Jesuit priest called for solidarity with the victims of these and all such attacks. “Beyond our closeness with the victims,” he said, “it is necessary to reaffirm and steadfastly defend the religious liberty of Christians, and to oppose irresponsible acts that fuel hatred among different religions.” Fr. Lombardi also called for renewed efforts to bring a lasting solution to the difficulties in Somalia, which are having regional repercussions.