“Bishop Kevin, may I come in?”
(Heavy sigh) “Yes, Father Bud. But make it quick, okay? I have to get down to Masjid Tamerlane for an outreach meeting.”
“Yes, I know, Your G–”
“Kev.”
“Kev. Yes, I know. That’s why I came in. I just wanted to let you know that Islamic jihadists have just kidnapped thirteen Christians in Libya –”
“Cripes! Where did they find thirteen Christians in Libya to kidnap? That land peacefully accepted the wisdom and power of Islam centuries ago.”
“Well, be that as it may, uh, Kev, they did. And so I was wondering if tonight when you’re down at Masjid Tamerlane –”
“Bud, really. How many times do we have to go down this road? You know full well, Bud, that talk about extreme, militant Islamists and the atrocities that they have perpetrated globally might undercut the positive achievements that we Catholics have attained in our inter-religious dialogue with devout Muslims. It might possibly also generate suspicion and even fear of people who practice piously the religion of Islam.”
“The thing is, Bishop, I just don’t see what that dialogue is doing to alleviate the plight of the –”
“Bud, really. Enough is enough. I am not going to offend Imam Khalid ibn al-Walid by bringing up these unpleasant things. Do you want me to bring you back some hummus?”
“Egyptian Christians Kidnapped in Libya Amid Escalating Violence,” by Salma El Wardany, Bloomberg, January 4, 2015:
Masked gunmen in Libya kidnapped 13 Coptic Christian workers from Egypt, in the latest incident of religiously-motivated violence in the war-ravaged North African country.
The workers were taken from a residential compound in the coastal city of Sirte yesterday, Egypt’s state-run Ahram Gate reported. The incident brings the number of abducted Egyptian Copts to at least 21 since last week. A Coptic couple was also found dead in the same city on Dec. 23.
Sirte is under the control of Islamist militants who oppose the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni, whose supporters include Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Al-Thinni’s government sought refuge in the country’s eastern region after militias took over the capital Tripoli last year. Omar al-Hassi set up a rival government in the capital with the backing of the militants.
“It’s definitely religiously-motivated,” Mina Thabet, researcher at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, said by phone from Cairo. “Egyptian Christians are caught up in the middle of sectarian violence and chaos in Libya.”
The North African nation has descended into chaos after the ouster of its Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi in a popular uprising. Battles between rival militias have driven citizens from their homes, sent foreigners fleeing and cut oil exports.
The Egyptian government is in contact with Libyan officials to secure the release of abducted Christians, Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said by phone.
Transmaster says
I wonder how long it is going to be before the Egyptian Army marches in to Libya to kick ass, and they can sure do it. HAMAS sure learned fast. What nobody has reported is the Egyptian Army who flies Black hawk helicopters just like Israel had the tacit approval to cross into the Gaza strip after HAMAS terrorists to kill them. The MSM has not reported what Egypt has done on their side of the Gaza strip,
umbra says
egyptian army too busy tying to maintain order and security within egypt. In addition to keeping an eye on MB and other terror organisations, it is probably also keeping an eye on parts of the internal security apparatus that may have been infiltrated by MB leading up to, during and after morsi’s presidency.
jewdog says
Since Libya is in chaos, this would be an excellent opportunity to invade it and exploit its resources. To justify the action, just cite some religious texts that nobody has ever heard of. If anyone objects, accuse them of blasphemy and racism.
particolor says
That sounds about Right to Me !!
duh_swami says
‘The responsibility to protect’, invented by Samantha Powers, and used by Rasool Obama in Libya, to protect Libyans from Libyans, by killing Libyans.
The plan worked perfectly. As far as I know, Rasool has never used it again…certainly not for Christians sake.
SpiritOf1683 says
One of several reasons why Cameron should go in May is the help he gave to these Libyan Jihadis. Never before has anyone paid £3 billion in return for smashed tombstones. Yes, these Jihadis smashed the tombstones of our World War II dead in ‘appreciation’ of Cameron helping them to topple Gaddafi, and in addition we withdrew our staff from the British Embassy. This must be the biggest and most incompetent clown that has run Britain in a string of Prime Ministers going back to Robert Walpole.
MC says
How did they determine they were coptic christians?