“This how we respond to atrocities. We open our hearts. That’s often the immediate response. The challenge is to make that a long lasting response.”
The words of The Right Rev David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester talking on this morning’s Radio Four Today Programme in the aftermath of yesterday evening’s tragic events at the Manchester Arena.
“There’s always after an event like last night a tendency to create blame by association. And so we must make clear that is not the way we behave of react. The guilt for last night belong to the perpetrators and the perpetrators alone. It doesn’t go beyond them.” he added
“My message to the Muslim community is: you are one with us. Just as you were yesterday, you are one with us. Part of us. A vital part of us. You will go on being a vital part of us.
“You will be part of how we together respond to last night, how we together repair the damage, rebuild what’s destroyed and and go forward as the fantastic, diverse community we are.
“Already this morning, when I first made a comment on social media, the trolls were up and about and presenting their malign influence. But they are a very tiny minority and one we need to isolate in this.
“Most of us are good at distinguishing what is the truth in this. We know, again and again, a little phrase: love wins.”
