Philippines: Cathedral cancels Easter celebrations after Muslims ransack it and smash statues

MAR 28, 2018 9:08 AM BY ROBERT SPENCER

Surely Pope Francis is on his way to Marawi now to explain to these Muslims that true Islam and the proper understanding of the Qur’an forbid every form of violence.

“Cathedral ransacked by Islamic State-linked extremists cancels Easter celebrations,” by Alex Williams, Premier, March 24, 2018:

Easter celebrations are being cancelled at a cathedral in the Philippines this year, months after the landmark was severely damaged by extremists connected to Islamic State.

Worshippers who had planned to attend services at St Mary’s Cathedral in the city of Marawi are being directed to smaller churches in the region.

The Bishop of Marawi Edwin dela Peña was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying: “For the first time in many years, we will not hold any service in the cathedral itself.

“But in other parishes in the prelature, we will have our Holy Week services.”

Extremists stormed St Mary’s during the early stages of five-month bloody conflict in Marawi between groups affiliated with IS and the Philippine government.

The militants were eventually defeated but not before the cathedral was riddled with bullets by militants who also filmed themselves smashing statues inside the place of worship….

 https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/03/philippines-cathedral-cancels-easter-celebrations-after-muslims-ransack-it-and-smash-statues