Bishop Robert Muench, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Diocese of Covington, is calling upon congregations in the district to forgive the people responsible for terrorist attacks Tuesday in New York and Washington, D.C.

        He delivered that message Thursday during one of many prayer services and vigils nationwide. in the Tristate, people gathered to pray for the nation, victims of Tuesday's tragedy and for world peace and justice.

With head buried in her hands, Molly Navin attends Mass led by Bishop Muench of the Covington Diocese at Mother of God Church Thursday. In foreground is Dan Burr. Both are from Covington. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “Let us banish violence from our midst, and wipe away our tears,” Bishop Muench said during common prayer with about 75 people gathered at Mother of God Church in Covington.

        But despite their belief in the Christian doctrine to forgive enemies, many in attendance said that would be easier to say than to do in light of the sinister nature of Tuesday's attacks.

        “I think we should drop bombs, lots of them, on the people who did this,” said Wilma Luersen of Fort Thomas. “I know I shouldn't feel that way, but I do.”

        Ms. Luersen, 50, said her feelings of anger have been compounded by the rising body count and continued reports of death and destruction.

        “I've never been glued to the TV set before, but now I can't turn away,” she said. “I feel angry and helpless.”

        That is exactly why now is the time to turn to God for comfort and direction, said Bob Noll, principal of Newport Central Catholic High School.

        “There is anger, and it's difficult to control,” Mr. Noll said. “But that's one of the reasons you have services like this. The only thing we can do right now is pray.”

        The Bishop intends for every one of the Covington diocese's more than 80,000 members in 14 counties to hear his message of forgiveness.

        To that end, he has written a letter addressing the terrorist attacks and asked his priests to read the letter either before or after their parishes' worship services this weekend.

        The letter, addressed to “My dearest Sisters and Brothers in Christ,” describes the events that occured Tuesday morning in New York and Washington, D.C., as “graphic examples of what Pope John Paul II has aptly called the “culture of death.”

        The letter went on to say that “deliberate acts of wanton terrorism bring about special outrage and immeasurable grief.”

        But the Bishop warned “there is a danger that in this calamity we exclusively focus on the evil outside ourselves. Each of us must take a candid look inside, rooting out any hatred and bitterness, that we may help establish true and lasting peace in our world.”
       

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