Bishop seeks prayers of reparation after bombing of Sulu chapel

A Mindanao-bsaed Catholic bishop on Monday urged Catholics to make prayers of reparation for the "desecration" of a chapel bombed in Sulu on Christmas Day. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo urged all religious leaders, including Christians and Muslims, to condemn the bombing. “All places of worship (are) sacred and therefore should be respected and spared from every other agenda," he said in a statement posted on Monday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Bagaforo likewise called on everyone to work more than ever for peace. Around 12 people were injured in the bombing, including two priests and a nine-year-old girl. The bombing was condemned by Pope Benedict XVI, Malacañang, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The National Ulama Conference of the Philippines' Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-tawi chapter also condemned the incident, which it called as inhuman and barbaric. The group of "ulama" (Muslim legal scholars engaged in Islamic studies) said "forces of evil" are again sowing terror to create discord among Christians and Muslims. “The many kidnapping [and bombing] incidents in the different parts of Mindanao are barbaric acts of violence, cruelty, and disrespect and must be condemned," the group said in a statement, excerpts of which were posted on the CBCP news site. The group extended its deepest sympathies to the victims and called on government authorities to “move heaven and earth to bring the culprits to the bar of justice." “Whoever did such horrific acts, we say that they are inhuman and that they are not serving the All – Compassionate and All—Loving God ... No doubt they are serving Satan," the group said. They added that if the accusations against the Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf are true, the public should know the “brand of Islam" being espoused by the groups through their international and local accomplices “has no place in the purity of Islamic teachings." The group alleged that these rebel groups only wanted to advance their personal political agenda and use Islam to get support from innocent and desperate people. They challenged peace-loving Muslims to stand up against the armed group. They also called on people from other faith communities to help Muslims “fight squarely these forces of evil not to triumph." Those who signed the statement were vice chairman Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason; executive director for ZamBaSulTa Shiekh Jamal Munib, and Salam Foundation executive director Alhi Alyub. – VVP, GMANews.TV