Church Officials Respond to Brussels Attacks

The New York Times is reporting that at least 34 have died in a series of bombings in Brussels, Belgium this morning.

An Islamic State-affiliated news agency has issued a bulletin claiming responsibility for the deadly attacks.

“Islamic State fighters carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices on Tuesday, targeting an airport and a central metro station in the center of the Belgian capital Brussels, a country participating in the coalition against the Islamic State,” the statement says. “Islamic State fighters opened fire inside the Zaventem airport, before several of them detonated their explosive belts, as a martyrdom bomber detonated his explosive belt in the Maalbeek metro station.”

Responding to events in Brussels this morning, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said:

“In the great Holy Week of Christian prayer and mercy, the Brussels attacks shock all those who seek peace and justice through the terrible cruelty and utter separation from all that is of God. Once again we see the contrast between the vain efforts to terrify through indiscriminate murder, and the call of God to be those who show mercy, who seek peace and pursue it. Let us at every service this week pray for those caught up in the traumatic events at the airport and in the City of Brussels.”

Pope Francis:

BREAKING: #PopeFrancis condemns ‘blind violence,’ offers prayers after #BrusselsAttacks https://t.co/u8RxDuYhEj pic.twitter.com/cZo7x4ZNnR

— Catholic News Svc (@CatholicNewsSvc) March 22, 2016

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:

For Brussels, those killed & injured, those who weep, those who have harmed others, the human family. Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

— Michael Curry (@BishopCurry) March 22, 2016

Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod:

Today we pray for the tragedy in Brussels. pic.twitter.com/3COD8LzRgh

— The LCMS (@thelcms) March 22, 2016

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

For peace between nations, for peace between peoples, for all who hurt, fear and mourn. God, have mercy. #Brussels

— ELCA (@ELCA) March 22, 2016

United Church of Christ General Minister John Dorhauer:

Rev. @JohnCDorhauer gives a statement following the terrorist attack in #Brussels. https://t.co/tCIQAbCHlJ

— UCC (@unitedchurch) March 22, 2016

Assemblies of God:

Pray for those facing tragic loss in Brussels. See updates from AG World Missions here: https://t.co/VeyIlv0zgY

— Assemblies of God US (@AG_USA) March 22, 2016

Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd:

The evil destruction of human lives through the #BelgiumAttack is beyond words. Leaders in the world, lead to bring an end to these attacks.

— Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) March 22, 2016

Anglican Church in North America Archbishop Foley Beach:

Prayers for the people in Brussels… https://t.co/3MGi4UnEMb

— ArchbishopFoleyBeach (@ArchbishopFoley) March 23, 2016

“Please join me in praying for those who are suffering because of the events today in Belgium. In the middle of Holy Week, as the Church remembers the evil done to our Savior, let us lift up the victims and their families, and those who minister to them.

Let us pray the words of David against those who do these terrible things: “Deliver us, O LORD, from evil men; preserve us from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.” (Psalm 140:1)

And let us pray that through this tragedy, God would allow people around the world to know, love, and serve Jesus, our Resurrected Lord of all life, the eternal Prince of Peace.”

National Council of Churches (March 28, 2016):

“WASHINGTON, DC: The National Council of Churches mourns for those who died in recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium, and Lahore, Pakistan and prays for those who are recovering from injuries. We condemn all acts of violence that intentionally target innocent people. We view these incidents as attacks on individual human lives, communities, people of faith, and on civilization itself, abhor this cowardly violence, and call for its end.

We are shocked the attack in Lahore was carried out on the holiest day of the Christian calendar. We mourn also for victims of attacks, seemingly too frequent to count, in Turkey, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Honduras. Although media attention tends to focus on terrorism in Western European countries, God is the God of all. God cares for all, grieves with all, and desires justice and love above all.

The terrorist organizations that carry out such acts must be brought to justice through a coordinated, international police and intelligence effort. The vast majority of people of faith oppose terrorism carried out in the name of religion, for it is antithetical to the tenets of our faiths. We stand with those of all faiths who seek justice and peace and an end to terrorism and the killing of innocents.”

(We’ll continue to update this page as more statements come in)