The Vatican has condemned today’s massacre at satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
Twelve people, including the editor, three cartoonists and two policemen, are known to be among the victims of the attack, carried out by three gunmen in central Paris.
The attack is believed to be in response to the magazine’s cartoons poking fun at aspects of Islam; one attacker was heard to shout “the Prophet has been avenged”.
In a statement the Vatican condemned the shootings as a “double act of violence, abominable because it is both an attack against people as well as against freedom of the press”.
The gunmen asked for the names of the cartoonists before murdering them, and afterwards killed an injured police officer in cold blood. The magazine, which has depicted Pope Benedict XVI in the past holding a condom, pokes fun at all political and religious targets, but has been threatened for mocking Islamic-inspired violence.
A spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference of France has expressed his “profound emotion and horror” at the atrocities. Spokesman Mgr Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said “nothing can justify” such violence.
Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth wrote in a tweet: “My prayers are with the victims of the tragic events in Paris and their loved ones who will be receiving terrible news today.”
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.