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After Normandy, we must open the church doors wide After Normandy, we must open the church doors wide
(30 days later)
As we begin to absorb the horrifying events that have taken place in France, including this week the particularly evil attack on Father Jacques Hamel, who was murdered in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on Tuesday, we are taken back to the very heart of the Christian gospel.As we begin to absorb the horrifying events that have taken place in France, including this week the particularly evil attack on Father Jacques Hamel, who was murdered in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on Tuesday, we are taken back to the very heart of the Christian gospel.
Related: Murder of French priest opens a new frontier for Catholic church
The narrative that we are drawn into and seek to build our lives upon as Christians centres around a barbaric act of murderous cruelty, against a man who, by anyone’s standards, didn’t deserve it. Jesus was a great blessing to his community: he was wise, he was gentle, and his life gave witness to God’s love and mercy to the poorest and most vulnerable of people. And yet he was tortured and murdered in the most brutal way – and publicly.The narrative that we are drawn into and seek to build our lives upon as Christians centres around a barbaric act of murderous cruelty, against a man who, by anyone’s standards, didn’t deserve it. Jesus was a great blessing to his community: he was wise, he was gentle, and his life gave witness to God’s love and mercy to the poorest and most vulnerable of people. And yet he was tortured and murdered in the most brutal way – and publicly.
His followers felt much like the people of the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray could be forgiven for feeling today: devastated and afraid. And the accounts of the aftermath of Jesus’s death in the gospels confirm that to be the case. They hid themselves away in locked rooms, fearful that the same fate would befall them, because they were associated with him.His followers felt much like the people of the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray could be forgiven for feeling today: devastated and afraid. And the accounts of the aftermath of Jesus’s death in the gospels confirm that to be the case. They hid themselves away in locked rooms, fearful that the same fate would befall them, because they were associated with him.
And yet, remarkably, just a few short days later, these very same terrified people had been transformed, and began to live out their faith openly in their towns and cities. They were a blessing to those around them, and shared in the communal life of their diverse communities. They had experienced the reality of the resurrection for themselves. They had seen Jesus alive – not as a disembodied ghost, but as a breathing, talking, living person. And what’s more, the power that had made this possible was available for them too.And yet, remarkably, just a few short days later, these very same terrified people had been transformed, and began to live out their faith openly in their towns and cities. They were a blessing to those around them, and shared in the communal life of their diverse communities. They had experienced the reality of the resurrection for themselves. They had seen Jesus alive – not as a disembodied ghost, but as a breathing, talking, living person. And what’s more, the power that had made this possible was available for them too.
Do we have the courage to resist the tide of scapegoating of minorities that is threatening to overwhelm our nation?Do we have the courage to resist the tide of scapegoating of minorities that is threatening to overwhelm our nation?
As it is for us. And so we too must reject the temptation to separate ourselves from our Muslim neighbours; we must decide to play our part in leading our communities in mutual support, welcome and love. But do we have the courage to resist the tide of scapegoating of minorities that is threatening to overwhelm our nation?As it is for us. And so we too must reject the temptation to separate ourselves from our Muslim neighbours; we must decide to play our part in leading our communities in mutual support, welcome and love. But do we have the courage to resist the tide of scapegoating of minorities that is threatening to overwhelm our nation?
If the church cannot halt this divisive spirit, then who can? Only this week I had a conversation with an employee of a taxi firm, near to my church, St Mark’s in Stoke-on-Trent, who is a Muslim of Pakistani origin. He commented that he had seen the video circulating on Facebook of former Muslim asylum seekers and refugees being baptised at St Mark’s. There was a long pause as we looked into each other’s eyes, and then he said: “You are doing good work”.If the church cannot halt this divisive spirit, then who can? Only this week I had a conversation with an employee of a taxi firm, near to my church, St Mark’s in Stoke-on-Trent, who is a Muslim of Pakistani origin. He commented that he had seen the video circulating on Facebook of former Muslim asylum seekers and refugees being baptised at St Mark’s. There was a long pause as we looked into each other’s eyes, and then he said: “You are doing good work”.
I felt honoured and humbled in equal measure. This man offered to me something that even many other fellow Christians are unable to offer, and that is a recognition that we are on the same side, that we want God and faith to be a high priority in our city, that we want refugees to feel that they are welcomed and to know that they are valued, and that the things that divide us are nowhere near as important as the things that unite us.I felt honoured and humbled in equal measure. This man offered to me something that even many other fellow Christians are unable to offer, and that is a recognition that we are on the same side, that we want God and faith to be a high priority in our city, that we want refugees to feel that they are welcomed and to know that they are valued, and that the things that divide us are nowhere near as important as the things that unite us.
We have a choice to make in how we will respond to the very real possibility that our churches could become targets for radicalised or violent people, be they of a far-right persuasion, Isis affiliated, or simply tormented in mind and spirit. Should we build high walls around our churches and lock our doors? Should we install CCTV and remind one another to be wary of strangers? Should we employ stern-looking security guards to patrol the perimeter of the churchyard? Should we teach our children that all Muslims, asylum seekers and refugees are to be treated with suspicion? I don’t think so.We have a choice to make in how we will respond to the very real possibility that our churches could become targets for radicalised or violent people, be they of a far-right persuasion, Isis affiliated, or simply tormented in mind and spirit. Should we build high walls around our churches and lock our doors? Should we install CCTV and remind one another to be wary of strangers? Should we employ stern-looking security guards to patrol the perimeter of the churchyard? Should we teach our children that all Muslims, asylum seekers and refugees are to be treated with suspicion? I don’t think so.
Of course we should exercise sensible precautions each time our church buildings are open to the public for worship and other events. That is common sense and good practice. We should do all that we can to ensure that young people and the vulnerable are safeguarded from those who wish intentional harm.Of course we should exercise sensible precautions each time our church buildings are open to the public for worship and other events. That is common sense and good practice. We should do all that we can to ensure that young people and the vulnerable are safeguarded from those who wish intentional harm.
But we must resist the temptation to fear. We must remind ourselves that we are people of hospitality, particularly to the stranger and especially to the people who look different from us and those who may worship in a very different way than we do. We must remind ourselves that our churches are places to pray in for all people, wherever they are from, whatever clothes they wear and in whatever position they choose to pray.But we must resist the temptation to fear. We must remind ourselves that we are people of hospitality, particularly to the stranger and especially to the people who look different from us and those who may worship in a very different way than we do. We must remind ourselves that our churches are places to pray in for all people, wherever they are from, whatever clothes they wear and in whatever position they choose to pray.
Related: Father Jacques Hamel died as a priest, doing what priests do | Giles Fraser: Loose canon
We need to tell our communities that our churches are indeed open for all, and that we have a good-news story to share, which offers the only hope for our world.We need to tell our communities that our churches are indeed open for all, and that we have a good-news story to share, which offers the only hope for our world.