NCC statement on death of U.S. ambassador, embassy staff in Libya

Posted Sep 12, 2012

[National Council of Churches] The following statement about the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and other U.S. embassy staff in Libya is issued by National Council of Churches President Kathryn Lohre, and Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, NCC associate general secretary, Interfaith Relations:

Persons of faith and good will everywhere are deeply distressed by reports that U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three of his staff were killed in an attack Tuesday on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya.

The attack has been appropriately condemned by both the U.S. and Libya governments. Member communions of the National Council of Churches USA denounce this mindless violence as a travesty and mindless rejection of the historic precepts of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, which are based on God’s love and a peaceful regard for all God’s people.

Our hearts and prayers go out for the families and loved ones of Mr. Stevens and the other victims of the attack. We are sadly aware that this attack took place on the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. We reiterate a statement we made we made then and ask all people to abide by its call: “We assert the vision of community, tolerance, compassion, justice, and the sacredness of human life, which lies at the heart of all of our religious traditions.”


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