austraLasia 1449

Pakistan: "Prayers please...If we teach them to love, then there is hope".

LAHORE: 15th February 2006 -- To steal a line from our UK counterpart, Rualink, 'Prayers please' for our Salesians and for many others in Pakistan.  This morning's direct information from Pakistan is disturbing, but it is also a useful reflection and stimulus to prayer.  Anyone who has been through experiences of mob violence, be it a coup or 'cartoon' reaction, has a certain feeling of helplessness which only strong faith can counteract.  I think you will sense both in the drama being played out in the lines that follow. The writer is mailing from outside of Lahore, since duty took him elsewhere, but he is in touch there and feels the immediate need to return there.....
    "Unfortunately the effects of the famous cartoons are now very much felt in Pakistan as well. It seems that the rage of thousands of Islamists is now free to manifest itself against the usual targets: in the centre of Lahore the Mc.Donalds places, Telenor franchises (phone company from Norway), and even Banks were burned today. Several people have been killed and I got a call from Sister X, Spanish nun serving in Lahore for the last 9 years. They have not seen this kind of anger before, with Police, Army and Rangers completely unable to prevent the crowds from burning places related to Western interests. From the Oblates of Mary Immaculate I got the news that they have been asked by Police to remove all crosses and stickers with religious symbols 'because these people are crazy' according to one policeman (Could it be that after all, the Cross is still such a relevant symbol and they are still afraid of it?) Here where I am the Postulants have advised us not to venture in the streets, and other Spanish citizens are asking me to proceed to Islamabad instead of Lahore tomorrow… but we have the school, 90% of them Christians, in Lahore so I am in a hurry to go back. Once again being not only a Westerner but above all, a Christian, is a reason to be killed in this country.

    What can one say in the midst of all this violence, hatred and these senseless actions? Already the mass media have produced enough material to analyse each and every aspect. I just point out that this is not the time to think of East versus West but that it is a kind of civil war within Islam itself: either Islam is the Religion of Peace and Love that Muslim moderates want to sell us so often, or it is what we are seeing these days in many countries around the world. They will have to solve this dilemma if they want to be credible at this point in History. Finally, what a challenge ahead for our Congregation, to think that our work with  youth from these countries can prepare new generations of youth who can bring hope and new role models into these societies! What a responsibility as Youth Ministers! Let us take up this challenge! If we teach young people to hate then we will harvest what we see now. But if we teach them to love then there is hope. Let everyone be accountable for what we sow. Please, continue to pray for the only 2 Salesians at present in Pakistan".    
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