by: Reece Jim C. Pegarido and Nick Drizzle Ambalong.

1. The Church Responds
to Terrorism and
Violence

2. Terrorism and Violence
O Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills
indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and
charity. No religion may tolerate terrorism and
much less preach it. Rather, religions must work
together to remove the causes of terrorism and
promote friendship among people.
O The common victims of terrorism are innocent
civilians used as means to achieve a selfish goal,
disregarding the right and dignity of other people.
This act of violence and senseless undertakings
are condemned by the Catholic Church.

3. O St. John Paul II quoted during 2002 World Day of
Peace, “Terrorism is to be condemned in the most
absolute terms. It shows complete contempt for
human life and can never be justified, since the
human person is always an end and never a
means. Act of terrorism strikes at the heart of
human dignity and is an offense against all
humanity; there exists therefore a right to depend
oneself from terrorism.”
O The false ideologies of religious beliefs are also
used to cover terrorism. Extremists who profess
they are believers of faith but resort to terrorism
use the veil of religion to excuse their acts of terror
and seek sympathy and support from their brothers
in faith.

4. O “It is profanation and a blasphemy to declare
oneself a terrorist in God’s name.” In such cases,
God, and not only man, is exploited by a person
who claims to possess the totality of God’s truth
rather than one who seeks to be possessed by the
truth.
O To define as “martyrs” those who die while carrying
out terrorist attacks distorts the concept of
martyrdom, which is the witness of person who
gives himself/herself up to death rather than deny
God and his love. Martyrdom cannot be the act of
a person who kills in the name of God.

5. The Church and Peace
O The promotion of peace in the world is an integral
part of the Church’s mission of continuing Christ’s
work of redemption on earth. In fact, the Church is,
in Christ a “sacrament” or sign and instrument of
peace in the world and for the world. The Church is
for Peace; Christ who became man lived among
us to bring peace. The promotion of true peace is
an expression of Christian faith in the love that
God has for every human being. It is a faith that
transforms and renews life, inspired by the peace
that Christ left to his disciples.

6. O The Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus is not a
Kingdom to be imposed by the force of arms, but a
kingdom to be built by love, the love of the
suffering servant.
O The 1971 Synod of Bishops urged the Church to
foster a “strategy of non-violence, a strategy that
requires solidarity of spirit and action.” The
experience of the active non-violent “People
Power” in 1986 that brought change and freedom
to our nation is a clear example recognized and
even followed by many nations toward attaining
peace through non-violent actions.

7. O Acts of terrorism and violence are condemned
by the Church because they destroy life.
Human life is sacred because it came from
God the Creator who is also its final
destination. The fifth commandment, “You
shall not kill” preserves and protects the
dignity of life. The grace received in the
sacrament of baptism, elevates us from mere
creations of God to being sons and daughters
of God, destined to be with Him, our Father, in
eternity. Every person must be respected
because he/she is a temple of the Spirit and
each one of them is precious in the eyes of
God.

8. Thank you. 