Seacoast Clergy: We Condemn this Week's Violence

In the last year, we have watched in horror, as terrorist violence has taken hold of international headlines. Innocents have been killed in the course of their daily lives - in cafes, shopping, traveling, at public events and simply walking on the streets of major European cities.

This week was the bloodiest since the terrorism in Paris. A car bomb in Ankara, Turkey killed 36 people and injured over 100. A suicide bomber killed 4 people in Istanbul, Turkey. Attacks on the Brussels Airport and a Brussels metro station killed more than 30 people and injured over 200.

There is no legitimate religious belief, political conviction, or ideology that condones this heinous attack on innocents. Those who perpetrate these acts in the name of God and in the name of Islam represent neither. The Ministerium - Seacoast Interfaith Clergy Association - condemns this violence unequivocally, with one voice. We mourn the lives lost and we express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We send our wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who have been injured.

As Christians approach Easter, Jews approach Passover, Muslims approach Lailat al Miraj and Baha'i approach Ridván, we pray that these holidays will infuse us with a spirit of love and peace. May our religious observances help us understand that we show the ultimate respect for God when we respect each other.

Ministerium - Seacoast Interfaith Clergy Association

Reverend Fr. Robert J. Archon
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Reverend Robert Fellows
Community Congregational Church (UCC), Greenland

Reverend Michele Bagby Allan
United Church of Christ - North Hampton

Reverend Rev. Gary Belliveau
Corpus Christi Parish (RC) - Portsmouth

Reverend Arthur L. Hilson
New Hope Baptist Church - Portsmouth

Imam Mohamed Ibrahim
Islamic Society of the Seacoast Area - Dover

Reverend Susan Ellery
First United Methodist Church - Portsmouth

Reverend Chris Jablonski
South Church (UU) - Portsmouth

Carol Jacques-Dow - Pastoral Associate
Corpus Christi Parish (RC) - Portsmouth

Reverend Phil Johnson
Seventh Day Adventist Church - Portsmouth

Dr Paris Khavari
Baha'i Community

Reverend Rev Carolyn H Keilig
North Church (UCC) - Portsmouth

Reverend George Koch
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Newington

Reverend David 'Chip' Robinson
Christ Episcopal Church - Portsmouth
Trinity Episcopal Church - Hampton

Rabbi David Ross Senter
Temple Israel - Portsmouth

Reverend Lauren Smith
South Church (UU) - Portsmouth

Reverend Robert E. Stevens, Jr.
St. John's Episcopal Church - Portsmouth

Reverend Anne Williamson
St. John's Episcopal Church - Portsmouth