ASIA/PHILIPPINES - “These acts are bad for Islam, they make it ever more associated with terrorism in the eyes of the international public”, missionary Fr D’Ambra told Fides with regard to terrorist attacks on London

Manila (Fides Service) - “We deplore and condemn all terrorism and violence. Acts like this only damage Muslims living in western countries increasing suspicion and diffidence in their regard. However care must be taken not to label everything Islamic terrorism. It is best to avoid hasty conclusions, calling all terrorists Islamists and blaming all terrorism on Muslims”. Fr Sebastiano D’Ambra, a PIME missionary in the Philippines told Fides. Fr. D’Ambra is stationed in Mindanao home to this Catholic country’s Muslim minority commmunity where Christian- Muslim dialogue is of the utmost importance. In fact here some years ago Fr D’Ambra opened the Silsilah Centre/Movement to promote dialogue and relations with Muslims.
“If suspicions are confirmed and Islamic fundamentalist groups are found to be the perpetrators of the London attacks the logic is truly cruel: this is an attempt to export Iraqi terrorism to Europe to the very countries who helped topple the regime in Iraq. Here in south east Asia we are deeply grieved and concerned” the priest told Fides
“I fear these attacks will have a negative effect on efforts in many part of the world to improve relations and dialogue between Muslims and Christians” the missionary said. “But most of all I fear they are bad for Islam which appears ever more closely associated with terrorism in the eyes of the world public. They are a major blow to the image of moderate Islam”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/7/2005 righe 24 parole 247)